Lenny Johnrose
Encyclopedia
Leonard "Lenny" Johnrose was an English
professional football player who during his career played for several clubs including Burnley
, Bury
and Swansea City
. Johnrose is best known as a tough-tackling defensive midfielder.
He began his career at Blackburn Rovers
as a young trainee, and also spent time on loan at Preston North End
. During these spells he impressed to a level where he was signed for £50,000 by Hartlepool United
. He would go on to make over fifty appearances for the 'Pool, getting eleven goals in the process. At the end of his contract, he was snapped up by Bury
manager Stan Ternent
who wanted to add some toughness to his central midfield.
Johnrose was a central character in Bury's rapid rise to the First Division. Ternent saw the midfielder as so important to his sides that he paid £225,000 to take Johnrose with him to his new club, Burnley
. Johnrose would become a cult hero amongst Burnley fans who loved his dedication and commitment to the cause. At the end of the 2002-03
season he was released on a free transfer though, having served the club well. The split between Johnrose and Burnley would only last four months though, and he re-signed for the club on a week-to-week basis later the same year.
This would not last long and Johnrose opted to re-sign for another of his old clubs, Bury. He served Bury well for three months before again moving, this time to Swansea City
on a non-contract basis, making it an incredible three clubs in just six months.
Johnrose played an important role in helping Swansea City avoid relegation from the Third Division out of the Football League. Johnrose scored 3 crucial goals that season. Two goals in one week in March helped earn an away draw at Kidderminster and a home victory against Oxford. His final, and most crucial goal in a Swansea shirt, came on the final Saturday of the 2002-2003 season.
Swansea City had to equal or better Exeter's result against Southend in their game at the Vetch Field versus Hull City in order to preserve their league status. Johnrose poked home from close range from a Roberto Martinez free-kick early in the second half to put the Swans 3-2 and send a packed Vetch Field into raptures. The Swans won 4-2 and preserved their league status at the expense of Exeter.
In the summer of 2003, Johnrose was offered a 12 x month contact with Swansea, and started the 2003-2004 season in the unfamiliar role of Centre Half. After recovering from a hamstring injury, Johnrose briefly became Captain for a short time and reverted to his more familiar defensive central midfield role.
The talk around Christmas 2003 was of a further 12 x month contract extension at the end of that season, however, when Manager Brian Flynn left the club by mutual consent in March 2004, Johnrose had his contract paid up and left the Swans within two days.
Johnrose will always be associated in South Wales for his goal in the "Final Day" drama against Hull City, along with a thoroughly professional attitude that meant he often played out of position with minimal fuss.
Johnrose signed for Burnley for a third time on transfer deadline day (March 2004) and went on to help 'the Clarets' avoid relegation from the First Division. He had a famously good performance in the 2-0 home win against Wimbledon
, displaying his tough tackling, no-nonsense attitude to the full.
After this final flourish Johnrose retired from the professional game to pursue qualifications in Sports Science, but made an appearance at the 2005 Masters Football
tournament, representing Blackburn Rovers.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional football player who during his career played for several clubs including Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. Johnrose is best known as a tough-tackling defensive midfielder.
He began his career at Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
as a young trainee, and also spent time on loan at Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. During these spells he impressed to a level where he was signed for £50,000 by Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
. He would go on to make over fifty appearances for the 'Pool, getting eleven goals in the process. At the end of his contract, he was snapped up by Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
manager Stan Ternent
Stan Ternent
Francis Stanley "Stan" Ternent is an English former footballer and manager. He managed Blackpool, Hull City, Bury, Burnley, Gillingham and Huddersfield Town. He is currently a scout for Sunderland.-Career:...
who wanted to add some toughness to his central midfield.
Johnrose was a central character in Bury's rapid rise to the First Division. Ternent saw the midfielder as so important to his sides that he paid £225,000 to take Johnrose with him to his new club, Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
. Johnrose would become a cult hero amongst Burnley fans who loved his dedication and commitment to the cause. At the end of the 2002-03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
season he was released on a free transfer though, having served the club well. The split between Johnrose and Burnley would only last four months though, and he re-signed for the club on a week-to-week basis later the same year.
This would not last long and Johnrose opted to re-sign for another of his old clubs, Bury. He served Bury well for three months before again moving, this time to Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on a non-contract basis, making it an incredible three clubs in just six months.
Johnrose played an important role in helping Swansea City avoid relegation from the Third Division out of the Football League. Johnrose scored 3 crucial goals that season. Two goals in one week in March helped earn an away draw at Kidderminster and a home victory against Oxford. His final, and most crucial goal in a Swansea shirt, came on the final Saturday of the 2002-2003 season.
Swansea City had to equal or better Exeter's result against Southend in their game at the Vetch Field versus Hull City in order to preserve their league status. Johnrose poked home from close range from a Roberto Martinez free-kick early in the second half to put the Swans 3-2 and send a packed Vetch Field into raptures. The Swans won 4-2 and preserved their league status at the expense of Exeter.
In the summer of 2003, Johnrose was offered a 12 x month contact with Swansea, and started the 2003-2004 season in the unfamiliar role of Centre Half. After recovering from a hamstring injury, Johnrose briefly became Captain for a short time and reverted to his more familiar defensive central midfield role.
The talk around Christmas 2003 was of a further 12 x month contract extension at the end of that season, however, when Manager Brian Flynn left the club by mutual consent in March 2004, Johnrose had his contract paid up and left the Swans within two days.
Johnrose will always be associated in South Wales for his goal in the "Final Day" drama against Hull City, along with a thoroughly professional attitude that meant he often played out of position with minimal fuss.
Johnrose signed for Burnley for a third time on transfer deadline day (March 2004) and went on to help 'the Clarets' avoid relegation from the First Division. He had a famously good performance in the 2-0 home win against Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
, displaying his tough tackling, no-nonsense attitude to the full.
After this final flourish Johnrose retired from the professional game to pursue qualifications in Sports Science, but made an appearance at the 2005 Masters Football
Masters football
Masters football is a 6 a-side indoor football competition in the United Kingdom, where players over the age of 35 are chosen by the Masters Football Selection Committee to represent a senior club which they played for. Regional heats are held, and the winners of each go forward to a national...
tournament, representing Blackburn Rovers.