Barry Johnston (footballer)

Barry Johnston (born 28 October 1980) is a former Irish footballer .

Barry Johnston
Personal information
Full name Barry Johnston
Date of birth (1980-10-28) 28 October 1980 (age 43)
Place of birth Belfast, Ireland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2002 William Carey Crusaders
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Cliftonville ? (?)
2002–2006 Coleraine 82 (2)
2006–2009 Cliftonville 83 (3)
2009Shamrock Rovers (loan) 4 (0)
2009–2010 Glenavon 15 (0)
2010–2015 Cliftonville 239 (15)
2015–2016 Carrick Rangers 25 (0)
Managerial career
2022- Lisburn Distillery F.C.
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After serving apprenticeships at Celtic Boys under Jim Heaney, in 2009 Johnston joined Cliftonville's U18.[1] Although he believed he would have preferred becoming a winger, the coach Heaney considered his best position was a defensive sweeper or right back.[citation needed]

Johnston suffered a leg injury, which almost terminated his career and which left him with nine screws and a steel plate anchored to his marrow.[citation needed] In 2000, Johnston took a leave from football and spent a two-year scholarship in the United States in New Orleans with William Carey College.[1]

After returning from the United States, he came back playing football at Coleraine.[1] He stayed there for four years, reaching two IFA Cup Finals in 2003 and 2004 against Glentoran, winning the first one.[1]

Johnston moved back to Cliftonville in January 2006.[2] He lost another IFA Cup Final in May 2009 against Crusaders.[3]

In 2009, he signed a loan for Shamrock Rovers after impressing in guest appearances against Newcastle and Hibernians,[4] making his competitive debut as a substitute in a win over Derry City at Tallaght Stadium.[5][6]

Johnston returned in Northern Ireland to sign for Glenavon in December 2009.[7]

He then signed for Cliftonville for the third time in September 2010.[8]

Johnston scored Cliftonville's equaliser against The New Saints in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League.[9]

In July 2015, Johnston moved to newly promoted Carrick Rangers.[10] Johnston moved due to a knee injury which prevented him from playing as much on artificial turf.[11]

Johnston retired in 2016 and joined the Cliftonville staff in March 2018.[12]

In June 2022 Johnston was appointed manager of Lisburn Distillery F.C.[13]

Honours

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Cliftonville

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Player profile - Barry Johnston". Extratime.ie. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Johnston returns to Cliftonville". BBC News. 13 January 2006. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  3. ^ "Dickson goal seals Crues cup win". 9 May 2009. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Report - Rovers 1 Hibernian FC 0". Shamrock Rovers FC website. 27 July 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  5. ^ "Report - Rovers 2 Derry City 1". Shamrock Rovers FC website. 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  6. ^ "Barry Johnston - Shamrock Rovers - LOI Premier". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  7. ^ http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/news_johnston_151209.html [permanent dead link]
  8. ^ http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/news_johnston_010910.html [permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "The New Saints 1-1 Cliftonville". Cliftonville FC website. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Barry Johnston: The midfielder who will always bleed red". Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Barry Johnston enjoying Carrick Rangers surroundings". 26 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Johnston says it was 'no brainer' to take up coaching role with Cliftonville". 20 March 2018. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  13. ^ http://lisburn-distillery.net/barry-johnston/ [bare URL]