Craig Johnston - Liverpool Football Club 1981-1988

A tireless runner who gave always 100 per cent for the team, Craig Johnston was part of the 1985-86 double team.
Johnston, known as Skippy, was a crowd favourite at Anfield during his long spell with the club
Craig Johnston will always be thought of fondly at Anfield. He may not have been the best player The Kop has seen but he was someone who strived to make the most of the opportunities he had, someone who never accepted that he couldn’t achieve his dreams.

[@alanjones6359]

When he came back to Liverpool after Hillsborough to help out just showed the measure of this top guy he'll be always be loved and welcomed back here - what a player gave us 100 percent

[@danielmatas7401]

Just spoke to him at length at Central Station in Sydney. He was happy to spend some time chatting to a complete stranger who was and still is a fan. Top bloke.

[@barrybr1]

You lucky man, I've always wanted to talk to him. What a character.

[@caeserromero3013]

Hardest working footballer there's ever been and a massively underrated talent. Almost entirely self taught. Craig proved anything is possible if you work hard enough and believe👍

[@baldyisthegaminggrandad6177]

Can you just imagine Johnston as a Klopp player. That pace, the directness, the finishing. He'd be a god that all fans would love in the side every week.

[@MrSunnyBra]

The reason a 6 year old in Australia in 1986 committed himself to be being lifelong Liverpool fan. And such a humble guy to boot 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@redman9pablo]

Hollywood need to make a movie about his journey - such an amazing story an amazing man

[@chromingscanner5719]

With young Mel Gibson in the role of Johnstone)))

[@redman9pablo]

@@chromingscanner5719 yes perfect haha!

[@siroswaldfortitude5346]

I'm in my 50's and have seen many hard working players from Micky Thomas in the 70's to Andy Robertson today...but Craig Johnston literally covered every blade of grass on the pitch.

[@paulgraham6316]

Love this man! He never did the spectacular, but he always did the basics better than anyone. Nobody ever gave more than he gave for the Liverpool cause: one hundred percent each time he pulled on the red shirt. The biggest testament to his value to the team is that, when he retired to look after his sister back in Australia, they kept his name on the club register for years should he ever decide to play again. A class act

[@ev2814]

Came here after listening to Matty johns podcast with Craig. Worth a listen to.

[@nobletenshi7659]

Same, just now... Seems he was before my time.

[@antwango]

same just now, if modern players had the balls to crawl through the same shit and come out the other side a hero.... players with heart grit determination, players that are not recognised, hendo, millie, lallana, matip.... i'd take a dirk kuyt, hendo, millie over coutinho and neymar anyday.. players who fucking play till they break for the club, who want to prove it

[@Jozza16]

Ha, me too!

[@barrybr1]

@@antwango You said it mate. Great words!

[@stevenwebb3634]

Same here.

[@drewdrewski6278]

The bloke who made me fall in love with Liverpool FC..

[@christreanor6637]

One of my all time favourite liverpool players. He is the epitome of what is expected of a professional footballer from his manager and the fans...100% of everything from the first whistle to the last. A dream player.

[@soundbeings1]

Spot on.

[@CharlesDriver-hj4xp]

A gigantic reason why I am a Liverpool fan was for skippy being a joy along with his great teammates ❤

[@glorfindel72]

This is what brought me joy for so many years I started supporting Liverpool in the Late 70's at 4 years of age and grew up with Dalglish, Souness, Rush, Sheedy, Grobbelaar, Lee, Heighway, Hansen, Kennedy, Neal, McDermott, Whelan, Fairclogh and last but not least Johnston. What a team Johnston, Dalglish and Heighway especially exciting players who when they got the ball you knew magic was about to happen and the hairs on your arms stood up in anticipation. Thank you Craig, thank you Liverpool!

[@bullwinkle1231]

Craig johnston was a class act i was made up for him when he scored in the 1986 fa cup final ......like aldridge and beardsley ...he played with no fuss and was a true liverpool icon...

[@soundbeings1]

Loved by Reds who actually watched matches - tireless - always gave 100% and won a bagful of medals. Thoroughly deserved. Cheers Craig mate YNWA.

[@davidjones493]

One of my favourite players from that great 80's squad

[@barrybr1]

As an Aussie and a Reds fan it was incredible watching him play. 100% full-on energy and occasionally the scorer of sublime goals.....oh, and clearly the best hair of the 80s. I almost wet myself with excitement when he scored in the the FA Cup final against Everton.

[@markwaterman8845]

Craig Johnston. What a player .and what an engine . From clearing the goal line to arriving at the other end to score ... Absolutely massive engine for lfc . I had the pleasure to see him play along side the greats ...24 thousand fans in the kop all standing up....absolute magic ..

[@shaneshankly4518]

My favourite Liverpool of all time , so under rated gave everything

[@amphilbey]

Thanks for the memories skippy. And love the moment at 52s when Kenny’s vision means he’s celebrating the goal already

[@myroseaccount]

Underrated

[@keithmarkis1101]

That's why I supported Liverpool...Thank You Craig Johnston ‼️💥💥💥🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬💪🏿👍🏿

[@user-vx6tq7ko2b]

Absolute class player one of the greats !

[@manjulajayakody4741]

Loved Craig Johnston, can remember his swearing blue murder at us (his own fans) in Clock end to give ball back. We lost that game but I just so respected his desire to win.great personality and great trade mark celebration!

[@hamish4520]

Good mates with him talk to him once a month. Great man

[@tonysmith4277]

Great footballer who Australia never supported.

[@m00d_fm]

I dunno, there's a huge amount of Liverpool support from people around my age purely because of Craig. Maybe he didn't get the establishment support but us fans loved him.

[@danielhackett1581]

@@m00d_fm means the federation mate

[@davidnelson702]

we in his home town definitely supported him. And he gave so much back to us.

[@Chris-vq5vr]

This is what Craig Johnston did for LFC in Australia: I grew up in his hometown here in Newcastle NSW and played football because of him.. he's loved here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5qvfWhtpdqNhq8

[@lukkuoi]

As an Aussie this guy is simply 100% why I support Liverpool

[@kdjspanner3930]

Great talent in a time of real talent!

[@middlec9332]

I dated him back in 1984 in Tel aviv I was 15, he was 24. Just freinds. He was so sweet to me

[@cyrilchapman5114]

Forgotten Aussie hero I remember getting his footy card when I was a kid. Was my prized possession

[@markshields5883]

Great player and what an engine this guy had , he covered every blade of grass twice

[@macisback9059]

You have to watch him on the Matty johns podcast.. What an amazing story.. Trust me you will not be disappointed..

[@gordonroy7860]

Lovely stuff

[@peterodukwe223]

Brilliant player,😀

[@manoxipo3756]

His book Walk Alone is worth a read.

[@nicolavivarelli4127]

Great player, Always at 100% ! Thank and YNWA

[@s.a.maqeed452]

The man who designed Adidas Predator. Craig Johnston's The Man.

[@BillBoylan]

Not just a great Footballer, but a clever guy wrote the Anfield Rap and Invented the Predator Football Boot, now a Photographer and with Daughter of the Owner of Tottenham and the Tavistock Group Multi-Billionaire Joe Louis.

[@eddiej9733]

For the originals, before soccer became trendy here in Australia. Yes there were aussies who were passionate another soccer (fuck you, that’s what we called it from mid 70s on wards) all the way through, who played it on B cow fields at school, who could sing BOTH uk football show themes from the 70s and copes shit as wog-ball players YeP. We are the Aussie wog-ball players, back when soccer was a dirty word at schools ... and Craig Johnston was a fucking legend to us aussies

[@Theoriginalbigbrillo]

Met Craig back in the early 80,s in the Holiday Inn Hotel on Paradise Street Liverpool Out with my DAD (as you do) Dad helped to finance Fergy,s Roller parked outside (Long story) Anyway he was totally wasted, moaning about his mates leaving him alone at the bar lol So DAD and i took him over the road to a pub called "The Eagle" which was licensed by Fergy,s Wife And the rest is History lol ...................................... Nearly got him to go back to Dads Club on Henry Street lol ;)

[@middlec9332]

Met him in Tel aviv way back in 1984. Realy nice guy

[@insarfakeer7891]

لاعب موهوب وكبير اتذكر لعبة مع كيني داغليش وايان راش ،هذا اللاعب المولود في جنوب أفريقيا، احد عمالقة ليفربول YNWA

[@alanmansell9845]

He was a mate of my mate les cheesman, les cheesman was probably the best footballer never to make it to professional level and I remember playing 5 a side with Craig and les and les had Craig chasing shadows, Craig said he's a better player than me but it's all about the luck.

[@agustinfernandez6842]

Craig Johnston and Benny McCarthy they're bests south african born players

[@EvoGoody]

Electric pace.

[@areyashore]

One...player. that was it

[@gustavoadolfobustoslozano4434]

what was his position? midfielder? pivote?

[@williamsamuel7085]

The man who invented the predators

[@connorduke4619]

Which was the FA cup goal?

[@deeethy5342]

AUSTRALIA!!!

[@darrenbarker946]

Xx

[@stephenstephen6754]

Adidas predator

[@plupz.]

My uncle is friends him

[@kajbennett4246]

Kinda rude the preface here. Craig wayyyyy beyond them stats