Willie Johnston
Encyclopedia
William McClure "Willie" Johnston (born 19 December 1946 in Maryhill
, Glasgow
) is a Scottish former professional football
player, best remembered for his time at Rangers and West Brom.
3–2 in Barcelona
. In December 1972 he moved to England to join West Bromwich Albion
, making his debut against Liverpool
in the same month. Albion paid a club record £138,000 to bring him to The Hawthorns
.
However, his career included some controversial incidents. In 1978 when playing in the World Cup
he was found to have taken Reactivan, a banned stimulant during the opening game against Peru
. His subsequent expulsion from the squad ended his international career after 21 appearances, although he maintained his innocence.
While playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps
he once mooned the opposing bench following a goal, and on another occasion took a swig from a fan-offered beer before taking a corner kick in San Jose, setting up a goal from the set-piece.
Aberdeen
player John McMaster had to be given the kiss of life during a game against Rangers at Ibrox in 1980 after Johnston stamped on his throat. Johnston later 'justified' his action by saying he thought it was Willie Miller
.
In 2004 Johnston was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.
Johnston now lives in Kirkcaldy
, above the Port Brae pub. The pub was run by his son Dean until a dispute with the Belhaven Brewery
led to the pub being boarded up, locking his collection of memorabilia inside.
Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
) is a Scottish former professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, best remembered for his time at Rangers and West Brom.
Career
'Bud' was a talented player, whose speed and trickery on the left-wing and as an inside-left was a catalyst for the Rangers team which won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1972. He scored twice in the final as Rangers defeated Dynamo MoscowFC Dynamo Moscow
Dynamo Moscow is a Russian football club based in Moscow, currently playing in the Russian Premier League. Dynamo's traditional kit colours are blue and white...
3–2 in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. In December 1972 he moved to England to join West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, making his debut against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in the same month. Albion paid a club record £138,000 to bring him to The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
.
However, his career included some controversial incidents. In 1978 when playing in the World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
he was found to have taken Reactivan, a banned stimulant during the opening game against Peru
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
. His subsequent expulsion from the squad ended his international career after 21 appearances, although he maintained his innocence.
While playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
he once mooned the opposing bench following a goal, and on another occasion took a swig from a fan-offered beer before taking a corner kick in San Jose, setting up a goal from the set-piece.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
player John McMaster had to be given the kiss of life during a game against Rangers at Ibrox in 1980 after Johnston stamped on his throat. Johnston later 'justified' his action by saying he thought it was Willie Miller
Willie Miller
William Ferguson Miller, MBE is a former professional football player who made a club record 558 league appearances for Aberdeen. He is currently the club's Director of Football...
.
In 2004 Johnston was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.
Johnston now lives in Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
, above the Port Brae pub. The pub was run by his son Dean until a dispute with the Belhaven Brewery
Belhaven Brewery
Belhaven brewery is a brewery near Dunbar in Scotland owned by Greene King.-History:Belhaven claims to have begun brewing in 1719. In that year the burgh of Dunbar levied a local tax on brewers to fund civic improvements...
led to the pub being boarded up, locking his collection of memorabilia inside.