Barry Johnston (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Barry Johnston

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Barry Johnston

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|10|28|df=y}}{{citeweb|url=https://int.soccerway.com/coaches/barry-johnston/40306/|title=B. Johnston|publisher=Soccerway|accessdate=12 January 2025}}

| birth_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| height = 1.80 m

| position = Defensive midfielder

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =

| collegeyears1 = 2000–2002

| college1 = William Carey Crusaders

| collegecaps1 =

| collegegoals1 =

| years1 = 1998–2000 | clubs1 = Cliftonville | caps1 = ? | goals1 = ?

| years2 = 2002–2006 | clubs2 = Coleraine | caps2 = 82 | goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2006–2009 | clubs3 = Cliftonville | caps3 = 83 | goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2009 | clubs4 = → Shamrock Rovers (loan) | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2009–2010 | clubs5 = Glenavon | caps5 = 15 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2010–2015 | clubs6 = Cliftonville | caps6 = 239 | goals6 = 15

| years7 = 2015–2016 | clubs7 = Carrick Rangers | caps7 = 25 | goals7 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2022–2025

| managerclubs1 = Lisburn Distillery

}}

Barry Johnston (born 28 October 1979) is a retired Northern Irish footballer and manager.

Playing career

After serving apprenticeships at Celtic Boys under Jim Heaney, in 1999 Johnston joined Cliftonville's U18. 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|date=March 2022}} 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|date=March 2022}} 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.{{cite web |title=Player profile - Barry Johnston |url=http://www.extratime.ie/player/1377/barry_johnston/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019164203/http://www.extratime.ie/player/1377/barry_johnston/ |archive-date=19 October 2018 |access-date=19 October 2018 |website=Extratime.ie}} After returning from the United States, he came back playing football at Coleraine. He stayed there for four years, reaching two Irish Cup Finals in 2003 and 2004 against Glentoran, winning the first one.

Johnston moved back to Cliftonville in January 2006.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/4609464.stm | work=BBC News | title=Johnston returns to Cliftonville | date=2006-01-13 | accessdate=2010-04-26 | archive-date=5 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305070455/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/4609464.stm | url-status=live }} He lost another Irish Cup final in May 2009 against Crusaders.{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/8041769.stm| title=Dickson goal seals Crues cup win| date=2009-05-09| access-date=14 October 2009| archive-date=1 August 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801094241/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/8041769.stm| url-status=live}}

In 2009, he signed a loan for Shamrock Rovers after impressing in friendly appearances against Newcastle and Hibernians,{{cite web |date=2009-07-27 |title=Report - Rovers 1 Hibernian FC 0 |url=http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/34-2009-match-reports/902-report-rovers-1-hibernian-fc-0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731120149/http://shamrockrovers.ie/news/34-2009-match-reports/902-report-rovers-1-hibernian-fc-0 |archive-date=2009-07-31 |access-date=2009-08-04 |website=Shamrock Rovers FC website}} making his competitive debut as a substitute in a win over Derry City at Tallaght Stadium.{{cite web |date=2009-08-02 |title=Report - Rovers 2 Derry City 1 |url=http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/34-2009-match-reports/909-report-rovers-2-derry-city-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807033027/http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/34-2009-match-reports/909-report-rovers-2-derry-city-1 |archive-date=2009-08-07 |access-date=2009-08-04 |website=Shamrock Rovers FC website }}{{cite news | title=Barry Johnston - Shamrock Rovers - LOI Premier | newspaper=The Irish Times | url=http://soccer-stats.irishtimes.com/?Lang=0&CTID=34&CPID=95&pStr=Player&PLID=182104&TEID=776 | accessdate=27 July 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303172358/http://soccer-stats.irishtimes.com/?Lang=0&CTID=34&CPID=95&pStr=Player&PLID=182104&TEID=776 | archive-date=2012-03-03 | url-status=dead }} Johnston returned to Northern Ireland to sign for Glenavon in December 2009.http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/news_johnston_151209.html {{Dead link|date=October 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

He then signed for Cliftonville for the third time in September 2010.http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/news_johnston_010910.html {{Dead link|date=October 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} Johnston scored Cliftonville's equaliser against The New Saints in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League.{{Cite web |title=The New Saints 1-1 Cliftonville |url=http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/report_tns_300611.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314091608/http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/report_tns_300611.html |archive-date=2012-03-14 |access-date=2011-07-06 |website=Cliftonville FC website}}

In July 2015, Johnston moved to newly promoted Carrick Rangers.{{cite web | url=http://www.irishnews.com/sport/2015/08/07/news/the-cliftonville-midfielder-who-will-always-bleed-red--218417/ | title=Barry Johnston: The midfielder who will always bleed red | access-date=19 October 2018 | archive-date=22 March 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322134347/https://www.irishnews.com/sport/2015/08/07/news/the-cliftonville-midfielder-who-will-always-bleed-red--218417/ | url-status=live }} Johnston moved due to a knee injury which prevented him from playing as much on artificial turf.{{cite web| url=http://www.irishnews.com/sport/footballsoccer/2016/03/26/news/former-cliftonville-ace-barry-johnston-enjoying-carrick-rangers-surroundings-464054/| title=Barry Johnston enjoying Carrick Rangers surroundings| date=26 March 2016| access-date=19 October 2018| archive-date=22 March 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322134349/https://www.irishnews.com/sport/footballsoccer/2016/03/26/news/former-cliftonville-ace-barry-johnston-enjoying-carrick-rangers-surroundings-464054/| url-status=live}}

Coaching career

Johnston retired in 2016 and joined the Cliftonville staff in March 2018.{{cite web |date=2018-03-20 |title=Johnston says it was 'no brainer' to take up coaching role with Cliftonville |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/barry-johnston-says-no-brainer-14433357 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019164209/https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/barry-johnston-says-no-brainer-14433357 |archive-date=19 October 2018 |access-date=19 October 2018}}

In June 2022 Johnston was appointed manager of NIFL Premier Intermediate League side Lisburn Distilleryhttp://lisburn-distillery.net/barry-johnston/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}

On 10 March 2025, Johnston departed the club. https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/third-irish-league-managerial-departure-in-matter-of-days-as-former-cliftonville-star-resigns-with-immediate-effect-5025442