Sammy Johnston

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sammy Johnston

| image =

| full_name = Samuel Johnston

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|04|13|df=y}}{{NeilBrownPlayers|player1/sammyjohnston}}

| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland

| height = 5ft 9in

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Bishopbriggs Boys Club

| years1 = 1984–1990

| clubs1 = St Johnstone

| caps1 = 176

| goals1 = 29

| years2 = 1990–1991

| clubs2 = Ayr United

| caps2 = 24

| goals2 = 9

| years3 = 1991–1993

| clubs3 = Partick Thistle

| caps3 = 43

| goals3 = 4

| years4 = 1993

| clubs4 = Ballymena United

| caps4 = 5

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 1994

| clubs5 = Stranraer

| caps5 = 2

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 1994–1997

| clubs6 = Glenavon

| caps6 = 74

| goals6 = 19

| years7 = 1997

| clubs7 = Finn Harps

| caps7 = 16

| goals7 = 4

| years8 = 1998

| clubs8 = Coleraine

| caps8 = 12

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 1998–1999

| clubs9 = Partick Thistle

| caps9 = 2

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 1999–2001

| clubs10 = Pollok

| caps10 =

| goals10 =

| totalcaps = 354

| totalgoals = 66

| manageryears1 = 2005–2008

| managerclubs1 = Neilston Juniors

}}

Samuel Johnston (born 13 April 1967) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for clubs including St Johnstone, Partick Thistle and Glenavon.

Career

Johnston began his professional career as a teenager with St Johnstone, playing over 200 times for the Perth club including the semi-final of the 1988–89 Scottish Cup when the part-time, second-tier side took champions-elect Rangers to a replay,[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fzNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RFkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4004%2C270283 Horror show was torture for Rangers fans], The Glasgow Herald, 17 April 1989[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gTNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RFkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3598%2C1075843 Rangers all right on the night], The Glasgow Herald, 19 April 1989 and a match described as 'McDiarmid Park's greatest' when closest challengers Airdrieonians were defeated to virtually confirm the 1989–90 Scottish First Division title and promotion to the Premier Division.[https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/st-johnstone/1226818/long-read-mcdiarmid-parks-greatest-game-the-30th-anniversary-of-st-johnstone-3-airdrie-1/ McDiarmid Park's Greatest Game | The 30th anniversary of St Johnstone 3 Airdrie 1], Eric Nicolson, The Courier, 31 March 2020

Johnston's contribution for the Saints in the top flight consisted of one appearance as a substitute against Dundee United in August 1990[https://www.arabarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=1878 St Johnstone 1 Dundee Utd 3 League (Premier Division)], Arab Archive before he quickly returned to the First Division upon being signed by Ayr United. He stayed at Somerset Park for less than a season before switching to Partick Thistle in a swap deal involving Cammy Duncan in March 1991.[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ayr-united-mourn-passing-legend-10352209 Ayr United mourn the passing of legend players Cammy Duncan and John Telfer], Mike Wilson, Daily Record, 4 May 2017[http://www.thethistlearchive.net/sammy-johnston Sammy Johnston], The Thistle Archive He was involved in another successful promotion run with the Jags as they finished runners-up in the 1991–92 Scottish First Division, followed by a solid Premier Division campaign in 1992–93, although by then Johnston was out of favour. After departing from Firhill, he had short spells with Ballymena United in Northern Ireland and Stranraer in Scotland, before crossing the Irish Sea for a longer period, playing in the Irish League for Glenavon – where he had a car park fistfight with opponent Pat McAllister,[https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+I+GET+A+KICK+OUT+OF+YOU%3B+MIRROR+SPORT+SPECIAL+The+life+and...-a0132260525 Football: I get a kick out of you; Mirror Sport Special | The life and times of Irish League hardman Pat McAllister Coleraine star just loves football], The Daily Mirror, 10 May 2005, via The Free Library scored in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup[https://www.lurganmail.co.uk/sport/football/back-iceland-glenavon-2638018 Back to Iceland for Glenavon], Lurgan Mail, 23 June 2014 and won the Irish Cup in 1997 – and Coleraine, and in the League of Ireland for Finn Harps.[https://donegalnews.com/2012/05/harps-derry-hoodoo-explored/ Harps' Derry hoodoo explored], Donegal News, 25 May 2012

In 1998 he returned to Partick Thistle, now in the third tier, then dropped into the Junior leagues to join Pollok. After retiring from playing, he later managed Neilston Juniors for three years[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/neilston-boss-johnston-resigns-2635297 Neilston boss Johnston resigns], Daily Record, 22 May 2008 (leading them to the SJFA West Region Premiership) and was assistant to Mark Cameron at Arthurlie.[https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/12816500.juniors-branco-orders-lie-to-fire-the-final-shotts/ Juniors: Branco orders Lie to fire the final Shotts...], Evening Times, 7 October 2008[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/sammy-johnston-ready-for-dogs-abuse-1037522 Sammy Johnston ready for dogs abuse when he swap sides as Arthurlie Legends take on Pollok], Daily Record, 25 September 2009

Personal life

His younger brother Allan (a Scottish international with 18 caps) and nephew Max also played professionally.{{cite web|title=Rangers hero's son is a new Academy graduate at Motherwell |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/rangers-heros-son-new-academy-23331519|last=McGilvray|first=Andy|website=dailyrecord.co.uk|date=16 January 2021|access-date=5 June 2021}}