Samuel Johnston

Samuel James Johnston (18 September 1866 – 25 April 1910) was an Irish footballer who played as a centre forward for Ireland and Distillery between 1881 and 1888.

Club career Johnston was signed by Distillery as an amateur footballer in late 1881, aged 15. A blacksmith by trade, Johnston's well-built appearance meant that when he stepped into the field for his international debut, his age was not even commented on as seemingly nobody realized he was so young. It has only been confirmed in recent years that he was younger than Norman Whiteside, the long-thought youngest (Northern) Ireland international, by a margin of almost two years. Seven days later, on 25 February, Johnston made his second Irish appearance, scoring Ireland's first-ever international goal, an equalizer against Wales in an eventual 7–1 loss, thus becoming the youngest goalscorer in international European history, a record which also stands to this day.

Johnston earned three more caps for Ireland, one in the inaugural 1883–84 British Home Championship and the other two in the 1885–86 edition, scoring once in a 2–7 loss to Scotland on 20 March 1886, aged 19.

Honours Distillery Irish Cup: 1883–84, 1884–85, 1885–86 Charity Cup: Runner-Up in 1883–84