Tom Johnson

Life and career Johnson was born in Stockton-on-Tees. He played for their first team in wartime football, but made no appearances in the Football League once that competition resumed, He made his senior debut in the opening match of the 1947–48 Third Division North season, a 4–2 defeat away to Carlisle United, and appeared in four of the next five fixtures, scoring in a 1–1 draw at home to Gateshead on 1 September. He made one more league appearance later in the season, and then moved into non-league football with Stockton and Horden Colliery Welfare. Johnson signed for Bradford Park Avenue in August 1952. Apart from one league appearance, he played reserve-team football before moving back into non-league with Annfield Plain and a further spell with Horden CW.

After his retirement at the age of 30 due to a head injury, Johnson retrained as a physiotherapist. He went on to work for Hartlepool United for 25 years, before moving to Middlesbrough in 1986, from where he eventually retired in 1997.

Johnson was married to Evelyn; the couple had one son, Graham. Johnson died on 9 December 2018 at the age of 92.