Bill Johnstone (Scottish footballer)

William Johnstone (18 May 1901 – 1975)[1] was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside forward or centre forward. His clubs included King's Park and Clyde (two spells) in Scotland, and Reading, Arsenal and Oldham Athletic in England.[2][3]

Bill Johnstone
Personal information
Full name William Johnstone
Date of birth 18 May 1901
Place of birth Markinch, Scotland
Date of death 1975
Position(s)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Rosslyn Juniors
1921–1922 King's Park 11 (1)
1922–1926 Clyde 98 (56)
1926–1929 Reading 78 (34)
1929–1931 Arsenal 9 (4)
1931–1933 Oldham Athletic 68 (28)
1933–1935 Clyde 56 (22)
1935–1936 Northwich Victoria
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

While at Clyde, he was selected for the Glasgow FA's annual challenge match against Sheffield in September 1926, scoring twice,[4] and moved to Reading a few weeks later.[5] In his first season with the Royals, he had a prominent role in the club's run to the FA Cup semi-final in 1926–27,[6][7] and scored the winning goal in a giant-killing victory over reigning English champions Sheffield Wednesday in the same competition two years later.[8][9]

Signed by Arsenal in summer 1929, technically he was a member of the Gunners' squad that won the Football League title in 1930–31, but he made only two appearances in that campaign before moving on to second-level Oldham mid-season, having failed in his efforts to break into what was a very strong attacking line-up at Highbury.[6][10][11]

References

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  1. ^ Bill Johnstone at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  2. ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Johnstone Bill Image 1 Clyde 1922, Vintage Footballers
  4. ^ Football | Inter-City Match | Glasgow, 2; Sheffield, 1, The Glasgow Herald, 22 September 1926
  5. ^ Player Portraits 3 | W. Johnstone, The Biscuitmen
  6. ^ a b Bill Johnstone: a goalscorer but in a team awash with goalscorers, Tony Atwood, AISA Arsenal History Society
  7. ^ Season 1926-27, RoyalsRecord
  8. ^ Season 1928-29, RoyalsRecord
  9. ^ Reading 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday 1929, The Biscuitmen Reading FC Vintage
  10. ^ William S Johnstone, 11v11.com
  11. ^ Bill Johnstone, Arsenal FC