Barry Johnston (footballer)

Barry Johnston
Personal information
Full name Barry Johnston
Date of birth (1979-10-28) 28 October 1979 (age 45)[1]
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2002 William Carey Crusaders
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Cliftonville ? (?)
2002–2006 Coleraine 82 (2)
2006–2009 Cliftonville 83 (3)
2009 → Shamrock Rovers (loan) 4 (0)
2009–2010 Glenavon 15 (0)
2010–2015 Cliftonville 239 (15)
2015–2016 Carrick Rangers 25 (0)
Managerial career
2022- Lisburn Distillery
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Barry Johnston (born 28 October 1979) is a retired Northern Irish footballer and manager who currently manages NIFL Premier Intermediate League side Lisburn Distillery.

Playing career

After serving apprenticeships at Celtic Boys under Jim Heaney, in 1999 Johnston joined Cliftonville's U18.[2] 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] 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] 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.[2] After returning from the United States, he came back playing football at Coleraine.[2] He stayed there for four years, reaching two Irish Cup Finals in 2003 and 2004 against Glentoran, winning the first one.[2]

Johnston moved back to Cliftonville in January 2006.[3] He lost another Irish Cup final in May 2009 against Crusaders.[4]

In 2009, he signed a loan for Shamrock Rovers after impressing in friendly appearances against Newcastle and Hibernians,[5] making his competitive debut as a substitute in a win over Derry City at Tallaght Stadium.[6][7] Johnston returned to Northern Ireland to sign for Glenavon in December 2009.[8]

He then signed for Cliftonville for the third time in September 2010.[9] Johnston scored Cliftonville's equaliser against The New Saints in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League.[10]

In July 2015, Johnston moved to newly promoted Carrick Rangers.[11] Johnston moved due to a knee injury which prevented him from playing as much on artificial turf.[12]

Coaching career

Johnston retired in 2016 and joined the Cliftonville staff in March 2018.[13]

In June 2022 Johnston was appointed manager of NIFL Premier Intermediate League side Lisburn Distillery[14]

Honours

Coleraine

Cliftonville

References

  1. ^ "B. Johnston". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Player profile - Barry Johnston". Extratime.ie. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Johnston returns to Cliftonville". BBC News. 13 January 2006. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  4. ^ "Dickson goal seals Crues cup win". 9 May 2009. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  5. ^ "Report - Rovers 1 Hibernian FC 0". Shamrock Rovers FC website. 27 July 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  6. ^ "Report - Rovers 2 Derry City 1". Shamrock Rovers FC website. 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  7. ^ "Barry Johnston - Shamrock Rovers - LOI Premier". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  8. ^ http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/news_johnston_151209.html [permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ http://www.cliftonvillefc.net/news_johnston_010910.html [permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "The New Saints 1-1 Cliftonville". Cliftonville FC website. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  11. ^ "Barry Johnston: The midfielder who will always bleed red". Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Barry Johnston enjoying Carrick Rangers surroundings". 26 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Johnston says it was 'no brainer' to take up coaching role with Cliftonville". 20 March 2018. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  14. ^ http://lisburn-distillery.net/barry-johnston/ [bare URL]