Jimmy Johnstone

Johnstone was the youngest of five children born to Matthew and Sarah Johnstone. He grew up in the family home on Old Edinburgh Road in Viewpark, North Lanarkshire, and he was educated at St Columba's primary school in Viewpark and then at St John's secondary school in Uddingston.[8] In 2003, Johnstone stated that he was a Catholic.[9]

His footballing ability first came to note at primary school, playing for the St Columba's team that won three trophies in 1953–54. The team at his secondary school, St John's, were less able, but their physical education teacher, Tommy Cassidy, was a friend of Sammy Wilson, who played for Celtic at the time and had scored in Celtic's 7–1 win over Rangers in the 1957 Scottish League Cup Final. Cassidy used his connections to get Johnstone a role as ball boy at Celtic.[2]

At home, he used to dribble around milk bottles every day in the hallway for hours to perfect his skills. On reading that Stanley Matthews used to walk to Blackpool's ground wearing heavy boots to strengthen his leg muscles, Johnstone began wearing pit boots and would sprint and play football in them. He later said that this "probably added about three yards on to my pace."[10]

Despite the thrill of being involved with Celtic as a ballboy, Johnstone wanted to play football. As a result, he left Celtic to play for his local Boys Guild team. As well as playing locally, the team travelled down to play Manchester United's boys' team. Johnstone's ability caught the eye of the English giants but, upon his return to Scotland, Celtic scout John Higgins persuaded him to sign for Celtic;[2] He signed youth terms on the same day as left-back Tommy Gemmell, who lived a few miles away and would also have a long association with the club.[11] In order to gain experience, Johnstone was farmed out to junior club Blantyre Celtic.[8]

Johnstone began his international career on 5 February 1964, playing for the Scottish Under 23 side in a friendly against England U23s, losing 2–0. He made one further appearance for the Scotland U23 side in May that year, a 3–0 win away against France U23.[29]

He made his international debut for the full Scottish international side on 3 October 1964 in a British Home Championship match against Wales, in place of Rangers winger Willie Henderson.[5][30] He was involved in the move that led to Scotland's second goal, though the match ended in a 3–2 win for the Welsh.[31] Johnstone's next cap came that same month in a World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park against Finland. Scotland won 3–1, but Johnstone's performance was unimpressive, with his passing described as "lacking accuracy."[32] Johnstone did not play for Scotland again until 2 April 1966, when he scored his first two international goals in a 4–3 defeat against England at Hampden Park.[5][33] The first goal came with Scotland trailing 4–1, when he latched on to a pass from Denis Law and used his pace and power to run past the English defence and beat goalkeeper Gordon Banks from close range. He pulled back another goal for Scotland when he chased a floated ball towards goal from a Jim Baxter free kick and, from close range, scored with a powerful shot off the underside of the bar.[5] Johnstone, along with Denis Law, was reported as one of Scotland's best performers, and his play resulted in England's Nobby Stiles being booked for a crushing tackle on him.[34] Johnstone continued to play sporadically for Scotland, and he didn't score his next international goal until 22 October 1969 in a World Cup qualifier away against West Germany, Scotland losing 3–2.[35]

In May 1974, during the build-up to the 1974 FIFA World Cup, and days before a British Home Championship match against England at Hampden, Johnstone and his other Scotland teammates took part in a drinking session at their hotel in Largs, Ayrshire. In the early hours, the group headed for shore, with Johnstone deciding to go out in a rowing boat. However, the boat had no rowlocks to take the oars and Johnstone found himself being taken out to sea by the tide. Stranded at sea, Johnstone had to be rescued by the Coastguard and the incident dominated headlines for days.[5][36] Despite the embarrassing headlines, Johnstone went on to turn in an outstanding performance for Scotland against England, helping them to a 2–0 win.[36][37] Johnstone was part of the Scotland squad that travelled to West Germany for the World Cup in the summer of 1974, but he didn't play in their three games.[37]

Johnstone won 23 caps for Scotland.[2][38]

After his playing career ended, Johnstone's problems with alcohol worsened, despite the efforts of his family.[39] When he approached Glasgow businessman and Celtic fan Willie Haughey in 1992 offering his medals for sale, Johnstone instead received support and guidance from Haughey in combatting his addictions,[40] and the two men remained close friends thereafter.[41]

A documentary film about Johnstone's life, created by Jamie Doran and narrated by Billy Connolly[42] titled Lord of the Wing first aired on the BBC on 25 April 2004.[43][3]

In June 2005, Carl Fabergé's great-granddaughter Sarah produced 19 jewelled eggs related to Johnstone.[44][45]

Having been diagnosed with incurable motor neuron disease (MND) five years earlier,[39] Johnstone died in March 2006, aged 61.[27][3] The last person to call him was old Rangers rival Willie Henderson, who had become a firm friend of Johnstone. Thousands of Celtic fans and fans of many other clubs, including those of arch-rivals Rangers, paid tribute to his memory outside Celtic Park on St Patrick's Day, the day of his funeral service. Tributes were paid to Johnstone before the 2006 Scottish League Cup Final, played between Celtic and Dunfermline.[46] There was a minute of applause before the game and the entire Celtic squad wore the number 7 on their shorts in his honour.[46]

In 2008, a bronze statue by Kate Robinson of Johnstone in action was unveiled at the main entrance to Celtic Park.[40][38][47][48]

In 2011, a statue of Johnstone and a memorial garden were created on the site at his former school, close to his home, on the Old Edinburgh Road, in Viewpark. The garden was opened by Johnstone's wife, family and some of the surviving members of the 'Lisbon Lions' team. The bronze, lifesize statue was made by sculptor John McKenna.[49][50]

Celtic

• Scottish First Division (9): 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74
• Scottish Cup (4): 1966–67, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1973–74
• Scottish League Cup (5): 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1974–75
• European Cup : 1967
  • Runner-up 1970

Scotland

• Home Championship (4): 1966–67, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1973–74[56]

Individual

• Ballon d'Or (3rd place): 1967[57]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jimmy Johnstone.

• Jimmy Johnstone's football academy at the Wayback Machine (archived 8 March 2012)
• Jimmy Johnstone's official site at archive.today (archived 5 December 2012)
• Jimmy Johnstone at the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame