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Players Index Page Last Updated
22 April 2024
 
 

Harry Johnson

Sheffield United FC

 6 appearances, 0 goals

P 6 W 3 D 1 L 2 F 11: A 8
58% successful
1900-03

captain: none
minutes played: 540

Timeline
  William Harrison Johnson
Birth Monday, 22 November 1875 at The Toll Bar in Ecclesfield, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire
  confirmed by the 1939 register and birth certificate ~ registered in Wortley January-March 1876
  Not 4 January 1876:- It appears that Doug Lamming got Harry senior's birthdate confused with that of his son, who was born on 4 January, 23 years later.
Baptism 2 February 1876 at St. Mary's Church, Ecclesfield.
 

According to the 1881 census, Wm H. is the third of five children to Thomas and Maria (née Cooke). They live in Coil Lane in Ecclesfield. His father was a bolt maker.

 

According to the 1891 census, William H. is now the second of eight children. They still live in Coil Lane. He is an iron moulder, his father is a nut & bolt maker.
Marriage to Elizabeth Briggs, on Sunday, 31 July 1898 at Ecclesfield Parish Church, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire
  registered in Wortley July-September 1898
"MARRIAGE OF A FOOTBALLER.—On Sunday the marriage of Harry Johnson, one of the trio of half-backs of the Sheffield United Football Club, took place at the Ecclesfield Parish Church. The bride was Miss E. Brigg, of Ecclesfield. Both parties being well known in the village, a large number of friends assembled to witness the ceremony." - The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, Monday, 1 August 1898
Children Harry and Lizzie Johnson had three children together. Harry (b.4 January 1899), Jessie (b.28 March 1900) and Tom (b.4 May 1911)
 

According to the 1901 census, William H, is now married to Lizzie. They have two children, Harry and Jessie. They live at Church Lane in Ecclesfield. He is a jobbing moulder in ironworks.
 

According to the 1911 census, William Harrison remains married, still with two children. He is now an assistant football trainer and they all live on The Wheel in Ecclesfield.
 

According to the 1921 census, William Harrison remains married, and is with two of his children. He is still an assistant football trainer at Sheffield United FC, and they all live at 233 The Wheel.
(His father died on 15 February 1926 and his mother also died on 11 November 1928)
"ECCLESFIELD ...Sheffield United footballers are paying a visit to Ecclesfield to-day (Saturday), to play Whitley Hall at cricket. Mr. Harry Johnson has kindly arranged the fixture, and the proceeds will go towards the Rawson's Infant School Building Fund, for which over £2,000 is required." - South Yorkshire Times, Friday, 10 August 1928
"RECOVERY ...Football followers will be pleased to know that Harry Johnson, the popular centre-forward of Sheffield United, is about again after his operation. There are few keener footballers than Johnson, who, following his attack of bronchitis and operation, is anxious to get back to the game again." - Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Saturday, 6 December 1930
  According to the 1939 register, William H., a retired football trainer, and Lizzie, are living with their daughter, Jessie, and her husband, Cyril, at 2 Newstead, St. John's Road in Buxton. Incidentally, Tom, and his wife, Gwendoline, and their children, are the ones living at 233 The Wheel.
Death Wednesday, 17 July 1940 at Glenbrook, 233 The Wheel, in Ecclesfield, West Riding of Yorkshire
aged 64 years 238 days registered in Wortley July-September 1940

Obituary
"JOHNSON.—The death occurred at his home, The Wheel, Ecclesfield, on Wednesday, of Mr. Harry Johnson, senior, at the age of 64, Mr. Johnson was a noted Sheffield United and international footballer, his services to United covering the greater part of 40 years. As a young man he joined Sheffield United and became one of the most outstanding half-backs in the club's history. When his playing career ended he became assistant trainer to the club and for many seasons had charge of the reserve team. His playing career goes back to within less than a decade of the formation of the Bramall Lane club. Not long after his appearance in the team, United brought the League Championship to Sheffield for the first time. That was in 1897-8. 1899 and 1902 Johnson appeared in United's Cup-winning teams; his son, Harry Johnson, helped the club to win the cup in 1925. In 1900 and 1903, Harry Johnson, senior, played for England in the full series of international matches against Scotland, Wales and Ireland and played for North v South. He figured in historic Cup-ties against Sheffield Wednesday. As assistant to the late George Waller, he remained with the club until a few years ago, when United marked their appreciation of his services by giving him a retiring allowance. He gave United two noted sons in Harry Johnson, junior, a great centre forward who scored over 200 goals and Tom the well known centre forward and captain of the present day. While the father and son Harry won Cup-winning medals, Tom just missed maintaining the sequence. When he appeared in the final United were beaten by Arsenal by the only goal scored. Before commencing and after ceasing as an active player Mr. Johnson was employed for a number of years as a moulder at the Thorncliffe Ironworks of Messrs. Newton, Chambers and Co. Ltd. He leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter." - The South Yorkshire Times, Saturday, 20 July 1940.
Funeral
Saturday, 20 July 1940
Ecclesfield Parish Church & Cemetery
pic borrowed from Sheffield United Preservation Society
"JOHNSON.—The funeral of Mr. Harry Johnson (senr), of The Wheel, Mrs. Johnson (widow), Mr. and Mrs. Harry Johnson (junr.). Mr. and Mrs. T. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Petropalo. The many friends who attended included Messrs. Tommy Crawshaw, Bernard Wilkinson, Fred Spiksley, Harry Howard, Ernest Milton, A. Oxspring and Fred Woolhouse, all well-known old football players. The Sheffield United Football and Cricket Club was represented. Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association, Greenup and Thompson, and Sheffield Druid's Society were also represented. The funeral arrangements were carried out by W. Alderson and Son." - The South Yorkshire Times, Saturday, 27 July 1940.
Probate "JOHNSON William Harrison of Glenbrook, The Wheel, Ecclesfield Yorkshire died 17 July 1940 Probate Llandudno 7 December to Harry Johnson metallurgist and Jessie Petropulo (wife of Cyril Petropulo).
 Effects £971 6s. 5d." [2024 equivalent: £45,260]
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career
Club(s) Started his career with Sheffield local clubs, Atlas FC and Norfolk Works FC. Had a spell with Ecclesfield Church FC before joining Sheffield United FC in 1895. He retired through injury in 1909.
League honours
242 appearances, six goals		 Sheffield United FC 1897-1908 242 appearances six goals
debut: 23 October 1897 Sheffield United FC 2 Preston North End FC 1.
last: 31 October 1908 Sheffield United FC 1 Woolwich Arsenal FC 1.
Club honours Football League Champions 1897-98 (10ᵃ 2ᵍ); runners-up 1899-1900 (32ᵃ 1ᵍ),
FA Cup winners 1898-99 (9ᵃ), 1901-02 (8ᵃ), runners-up 1900-01 (6ᵃ);
The Sheriff of London's Charity Shield shared 1898;
Individual honours Football League (one appearance).
Distinctions Father of Harry (Sheffield United FC & Mansfield Town FC) and Tom Johnson (Sheffield United FC & Lincoln City FC), who both also played in FA Cup finals.
Height/Weight 5' 9", 12st. 11lbs [1901].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of five who became 247th players (247) to appear for England.
Position(s) Right/left-half
First match No. 68, 17 March 1900, Ireland 0 England 2, a British Championship match at Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin, aged 24 years 115 days.
Last match
3 years 18 days		 No. 79, 4 April 1903, England 1 Scotland 2, a British Championship match at Bramall Lane, Highfield, Sheffield, aged 27 years 133 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1899-1900, 1902-03;
Team honours British Championship shared 1902-03;
Individual honours The North (one appearance, March 1900)
Distinctions Died 22 days after Tom Cooper

Beyond England
After injury forced his retirement from playing, Johnson remained with Sheffield United FC when he became the assistant trainer in August 1909, remaining on the Bramall Lane staff until the mid-1930's. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.145.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
6 6 6 540 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
6 3 1 2 11 8 +3 0 2 1.833 1.333 58.3 +1
All his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 3 2 0 1 7 3 +4 0 1 2.333 1.00 66.7 +1
Away 3 1 1 1 4 5 -1 0 1 1.333 1.667 50.0 =0

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1899-1900 3 1 1 1 4 5 -1 0 1 1.333 1.667 50.0 =0
BC 1902-03 3 2 0 1 7 3 +4 0 1 2.333 1.00 66.7 +1
BC All 6 3 1 2 11 8 +3 0 2 1.833 1.333 58.3 +1

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 6 3 1 2 11 8 +3 0 2 1.833 1.333 58.3 +1
6 3 1 2 11 8 +3 0 2 1.833 1.333 58.3 +1

Match History

 Club: Sheffield United F.C. - six full appearances (540 min) F.A. International Select Committee - six full appearances (540 min)x

Age 24 trial  
one appearance  - The South vs. The North, 7 March 1900;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

1 68 17 March 1900 - Ireland 0 England 2
Lansdowne Road, Dublin		 BC AW 12 rh

one of five who became the 247th player (247) to appear for England
one of two who became the eighth Sheffield United player to represent England

2 69 26 March 1900 - Wales 1 England 1
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff		 BC AD   lh
3 70 7 April 1900 - Scotland 4 England 1
 Celtic Park, Glasgow		 BC AL   rh
 

Age 27
4 77 14 February 1903 - England 4 Ireland 0
Molineux, Wolverhampton		 BC HW   rh
5 78 2 March 1903 - England 2 Wales 1
Fratton Park, Portsmouth		 BC HW   rh
6 79 4 April 1903 - England 1 Scotland 2
Bramall Lane, Sheffield		 BC HL   rh
 


     

 
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