Gary Johnson (footballer, born 1955)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Gary Stephen Johnson | ||
Date of birth | 28 September 1955 | ||
Place of birth | Hammersmith, London, England | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Managerial career | |||
Years | Team | ||
1986–1988 | Newmarket Town | ||
1992 | Cambridge United (caretaker) | ||
1993–1995 | Cambridge United | ||
1995–1997 | Kettering Town | ||
1999–2001 | Latvia | ||
2001–2005 | Yeovil Town | ||
2005–2010 | Bristol City | ||
2010–2011 | Peterborough United | ||
2011 | Northampton Town | ||
2012–2015 | Yeovil Town | ||
2015–2018 | Cheltenham Town | ||
2018–2024 | Torquay United |
Gary Stephen Johnson (born 28 September 1955) is a former football player who was most recently manager of Torquay United.[1]
Johnson was formerly with Cambridge United, Kettering Town, Watford (as director of their youth academy), the Latvia national team, Yeovil Town in two spells, Bristol City, Peterborough United, Northampton Town and Cheltenham Town.
His son Lee is also a manager, who was most recently the manager of EFL League One side Fleetwood Town
Playing career
Johnson signed for
After his playing career ended, Johnson spent the next six years training to earn his coaching badges and took his first managerial job at Newmarket Town in 1986.
Management career
Cambridge United
Johnson was the manager at Newmarket Town, when he was persuaded to join Cambridge United as reserve team manager in 1988. Appointed as assistant manager in 1990, Johnson helped John Beck organise the U's remarkable rise in the early 1990s, in which they came within two matches of becoming the first club to rise from the old Fourth Division to the top flight in successive seasons (Northampton Town having spent two seasons in both the third and second divisions before promotion to the first division in 1966). Johnson was briefly caretaker manager in late 1992 and then took charge from 1993 until 1995. Under Johnson's stewardship, the U's were contenders for a play-off place in Division Two in 1993–94, before eventually finishing tenth. The following season, many players were sold to balance the books and Johnson moved to take over at Kettering Town.
Kettering Town
After leaving Cambridge, Johnson took over as manager of Kettering Town as the club introduced full-time football for the first time in the club's history. However, once the decision was made to revert to being a part-time club, Johnson moved to Watford as director of their youth academy by request of former England manager
Latvia
He was approached by the Latvian football authorities for help, and became coach of their national team for two years from 1999 to 2001.
Whilst coaching Latvia, he spotted the potential of
Johnson left the job after Latvia drew 1–1 with San Marino. He then returned to England and eventually took over as manager of non-league side Yeovil Town.
Yeovil Town
In his first year in charge at
During a
Bristol City
Despite turning down an approach from Derby County in the summer of 2005, Johnson became Bristol City's target when their manager Brian Tinnion resigned that September. Yeovil agreed compensation terms and he became City's manager on 26 September 2005. Despite their lowly position of 22nd in the table, City's fortunes turned around under Johnson and a great run of form in the second half of the season saw them in play-off contention, eventually finishing ninth after a run of 55 points from 36 games.
Johnson won the League One
On 6 September 2007, Gary Johnson and assistant Keith Millen both signed 2+1⁄2-year contract extensions keeping them at the club until 2010.
In the 2007–08 season, he kept Bristol City in the top six of the Championship for almost the entire season and in the top two for a long time; the team were the surprise package of the season. Bristol City eventually lost the play-off final to Hull City at Wembley and were not promoted to the Premiership. Johnson made his players stay on the pitch after the match and watch the Hull City players celebrate as a motivational experience for the next campaign.
In the summer before the 2008–09 season, he broke the club record for a transfer fee in signing 21-year-old Nicky Maynard from Crewe Alexandra for £2.25 million.
Bristol City's once-famous chant of 'Johnson says bounce around the ground' was inspired by Gary Johnson who was quoted to saying in an interview before a league game that he wanted the fans bouncing around.
In September 2008, Johnson signed a new five-year contract with Bristol City, to keep him at the club until 2013.[3] The club ended the season with another top ten finish and on 18 March 2010, with the club comfortably in mid table, the club issued a statement that Johnson had "left his post as manager of Bristol City by mutual consent".[4][5]
Peterborough United
He was appointed manager of Peterborough United on a two-year contract on 6 April 2010.[6] With the club lying outside the playoff positions, Johnson left Peterborough on 10 January 2011.[7] The reasons are that the manager and the chairman could not agree future policy.[8]
Northampton Town
On 4 March 2011, Johnson was announced as the new manager of
Yeovil Town
On 9 January 2012, Johnson returned to former club Yeovil Town, replacing Terry Skiverton who became Johnson's assistant.[12] The Glovers, with Johnson at the helm, produced an impressive run of form with thirty points in nineteen games to reach safety with two games still left to play.
The
On 29 December 2012, Yeovil Town beat
On 6 May 2013, Yeovil defeated
On 4 February 2015, with Yeovil bottom of the League One table Johnson was relieved of his duties.[14]
Cheltenham Town
On 30 March 2015, Johnson was appointed as manager of
On 21 August 2018, Cheltenham Town announced they had 'parted company' with Johnson four games into the new season.[18]
Torquay United
On 13 September 2018, Johnson was appointed as manager of Torquay United. He went on to guide them to the National League South title with three games remaining.[1] On 4 July 2019, Johnson signed a new contract at Torquay United. [19]
Johnson oversaw Torquay United's relegation from the National League on 29 April 2023. On 22 February 2024, Johnson left the club by mutual consent with them sitting eleventh in the National League South.[20] His departure came on the same day as Torquay United owner Clark Osborne announced plans to appoint administrators.[21]
Managerial statistics
Team | From | To | Record | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
Cambridge United | 22 October 1992 | 1 April 1995 | 135 | 41 | 37 | 57 | 30.4 |
Latvia | 5 September 1999 | 26 April 2001 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 21.4 |
Yeovil Town | 19 June 2001 | 23 September 2005 | 221 | 116 | 46 | 59 | 52.5 |
Bristol City | 26 September 2005 | 18 March 2010 | 239 | 96 | 69 | 74 | 40.2 |
Peterborough United | 6 April 2010 | 10 January 2011 | 33 | 15 | 4 | 14 | 45.5 |
Northampton Town | 4 March 2011 | 14 November 2011 | 34 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 20.6 |
Yeovil Town | 9 January 2012 | 4 February 2015 | 162 | 56 | 34 | 72 | 34.6 |
Cheltenham Town | 30 March 2015 | 21 August 2018 | 172 | 65 | 43 | 64 | 37.8 |
Torquay United | 13 September 2018 | 22 February 2024 | 267 | 121 | 54 | 92 | 45.3 |
Total | 1,277 | 520 | 300 | 457 | 40.7 |
Honours
Manager
Yeovil Town
- 2012–13
- 2004–05
- 2002–03
- 2001–02
Bristol City
- 2006–07
Cheltenham Town
- 2015–16[24]
Torquay United
- Conference South: 2018–19
Individual
- Football Conference Manager of the Month (3): September 2002,[25] March 2003,[25] April 2003[25]
- 2002–03[25]
- League One Manager of the Month (2): April 2006,[26] March 2007[27]
References
- ^ a b "Torquay United AFC Announce The Appointment Of Gary Johnson As First Team Manager". 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Non-League: Johnson is still going places". The Telegraph. 15 October 2002. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Gary signs for five years". Bristol City F.C. 26 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
- ^ Staff writer (18 March 2010). "Race is on to find Bristol City Gary Johnson's successor". Bristol Evening Post. Bristol: Bristol News and Media. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
- ^ "Gary Johnson Leaves City". Bristol City F.C. 18 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
- ^ "Gary Johnson appointed new Peterborough United boss". BBC Sport. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
- ^ "Johnson leaves Peterborough". Sky Sports. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ "Johnson leaves Peterborough". BBC News. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
- ^ "Cobblers appoint Johnson". BBC News. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
- ^ "The History of Northampton Town football Club". Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ "Gary Johnson leaves as Northampton Town boss". BBC Sport. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ "Gary Johnson replaces Terry Skiverton as Yeovil Town manager". BBC Sport. 9 January 2012.
- ^ "Brentford 1–2 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ "Gary Johnson: Yeovil manager sacked by League One club". BBC Sport. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ^ "Gary Johnson: Cheltenham Town appoint manager for rest of season". BBC Sport. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ "Gary Johnson to stay on as Cheltenham Town manager". Cheltenham Town F.C. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Cheltenham Town 2–0 Halifax Town". BBC Sport. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Gary Johnson: Cheltenham Town part company with boss four games into season". BBC Sport. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Gary Johnson Signs New Extended Contract". 4 July 2019.
- ^ "Johnson Departs TUAFC". torquayunited.com. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "Club Statement". torquayunited.com. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "Gary Johnson's managerial career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
- Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
- ^ "Cheltenham players mobbed by fans". BBC Sport.
- ^ a b c d "Conference end of season awards". ConfGuide.com. 14 June 2003. Archived from the original on 2 July 2003. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Johnson lands April manager prize". BBC Sport. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Boss Johnson scoops monthly award". BBC Sport. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2022.