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Post by Electric Eel on May 26, 2020 21:04:04 GMT 10
 Ian Johnston Full name Ian Johnston Born 1928 Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia Died 1 February 2013 Parramatta 1948 - 1954 Games - 90 Wikipedia |
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Post by Electric Eel on May 26, 2020 21:04:28 GMT 10
Newcastle fullback shifted to five-eighth following the emergence of budding champion Clive Churchill in the district. Johnston partnered the legendary Vic Hey at Parramatta in 1948 and represented NSW in 1949. He then became the club's first Test player when he earned a place on the NZ tour, kicking 3 goals in Australia's 26-14 loss in the First Test. In 1951, he became the first Parramatta player to top 100pts (13t, 38g) but it was a long time between drinks at national level. After shifting to the country to play with Young in 1953, he came back to Parramatta but left for Coonamble after six matches following a dispute with the club. Johnston captain-coached Maitland in 1955 before joining Wests the following year. He duly gained selection on the 1956-57 Kangaroo tour - seven years after his first Test cap - and scored 7 tries in 9 games on tour although he did not play in another Test match.
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Post by Electric Eel on May 26, 2020 21:04:49 GMT 10
We pay tribute to Ian Johnston
Eels Digital
Friday 1 February 2013 12:01 PM
Ian Johnston, the Parramatta Eels’ first Australian Test player, has died at the age of 85 after a long battle with cancer.
Johnston, who gave over four decades service to the Eels as a player, coach and official, died at Wyong near his Central Coast home.
Inducted in the Parramatta Eels Hall of Fame in 2009, Johnston and fellow stalwart Ron Hilditch are the only men to have served the Eels in the positions of first grade player (both were internationals), first grade coach and director.
Johnston, a deceptive centre with a big side-step, was selected to tour New Zealand with the Australian side in 1949 – the club’s third season - and played his one Test against the Kiwis, kicking three goals in Australia’s 26-21 loss in Wellington.
He was originally a fullback and was picked in front of the great Clive Churchill in 1946 in a representative Newcastle team but had to pull out because of injury. He later switched to five-eighth or centre and, after catching a train to Sydney for a pre-season trial, joined the Eels in 1948.
Johnston played six seasons (90 first grade games) at Parramatta from 1948-54 (he played for Young in western NSW in 1953) before having another season in the bush then joining Western Suburbs in 1956 where he made the 1956-57 Kangaroos squad.
‘Johnno’, as he was affectionately known to all, returned to the Eels as a lower grade coach and regularly took the reserve grade team to the semi-finals from 1961-67 before taking on first grade role for the 1968-69 seasons.
He later served for many years on the club’s advisory committee and as reserve grade manager before, from 1986 to 1996, serving on the board of directors.
Fellow Eels Hall of Fame Peter Wynn, who wore the blue and gold from 1979 to 1990, remembers Johnston affectionately. “Johnno had a lot of respect among the players as the club’s first international and the way he conducted himself he never lost that respect,” said Wynn.
“He liked to remain low key but was always there for encouragement or advice and had a close interest and association with the junior rep teams too, and the lower grades. If you were an Eels player, he treated you all the same. He was Parramatta through and through, as is all his family.”
Denis Fitzgerald, who joined the club as a player in 1969 when Johnston was top grade coach before being CEO during much of Johnston’s era as an honorary official, paid tribute to a devoted club man.
“Johnno was a terrific player who has the special honour of paving the way for a host of legendary internationals to play for Australia from Parramatta,” said Fitzgerald.
“He was also a dedicated and devoted club man who gave a lot of time to the Eels in an honorary capacity and had his whole family involved too.”
Eels CEO Ken Edwards today paid tribute to Johnston and said the condolences of all those involved with the club to the Johnston family
“There can only be one first and Ian Johnston will always retain the honour of being the first player to be chosen to represent Australia from this club, creating the pathway for the many players who have followed in his footsteps in our 66-year history,” Edwards said.
“But far more than that he gave many, many years back to the club as a coach and official and rightly holds a place in our Hall of Fame. The Parramatta Eels will always be indebted to his contribution.”
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Post by Electric Eel on May 26, 2020 21:05:12 GMT 10
Ian Johnston was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1960s. He played for Parramatta Eels and Western Suburbs Magpies as a centre. Johnston was the first ever Parramatta player to represent Australia.
Playing career
Johnston was born and raised in Newcastle, New South Wales and played his junior rugby league before joining the newly admitted Parramatta side in 1948. In 1949, Johnston became the first Parramatta player to represent Australia when he was selected to tour New Zealand and featured in one match. Johnston was also selected to play for New South Wales in the same year and played in three matches scoring two tries. Johnston later became the first Parramatta player to reach 100 points in the NSWRL competition but his time at Parramatta was not very successful and was part of the sides that claimed the 1952 and 1954 wooden spoons and he left the club briefly in 1953 after a dispute with club management and went to play one season in Young. After leaving Parramatta, Johnston moved to Maitland and played a season in the local Newcastle competition before returning to Sydney and signed with Western Suburbs. Johnston spent two seasons at Wests before retiring as a player.
Wikipedia
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