Albert "Ricketty" Johnston (1891–1961) was a pioneering Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s, and coached from the 1920s to the 1940s. He was a three-quarter for the Australian national team, and played in eight tests between 1919 and 1922, two as captain.[1]
He was born and grew up in Balmain, Sydney, and started playing rugby league at a junior level when the game commenced in Australia in 1908. In 1911 he made his first grade debut with the Balmain Tigers at half-back. Following Arthur Halloway's move to the Tigers in 1915, Johnston moved to five-eighth and their strong halves partnership was one of factors enabling Balmain to three consecutive premiership titles from 1915 to 1917.[3]
Following his Australian representative appearances in 1920 the admission of the St George Dragons meant that Johnston being a local resident had to play with the club, which he did for his final two club seasons of 1921 and 1922.[3]
Representative careeredit
In 1912 he was selected in a Sydney Metropolis side. In 1913 he was in a New South Wales touring squad to New Zealand as half-back but was kept out of the major matches by the form of his peer Arthur Halloway.[3]
He captained New South Wales in some 1918 games and then made his Australian Test debut in 1919 on Australia's tour of New Zealand. He scored a try on debut assisting Australia to a 44–21 victory. With tour captain Halloway unfit for the 3rd[3] Test Johnston led the side to a series victory in Auckland in the process becoming Australia's 11th Kangaroo captain.
In 1920 Johnston was chosen for the first Test of the domestic Ashes series. He captained the side to an 8–4 victory over England.[3]Herb Gilbert took over as captain for the 2nd and 3rd Tests but Johnston's continued successful halves pairing with Queenslander Duncan Thompson set a platform for the talented backline featuring Harold Horder, Dick Vest and Gilbert, and Australia won the series and the Ashes for the first time on home soil.[3]
Johnston did not captain Australia again. He appeared for New South Wales through till 1922 and toured with the 1921-22 Kangaroos playing in the 1st Test and in 11 tour matches.[3]
Coaching careeredit
Johnston coached Newtown in 1923, 1925 and 1926 and Wests in 1924.[3]
He coached St George in 1933-35 taking the club to their first premiership final.[3]
He was a state selector from 1938 and state coach from 1939 to 1946. He was a national selector in 1946 and coach of the national side for the 1946 first post-WWII Anglo-Australian series.[5]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". Rugby League Project. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
^. Yesterday's Hero. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
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For the rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s 1940s and 1950s for Great Britain England Warrington and Wigan see Albert Johnson rugby league born 1918 For other persons named Albert Johnston see Albert Johnston disambiguation Albert Ricketty Johnston 1891 1961 was a pioneering Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s and coached from the 1920s to the 1940s He was a three quarter for the Australian national team and played in eight tests between 1919 and 1922 two as captain 1 Albert JohnstonPersonal informationFull nameAlbert Victor JohnstonBorn10 May 1891Balmain New South Wales AustraliaDied15 May 1961 1961 05 15 aged 70 Carlton New South Wales AustraliaPlaying informationPositionCentreClub Years Team Pld T G FG P 1912 17 Balmain 78 6 0 0 18 1919 20 Newtown 22 3 0 0 9 1921 22 St George 9 0 0 0 0 Total 109 9 0 0 27 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1913 22 New South Wales 6 2 0 0 6 1919 22 Australia 8 2 0 0 6Coaching informationClub Years Team Gms W D L W 1923 25 26 Newtown 51 16 31 1924 Western Suburbs 8 4 50 1933 35 St George 50 27 0 23 54 Total 109 47 0 23 43 Representative Years Team Gms W D L W 1939 46 New South Wales 1946 Australia 3 0 1 2 0Source 1 2 Contents 1 Playing career 1 1 Club career 1 2 Representative career 1 3 Coaching career 2 Accolades 3 References 4 Sources amp FootnotesPlaying career editClub career edit He was born and grew up in Balmain Sydney and started playing rugby league at a junior level when the game commenced in Australia in 1908 In 1911 he made his first grade debut with the Balmain Tigers at half back Following Arthur Halloway s move to the Tigers in 1915 Johnston moved to five eighth and their strong halves partnership was one of factors enabling Balmain to three consecutive premiership titles from 1915 to 1917 3 He joined Wests for the 1918 season then spent two years as captain coach at Newtown 1919 20 3 Following his Australian representative appearances in 1920 the admission of the St George Dragons meant that Johnston being a local resident had to play with the club which he did for his final two club seasons of 1921 and 1922 3 Representative career edit In 1912 he was selected in a Sydney Metropolis side In 1913 he was in a New South Wales touring squad to New Zealand as half back but was kept out of the major matches by the form of his peer Arthur Halloway 3 He captained New South Wales in some 1918 games and then made his Australian Test debut in 1919 on Australia s tour of New Zealand He scored a try on debut assisting Australia to a 44 21 victory With tour captain Halloway unfit for the 3rd 3 Test Johnston led the side to a series victory in Auckland in the process becoming Australia s 11th Kangaroo captain In 1920 Johnston was chosen for the first Test of the domestic Ashes series He captained the side to an 8 4 victory over England 3 Herb Gilbert took over as captain for the 2nd and 3rd Tests but Johnston s continued successful halves pairing with Queenslander Duncan Thompson set a platform for the talented backline featuring Harold Horder Dick Vest and Gilbert and Australia won the series and the Ashes for the first time on home soil 3 Johnston did not captain Australia again He appeared for New South Wales through till 1922 and toured with the 1921 22 Kangaroos playing in the 1st Test and in 11 tour matches 3 Coaching career edit Johnston coached Newtown in 1923 1925 and 1926 and Wests in 1924 3 He coached St George in 1933 35 taking the club to their first premiership final 3 Accolades editHe was awarded Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1938 4 He was a state selector from 1938 and state coach from 1939 to 1946 He was a national selector in 1946 and coach of the national side for the 1946 first post WWII Anglo Australian series 5 References edit a b Statistics at rugbyleagueproject org Rugby League Project 31 December 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 Statistics at Yesterday s Hero archived Yesterday s Hero 31 December 2017 Archived from the original on 31 August 2012 Retrieved 1 January 2018 a b c d e f g h i j Whiticker pp 59 61 Referee Sydney 15 December 1938 page 23 The Courier Mail Brisbane Ricketty Johnson to coach Australian Team 5 April 1946 Sources amp Footnotes editWhiticker Alan 2004 Captaining the Kangaroos New Holland Sydney Sporting positions Preceded byHarry Kadwell1931 1932 Coach nbsp St George1933 1935 Succeeded byArthur Justice1936 Preceded byBill Farnsworth1924 Coach nbsp Newtown1925 1926 Succeeded byJack Chaseling1929 Preceded byTedda Courtney1923 Coach nbsp Western Suburbs1924 Succeeded byClarrie Prentice1927 Preceded byArthur Halloway1923 Coach nbsp Newtown1923 Succeeded byBill Farnsworth1924 Preceded byArthur Halloway1919 Captain nbsp Australia1919 1920 Succeeded byHerb Gilbert1920 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Albert Johnston rugby league amp oldid 1153728407, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
