Paul Johnson (footballer, born 1955)

Paul Anthony Johnson (born 19 September 1955) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Chester and Stoke City.^[1] During his time at Stoke he is referenced by his full name to avoid confusion with another Paul Johnson who was at Stoke at the same time.^[1]

Paul Johnson

Personal information
Full name	Paul Anthony Johnson^[1]
Date of birth	(1955-09-19) 19 September 1955 (age 68)^[1]
Place of birth	Stoke-on-Trent, England^[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1976–1982	Stoke City	56	(0)
1978	→ Southern California Lazers (loan)	24	(2)
1982–1983	Chester	19	(0)
–	Altrincham
Total		99	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Johnson was born in Stoke-on-Trent and began his career with local side Stoke City progressing to the first team in 1976.^[1] At the same time another youth team player of the same name started to break into the first team.^[1] Johnson was the more successful of the two playing in 60 matches for Stoke before joining Chester in 1982.^[1] In the summer of 1978, Johnson was loaned to the second division American Soccer League side Southern California Lazers, for whom he made 24 appearances before returning to Stoke.^[2][3] He went on to play for non-league Altrincham.^[1]

Career statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Group Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stoke City^[1]	1976–77	First Division	8	0	0	0	0	0	–		8	0
	1977–78	Second Division	5	0	0	0	0	0	–		5	0
	1978–79	Second Division	2	0	0	0	0	0	–		2	0
	1979–80	First Division	15	0	0	0	0	0	–		15	0
	1980–81	First Division	13	0	0	0	2	0	–		15	0
	1981–82	First Division	13	0	1	0	1	0	–		15	0
	Total		56	0	1	0	3	0	–		60	0
Southern California Lazers	1978	ASL	24	2	–		–		–		24	2
Chester	1982–83	Fourth Division	19	0	1	0	2	0	3	0	25	0
Career Total			99	2	2	0	5	0	3	0	109	2

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. "1978 Southern California Lazers". Fun While It Lasted. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
3. "1978 Southern California Lazers Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved 3 December 2020.