Hardcover with dust jacket
The Last of Football's True Artists
Bobby Johnstone's Story
Few names in Scottish football history are as illustrious as Bobby Johnstone's. Author John Leigh masterfully captures the essence of an era when leather footballs were heavy, terraces heaved with passionate supporters, and the maximum wage still existed. Through meticulous research and personal accounts, Leigh paints a vivid portrait of a footballer whose story embodies the passing of a golden age in British football.
Johnstone was born in the Scottish Borders town of Selkirk as the 1920s drew to a close, and his early years were marked by hardship and determination. The author skilfully weaves together tales from Bobby's childhood, where his natural talent for football emerged despite the challenging circumstances of post-war Britain.
Perhaps most remarkably, Leigh illuminates Johnstone's pivotal role in the legendary 'Famous Five' forward line at Hibernian. Alongside Gordon Smith, Eddie Turnbull, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Ormond, Johnstone helped transform Hibs from a club bereft of major honours for four decades into a footballing powerhouse. The author's detailed accounts of matches from this period transport readers to a time when Scottish football rivalled any in the world.
Leigh's narrative truly comes alive when describing Johnstone's historic achievement at Manchester City. In an era before instant replays and worldwide television coverage, Bobby became the first player to score in consecutive FA Cup Finals at Wembley. The author's description of the 1956 final, where City's goalkeeper Bert Trautmann famously played on with a broken neck, captures both the glory and grit of 1950s football.
The book doesn't shy away from Johnstone's later career challenges, including his return to Hibernian and subsequent move to Oldham Athletic. Leigh masterfully describes how Bobby's arrival at Boundary Park breathed new life into a struggling club, drawing crowds of over 17,000 where previously only die-hard supporters remained.
Throughout the narrative, the author weaves in fascinating interviews with Johnstone's former teammates and contemporaries, offering unique insights into both the man and the era. These first-hand accounts contribute to the portrayal of a footballer who pursued the game for its pure joy, not for the exorbitant salaries of today's stars.
Most poignantly, Leigh captures the uncertainty faced by players of Johnstone's generation as they approached retirement. In an age before lucrative television contracts and image rights, even the most talented footballers often faced precarious futures once their playing days ended. This stark reality serves as a reminder of how dramatically the beautiful game has changed in the intervening decades.
Bobby Johnstone's final years
Bobby Johnstone passed away on August 22, 2001, at the age of 71 in his hometown of Selkirk. In his later years, he remained in the Scottish Borders area where he had grown up. In 1961, he tied the knot with Heather Roden, a union that disintegrated in 1985. Despite the changes in modern football, he remained a beloved figure in Scottish football circles, particularly among Hibernian and Manchester City supporters. He was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame for his significant contribution to the sport.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48
Publisher: Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd
Published: May 1, 2007
Price: £19.99
Hardcover: 192 pages
ISBN-10: 185983549X
ISBN-13: 978-1859835494
Dimensions: 240 x 165 (mm)
Lavishly illustrated
Postage Weight: 650g
NEW - MINT - PRISTINE - NEVER BEEN OPENED
