Danny Johnson (footballer)

Daniel Johnson (born 28 February 1993) is an English professional footballer, who plays for English League Two club Leyton Orient.

Danny Johnson
Johnson playing for Cardiff City in 2014
Personal information
Full name Daniel Johnson[1]
Date of birth (1993-02-28) 28 February 1993
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
Leyton Orient
Number 39
Youth career
Middlesbrough
2010–2011 Hartlepool United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Real Murcia B
2012 Harrogate Town 2 (0)
2012–2013 Billingham Synthonia 21 (9)
2013–2014 Guisborough Town 48 (51)
2014–2015 Cardiff City 0 (0)
2014Tranmere Rovers (loan) 4 (0)
2015Stevenage (loan) 4 (0)
2015–2018 Gateshead 110 (44)
2018–2019 Motherwell 22 (6)
2019–2020 Dundee 19 (5)
2020– Leyton Orient 28 (16)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:00, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

Johnson began his career in the youth academies at home-town club Middlesbrough and Hartlepool United but was released by both clubs without making a first-team appearance. After spells with non-league sides Harrogate Town and Billingham Synthonia, Johnson rose to national prominence after a prolific season with Guisborough Town in the Northern Football League, attracting the attention of several Football League clubs, scoring 59 goals during the 2013–14 season.

His exploits for Guisborough saw him join Football League Championship side Cardiff City the following season. However, he did not make a first-team appearance for the club, spending parts of the season out on loan at Football League Two clubs Tranmere Rovers and Stevenage before being released following the expiration of his contract, signing for Gateshead in July 2015. Johnson moved to Motherwell in 2018, where he spent one year before signing for Dundee in July 2019. In January 2020 he signed for league two club Leyton Orient.

Club career

Early career

Johnson began his career as a youngster with Middlesbrough and later moved into the youth system at Hartlepool United, scoring 21 goals for the club's youth team during the 2010–11 season, but was released in May 2011 without making a first-team appearance. He moved to Spain with Real Murcia before returning to England, spending time on trial with Rochdale before having a brief spell with Harrogate Town, making his debut against Histon, before being released.[3] He later joined Billingham Synthonia.[4]

Guisborough Town

In March 2013, Johnson joined Guisborough Town having impressed manager Chris Hardy and scored six goals in nine league appearances at the end of the 2012–13 season. He started the following year in impressive form, scoring six goals in a pre-season friendly against local side Redcar Athletic and added his first competitive hat-trick soon after in a 3–3 draw with Jarrow Roofing in the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup.[4] He went on to enjoy a prolific season at the club, scoring 59 goals in all competitions, helping the side to win the North Riding Senior Cup, scoring the only goal in the final,[5] a 1–0 win over former club Middlesbrough and finishing top scorer in Division One of the Northern Football League.[6] At the end of his prolific 2013–14 season, Johnson received a plethora of awards, including the clubs Managers' Player of the Year, the Northern Football League's Young Player of the Year award and BBC Newcastle's Player of the Year award.[4]

Cardiff City

Johnson's scoring exploits for Guisborough attracted interest from numerous clubs including his former club Middlesbrough, where he had two spells training with the first team,[7] Huddersfield Town and Carlisle United before eventually signing for Football League Championship side Cardiff City after scoring for the club's development squad during a pre-season tour against FK Sarajevo.[8] Following his return to professional football, Guisborough manager Chris Hardy commented ""He is an out-and-out goal scorer and more mature now than when he was in the pro game before""[4]

After spending the opening months of the season in the sides development squad, Johnson signed for Football League Two side Tranmere Rovers on an initial one-month loan deal in October 2014.[9] He made his professional debut soon after in a 0–0 draw with Mansfield Town on 21 October 2014, playing 71 minutes before being replaced by George Donnelly,[10] and scored his first professional goal on 11 November in a 2–1 win over Bury in the Football League Trophy.[11] He made just one more appearance for the club before returning to Cardiff.

After continuing to score regularly for Cardiff's under-21 development squad, Johnson was again loaned out, returning to League Two with Stevenage for an initial one month loan deal on 2 February.[12] He made one start for the club and three brief substitute appearances without scoring before returning to Cardiff in late March. At the end of the season, Johnson was not offered a new contract with Cardiff and was subsequently released.[13]

Gateshead

Following his release, Johnson spent time on trial with League Two side York City, appearing in pre-season friendly matches against Leeds United and Middlesbrough. He was offered a further week long trial at the club following this but instead chose to sign for National League side Gateshead,[14] managed by former Middlesbrough assistant manager Malcolm Crosby, stating that the club had "made him feel wanted from the outset".[15] He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2015–16 season, starting in a 2–1 win over Aldershot Town before being replaced by Ryan Bowman after 61 minutes.[16] He scored his first goals for the club soon after with a brace against Guiseley during a 2–0 win on 29 August 2015.[17]

His next goal for the club came three matches later during a 2–1 victory over Eastleigh during which Johnson suffered an injury after a heavy collision with Eastleigh goalkeeper Michael Poke.[18] After a weak header back to Poke by defender Jamie Turley, Johnson beat the Eastleigh goalkeeper to the ball to score but was caught by a strong follow through by Poke. Johnson suffered a bruised lung as well as muscle damage in his ribs and hips and was stretchered off, later claiming that he believed that he was going to suffer a seizure due to the severity of the collision,[19] which kept him out for a month.

Motherwell

In June 2018, Johnson signed a two-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Motherwell.[20] He started the season well, scoring goals in high-profile matches, including against one against Rangers,[21] a double in a 3–0 victory against Aberdeen,[22] and a late equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Celtic.[23] Despite having a goals to games ratio of one in two start in the first half of the season, a change of formation limited his appearances during the second half of the season.[24]

Dundee

On 26 July 2019, Johnson moved to Scottish Championship side Dundee on a two-year contract.[25] He scored on his debut for Dundee in a 1–0 victory over Inverness CT in the Scottish League Cup group stages.[26] Johnson then played a crucial role in the opening game of the league season, scoring two penalties against Dunfermline Athletic to earn his side a point as they came from 2–0 down to draw 2–2,[27] and he scored once again from the spot in a League Cup tie against Aberdeen in a 2–1 defeat.[28] In the first Dundee Derby of the season, Johnson had a goal which would have given Dundee the lead, wrongly disallowed for offside, and his side then went on to lose 6–2.[29] Johnson scored early on in the following match, a 2–1 win over Alloa Athletic.[30]

Leyton Orient

On 27 January 2020, Johnson signed for EFL League Two side Leyton Orient.[31] He scored his first goal on 22 February, scoring the last goal in a 2–2 draw with Oldham Athletic.[32]

International career

In September 2015, Johnson was called up to an England C training camp being held at Warwick University but was forced to withdraw due to injury.[33] In March 2016, Johnson was placed on the standby list for England C's International Challenge Trophy match against Ukraine.[34]

Career statistics

As of 24 January 2020 [2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Harrogate Town 2012–13 Conference North 20000020
Billingham Synthonia 2012–13 NFL - Div 1 2190000219
Guisborough Town 2012–13[35] NFL - Div 1 96000096
2013–14[35] 394599755559
Total 48519900756465
Cardiff City 2014–15[36] Championship 0000000000
Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2014–15[36] League Two 4000001[lower-alpha 1]151
Stevenage (loan) 2014–15[36] League Two 4000000040
Gateshead 2015–16 National League 3613104[lower-alpha 2]24115
2016–17 3818101[lower-alpha 2]04018
2017–18 3613218[lower-alpha 2]64620
Total 11044410013812753
Motherwell 2018–19[37] Scottish Premiership 2261052288
2019–20[38] 00000000
Total 226105200288
Dundee 2019–20[38] Scottish Championship 195102200227
Career total 2301151510742114273143
  1. Appearance in the Football League Trophy
  2. Appearance in the FA Trophy

Honours

Guisborough Town

References

  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Leyton Orient" (PDF). English Football League. p. 37. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  2. Danny Johnson at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  3. "Daniel Johnson". Harrogate Town F.C. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  4. "Danny Johnson leaves Guisborough Town & signs for Cardiff City". Guisborough Town F.C. 12 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  5. Martin Neal (11 August 2014). "Teesside goal machine Danny Johnson signs for Cardiff City". Gazette Live. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  6. "Top Scorers". Northern Football League. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  7. "Boro show and interest in 56-goal Gusborough Town striker Danny Johnson". Gazette Live. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  8. "New striker Danny Johsnon is already amongst the goals as he looks to improve on last year's tally of 56 in 51 games". South Wales Echo. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  9. "Cardiff striker Danny Johnson joins on loan". BBC Sport. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  10. "Tranmere 0–0 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  11. "Bury 1–2 Tranmere". BBC Sport. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  12. "Transfer Deadline Day: Stevenage sign Andrade & Johnson". BBC Sport. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  13. "RETAIN LIST 2015/16". Cardiff City F.C. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  14. "Daniel Johnson: Gateshead sign ex-Cardiff City striker". BBC Sport. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  15. "Teesside hotshot Danny Johnson signs for Gateshead". 20 July 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  16. "Aldershot 1–2 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  17. "Guiseley 0–2 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  18. "Eastleigh 1–2 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  19. "Gateshead FC striker Danny Johnson 'thought he was going to have a seizure'". ChronicleLive. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  20. "Danny Johnson: Motherwell sign striker from Gateshead". BBC Sport. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  21. Palmer, Bryn (26 August 2018). "Motherwell 3–3 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  22. Mitchell, Paul (24 November 2018). "Motherwell 3–0 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  23. Mullen, Scott (5 December 2018). "Motherwell 1–1 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  24. Robertson, Neil (27 July 2019). "New Dundee signing Danny Johnson determined to win promotion for the first time in his career". The Courier. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  25. "Danny Johnson: Dundee sign striker from Motherwell". BBC Sport. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  26. "Dundee 1–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle". BBC Sport. 28 July 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  27. McLauchlin, Brian (2 August 2019). "Dunfermline Athletic 2–2 Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  28. McLauchlin, Brian (18 August 2019). "Dundee 1–2 Aberdeen (AET)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  29. Elgott, Jordan (30 August 2019). "Dundee United 6–2 Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  30. "Dundee 2-1 Alloa Athletic: Jordan McGhee ends winless run for hosts". BBC Sport. 14 September 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  31. "Danny Johnson: Leyton Orient sign striker from Dundee". BBC Sport. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  32. "Leyton Orient 2-2 Oldham Athletic: Two goals from Zak Dearnley earn Oldham Athletic a draw against Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  33. "Gateshead's Danny Johnson won't give up on England C ambitions". Newcastle Press. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  34. "A great honour for me – Johnson". Gateshead FC. 9 March 2016. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  35. "Season archive". Guisborough Town F.C. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  36. "Games played by Danny Johnson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  37. "Games played by Danny Johnson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  38. "Games played by Danny Johnson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
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