FootballerEnglishManchester UnitedFootball League

Samuel Johnson (English footballer)

Samuel Clay Johnson was an English footballer who played as a forward, known for his brief professional career and a single league appearance for Newton Heath.

1. Early Life

Samuel Clay Johnson's early life is characterized by his birth in Manchester, a significant industrial and footballing city in England.

1.1. Birth and Background

Johnson was born in July 1881 in Manchester, England. Details regarding his childhood environment or family relations are not extensively recorded.

2. Football Career

Johnson's professional football career spanned a few years in the early 20th century, primarily involving transfers between various clubs with limited playing time at the senior level.

2.1. Club Career

Johnson began his football career with Tonge. In January 1901, he transferred to Newton Heath, which would later become Manchester United. He made his sole league appearance for Newton Heath on March 20, 1901, participating in a 3-2 home defeat against Leicester Fosse. After his time at Newton Heath, Johnson moved to Barnsley for the 1901-02 season. However, he did not make any appearances for the club during this period. In November 1902, he transferred to Heywood, further details of his career there are not readily available.

2.2. Position and Playing Style

Samuel Clay Johnson's regular playing position was as a forward. In his single league appearance for Newton Heath, he played specifically at inside right. This position typically involved a player who could both score goals and create chances for teammates, operating between the central and wide attacking roles.

3. Later Life and Death

Following his football career, information about Samuel Clay Johnson's later life is scarce. His exact date of death is recorded as unknown.

4. Assessment

Samuel Clay Johnson's professional football career was notably brief and limited in terms of appearances. His single league match for Newton Heath stands as the primary highlight of his time in the professional game. Despite playing for several clubs, including two that would become prominent in English football, his inability to secure further playing time suggests a career that, for various reasons, did not fully materialize at the highest levels. His contributions to the sport were largely confined to the early stages of his career, with his later life and passing remaining outside of public record.