34 Facts About Craig Johnston

Craig Johnston played as a midfielder in the English Football League between 1977 and 1988, winning the European Cup, five league titles and an FA Cup with Liverpool.

Craig Johnston was a key member of the 1986 "double" winning team.

Craig Johnston co-wrote the team's 1988 cup final song "Anfield Rap".

Craig Johnston was eligible to play for England, Scotland, Australia and South Africa at international level, but only ever appeared for the England U21s.

Craig Johnston was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Australian parents; he returned home to Australia with his family as a small child.

At the age of six, Craig Johnston contracted osteomyelitis and came close to losing his leg and would have done if not for the expertise of an American specialist who was touring and lecturing in Australia at the time.

Chelsea were the first club to reply by giving him a trial and Craig Johnston's parents sold their house to fund his ticket to England.

Craig Johnston made his first team debut for Middlesbrough, aged 17, in an FA Cup tie against Everton.

Craig Johnston's first start came in the Intercontinental Cup fixture against Brazilian side Flamengo.

Craig Johnston scored his first goal for Liverpool on 8 December 1981 against Arsenal at Anfield, during a League Cup fourth round replay.

Craig Johnston, known as Skippy, was a crowd favourite at Anfield during his long spell with the club.

Craig Johnston made a total of 271 appearances for the club and scored 40 goals.

Craig Johnston was part of the League championship-winning teams of 1982 and 1983 and gained a League Cup winner's medal in 1983.

In 1984, Craig Johnston was part of the team which won a treble of League championship, League Cup and European Cup.

Craig Johnston wrote the club's traditional Cup final song called "Anfield Rap" which combined pro-Liverpool lyrics with the rap and house trends of the time, with other Liverpool players contributing.

Craig Johnston was approached by Jock Stein in the early 1980s with a view to him playing for Scotland as he was eligible through his father.

Craig Johnston declined Stein's offer and resisted calls to play for his country Australia in 1981 and 1984.

Craig Johnston instead chose to represent England at under-21 and 'B' team level.

Craig Johnston was called up to the full England squad in November 1987 but did not make an appearance at that level.

Craig Johnston came on for his 271st appearance as a substitute for John Aldridge in the final but ended up on the losing side.

Craig Johnston later dedicated his autobiography, titled Walk Alone, to the victims of the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters.

However, Craig Johnston possesses an undying love for Liverpool and its fans.

Craig Johnston always retorted this speculation stating that he could never play for anyone other than Liverpool.

Craig Johnston later designed another innovative boot called The Pig or, to give them their full title, the Patented Interactive Grip can come as a 'skin' that can be placed over the toe of an existing boot.

However, Craig Johnston had filmed Franz Beckenbauer using the boots in Germany in snowy conditions, and its increased grip led to Adidas agreeing to the proposal.

Craig Johnston invented the Traxion sole for football boots and the software program the 'Butler,' a device that shows what has been removed from minibars in hotel bedrooms.

Craig Johnston is the creator of a gameshow called 'The Main Event.

Craig Johnston invested heavily in a football school idea for inner city children but failed to win expected business backing and went bankrupt.

Craig Johnston has since forged a new career as a photographer.

Craig Johnston was very critical about modern football boot designs, stating they are to blame for the recent spate of metatarsal injuries.

Craig Johnston believed that the studs on the soles of the boots do not release quickly enough, meaning that they get stuck in the ground putting extra pressure on the players' already stressed knees, ankles and metatarsals.

Craig Johnston thought that the problem can be solved by designing a smaller stud that doesn't stick to the soil.

Craig Johnston has been recognised at home for his achievements in England.

On 18 June 2006, Craig Johnston made an appearance as a guest on The Footy Show World Cup Spectacular in Germany revealing information on his career.