DAVID POTTER’S opinion piece on Mo Johnston this morning – as we approach the 30th Anniversary of him scoring for Rangers against Celtic at Ibrox and then celebrating the way he did with their support, has certainly re-ignited some old anger and opened old wounds relating to this most disgraced former Celtic player.
Maurice Johnston was born in Glasgow on 13 April 1963. He began his career at Partick Thistle in 1981, scoring 41 goals in 85 appearances, before winning a transfer to Elton John’s Watford in 1983. Johnston scored 23 league goals in English football, made his international debut, and helped the team reach 1984 FA Cup Final, where Watford lost 2-0 to Everton.
After just over a season with Watford Johnston moved to Celtic where he became a prolific scorer and a favourite with a large section of the Celtic support. Johnston netted 52 goals in 140 matches, winning the Scottish Cup in 1985 and League Championship in 1986 after a dramatic last day snatch of the title from Hearts.
Celtic needed to win by four goals at Love Street in Paisley and hope that Hearts would lose at Dens Park. The Hoops put on a vintage performance and had their part of the bargain sealed by half time. It was the transistor radio’s finest football moment, when with less than ten minutes to go, news reached the Celtic supporters with the trannies at their ears that Albert Kidd had scored not once but twice for Dundee. Celtic would be champions at the final whistle.
Johnston had established an international reputation while playing for Scotland. In one memorable World Cup Qualifying match at Hampden in November 1984 he scored twice against Spain in a 3-1 victory and this type of performance opened the door for him to move to the continent.
Johnston left Celtic for France in 1987 signing for Nantes but Glasgow was never far way from his thoughts. His time in France seemed to make him a more complete footballer for those Scotland fans who had previous watched him in play domestically in Scottish football. Rumours in the media that a return home to his boyhood favourites Celtic seemed likely and gave Celtic fans a great deal of hope in increasing tough times.
Souness had arrived at Ibrox and shortly afterwards David Murray’s (ultimately bouncy) cheque-book became a factor in Scottish football. Rangers, languishing mid table in the league for much of the first half of the 1980’s, saw their chance.
While Celtic hesitated over an outstanding tax matter at Johnston’s end Murray and Souness pounced. Murray was a businessman who believed that he could be as creative as he liked when it came to dealings with the taxman. He later discovered that Hector had teeth.
Having never signed a Roman Catholic player – an increasing untenable position in the modern game and one that FIFA were now taking an interest in – the Ibrox bosses saw their opportunity to solve their problem with the football authorities and at the same time break the collective Celtic spirit.
Johnston, who had posed for photographs with a Celtic top ahead of a return to Paradise, did the unthinkable and instead signed for Rangers. In doing so he became only the second player to have played for both Celtic and Rangers in the post war era. The first was Alfie Conn who Jock Stein signed for Celtic from Tottenham in the 70’s.
Alfie played for Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final victory over Rangers in 1977 when Andy Lynch scored the only goal from the penalty spot. But there was no religious discrimination at Celtic – indeed Jock Stein himself was protestant.
Johnston became the first Catholic to have played for Rangers in the 20th Century and he did it whilst jilting Celtic at the alter.
The legend of Judas was born.
After winning trophies at Ibrox but with little love coming from its bigoted stands, Johnston moved to Everton then had spells at Hearts, Falkirk and American MLS side Kansas City Wizards before retiring in 2001. Johnston has settled in the USA, destined to exile for his infamy and disliked in equal measures by Celtic and Rangers supporters.
