Johnston was a member of the South Sydney squad that made the 1939 premiership decider.
Not be confused with Harold F.Johnson. Johnston made his senior grade premiership debut in the 1929 Round 2 Reserve Grade clash against Glebe at the Sport Ground. He would play 2 seasons in Third Grade with South Sydney, between 1929 and 1930.
Johnston then joined his brother Alec Johnston who was coaching the South Sydney Fernleigh team, in the Third Grade affiliate competition in 1931. In 1932 he moved to play with Maitland United. He would remain there until he came back to South Sydney in 1939. He started the 1939 season in Reserve Grade, before stepping up and making his belated first grade premiership debut for South Sydney in the 1939 Round 3 clash against Newtown at Henson Park.
With the retirement of Percy Williams, Johnston joined a number of players looking to fill the void.
Johnston played 3 seasons with South Sydney in 1929, 1930 and 1939. He played 10 first grade club games, which included 8 first grade premiership games. He played 43 senior grade club games for South Sydney which included 41 senior grade premiership games. He also played 3 short form games for South Sydney.
In 1930 Johnston was the South Sydney Third Grade captain.
Johnston played his final first grade premiership game for South Sydney in the 1939 Round 13 clash against Balmain at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He then returned to reserve grade to play out the season, playing his final senior grade premiership and club game in the 1939 Reserve Grade Semi-Final clash against North Sydney at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Player Relatives
Brother - Johnston, Alec
Representative Qualification
NSW City
Date of Birth
Sydney - 24th June 1909 (Died - 1974)
South Sydney Junior Club
South Sydney Fernleigh
Previous Clubs First Grade
M T G FG Pt
South Sydney Fernleigh 3GA (1931)
Maitland United (1932-38)
Playing Career at South Sydney (1929-30,39)
South Sydney First Grade Debut
1939 Apr 29 Rd03 Hens v Newtown (29y 309d)
First Grade
Premiership : State Championship : Tour
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1939 8 8 - 1 - - 3 : - - - - - - - : 2 2 - 2 - - 6
TOTAL 8 8 - 1 - - 3 : - - - - - - - : 2 2 - 2 - - 6
SS FG 10 10 - 3 - - 6
South Sydney Senior Grade Debut
1929 Apr 25 Rd02 SSG v Glebe (Reserve Grade)
Lower Grades
Second Grade : Third Grade :
Year M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts :
1929 2 2 - - - - - : 13 13 - 3 2 - 13
1930 - - - - - - - : 11 11 - - 1 - 2
1939 7 7 - 2 - - 6 : - - - - - - -
TOTAL 9 9 - 2 - - 6 : 24 24 - 3 3 - 15
South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
Premiership : All Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
CAREER 41 41 - 6 3 - 24 : 43 43 - 8 3 - 30
Short Form
Short-Game Knockout
M S R T G/A FG Pts
1939 3 3 - - - - -
TOTAL 3 3 - - - - -
SS SF 3 3 - - - - -
Captaincy Record at South Sydney
Lower Grades
Year RG( W- D-L %) : 3G( W- D-L %)
1930 : 9( 6- 0-3 67%)
TOTAL : 9( 6- 0-3 67%)
CAREER 9( 6- 0-3 67%)
Suspension Record at South Sydney
Year Grade v Wk CHARGE never
Representative Honours at South Sydney
Year Pos Team Versus Match T G/A FG none
Player News
After Leaving South Sydney
Subsequent Clubs Military Service (1941-45) Army Private
Ref - RLP / FaG / CI / NAA-213869 / FN-46 / Err-2 / Err-5 / Err-9
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