Ross Mccormack

Edward William "Eddie" Johnson (born 20 September 1984) is an England professional association football who plays for Chester City F.C.. He is a midfielder but has also previously played as a striker. Born in Chester, he began his career with Crewe Alexandra F.C. and Manchester United F.C.'s academies. He had loan spells with Royal Antwerp, Coventry City F.C. and Crewe Alexandra, before he was released by Manchester United in 2006 and joined Bradford City A.F.C., where he played 64 league games in two seasons. He has also represented his country at England national youth football team level.

Career

Manchester United

Born in Chester, Johnson attended The Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School in the city. He started his career at Crewe Alexandra F.C. at the age of 10 but in 1999 signed for Manchester United F.C. as a junior player, where he was part of the 2003 FA Youth Cup winning team. He made his debut for United on 28 October 2003 against Leeds United A.F.C. when he came on as a 112th minute substitute in a 3–2 Football League Cup victory at Elland Road.

He was loaned out to the Belgium club R. Antwerp F.C. in January 2004 where he made 11 appearances, scoring five goals. In July 2004, he was sent on loan to Football League Championship-side Coventry City F.C. for the 2004-05 in English football season in order to gain first-team experience. He scored on his Coventry debut in a 2–0 victory against Sunderland A.F.C. on 7 August 2004. He scored a second later that month in a 4–1 defeat of Nottingham Forest F.C.. He did not score again until October, when he scored three times in four games, but they proved to be his last goals of the season.

In July 2005, he again moved on loan this time returning to Crewe Alexandra in a six-month deal. Three more goals followed by the end of 2005 who then offered him a permanent deal. Hull and Manchester United agreed a fee for Johnson but he decided to extend his loan deal at Crewe until the end of the 2005-06 in English football season. but also attracted interest from Barnsley F.C. and Bradford City A.F.C., the latter of whom he joined on a two-year deal.

Bradford City

The start of Johnson's career at Bradford City was marred by injury in a pre-season friendly at Boston United F.C. which was expected to keep him out of the first month of the season. He recovered to make his debut in City's 2006-07 in English football season's opening game at Nottingham Forest F.C. as a late substitute. Two weeks later he scored his first Bradford goals by netting twice against his former club Crewe in a 3–0 Bradford victory. Johnson struggled for goals at City, and had only scored another two by the time he was ruled out for a month after going off at half-time against Chesterfield F.C. on 16 December 2006 with a shin injury. He returned to the City team after a six-game absence for a Friday night game with Tranmere Rovers, which ended 1–1. He had a goal disallowed against Yeovil Town F.C. a week later for offside, with his namesake Jermaine Johnson being penalty card red card for dissent. City manager Colin Todd was sacked, with his replacement David Wetherall converting Johnson from a striker to a midfielder after an injury to Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. However, City were relegated after a defeat to Chesterfield F.C. with Johnson finishing the season with just four goals.

At the start of the 2007-08 in English football season, new manager Stuart McCall continued to employ Johnson in a midfield role, and he was rewarded with goals in back-to-back games and the club's player of the month in September. In November, he was ruled out for 11 weeks because of a back injury, He returned two weeks later as a second half substitute against Bury F.C.. He was used in his former striker's role later in the season, and scored his sixth league goal in a 1–0 victory over Morecambe F.C. on 5 April 2008. He scored again three days later in a 1–1 draw with Barnet F.C., as he tried to secure a new contract with Bradford. However, on 29 April 2008, Johnson was deemed to be surplus to requirements at Valley Parade and was released by manager Stuart McCall along with 13 other Bradford players. He played a total of 71 games in all competitions for City, scoring eight goals.

Chester City

In June 2008, he was offered a two-year contract by fellow Football League Two side Chester City F.C., but two weeks later, he turned down the deal. Instead he returned to Crewe Alexandra on trial, and scored twice in a 4–1 pre-season friendly victory over Quorn F.C. on 16 July 2008. Despite spending the rest of the summer with Crewe, the club decided not to offer him a full-time contract, because coach Steve Holland (football) felt he was not better than the club's other forwards. Instead, Johnson was given another chance with Chester City, with whom he trained in the run up to the start of the 2008-09 in English football season. He scored in a friendly against an Everton F.C. reserve team, but despite the club wanting to sign Johnson, the transfer was put on hold because of the club's salaray cap. Johnson had to wait a number of weeks to sign for Chester, after a deal to take Paul Rutherford (footballer) to Northwich Victoria F.C., freeing up money to pay Johnson, failed to go through before the 2008 summer transfer deadline closed. Johnson finally signed for Chester on 15 October, agreeing a two-year contract with his hometown club.