Johnny Houston

John Houston MM & Bar (14 May 1889 – 11 December 1964) was an Irish professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Everton and in the Scottish League for Partick Thistle.[1][4] He was capped by Ireland at international level and represented the Irish League XI.[5]

Johnny Houston
Personal information
Full name John Houston[1]
Date of birth 14 May 1889[2]
Place of birth Ahoghill, Ireland
Date of death 11 December 1964(1964-12-11) (aged 75)[3]
Place of death Belfast, Northern Ireland[3]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–1912 South End Olympic
1912–1913 Linfield
1913–1915 Everton 26 (2)
1915–1919 Linfield
1919–1920 Ulster Rangers
1919–1920 Partick Thistle 17 (0)
International career
1912 Irish League XI 2 (0)
1912–1914 Ireland 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Personal life

Houston served in the Royal Irish Rifles before and during the First World War and held the rank of acting colour sergeant.[6] His brother Leslie died of wounds during the war.[2] Houston won the Military Medal in 1917 for conspicuous bravery, when "during an attack on the enemy’s lines all the officers were put out of action and Sergeant Houston took command of his platoon.[7] Houston led the attack in face of a murderous fire, advance 100 yards and succeeded in taking and holding the objective for 36 hours until relief arrived".[7] He was later awarded a bar to his Military Medal.[2] Houston married in 1915 and later worked at the Belfast General Post Office.[2] He served in the Tank Corps during the Second World War.[2]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Everton 1912–13[8] First Division 7 0 2 0 ― 9 0
1913–14[8] 18 2 0 0 ― 18 2
1914–15[8] 1 0 0 0 ― 1 0
Total 26 2 2 0 ― 28 2
Partick Thistle 1919–20[4] Scottish First Division 17 0 3 1 3[lower-alpha 1] 0 23 1
Career total 43 2 5 1 3 0 51 3
  1. Appearances in Glasgow Cup

Honours

Linfield

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 144. ISBN 978-1905891610.
  2. "Johnny Houston, Footballer and Soldier". Ballymena 1914–1918. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  3. "Johnny Houston". The Thistle Archive. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  4. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  5. "Johnny Houston". NIFG. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  6. "John Houston | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  7. "December 1917". Everton Chronicles. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  8. "John Houston". Everton Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  9. "Houston Johnny Everton 1913". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
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