Everton Johnson grew up in
Halewood as a boyhood
Kopite. He subbed on late in the Athens 0–0 second leg, but Everton went out on away goals. Four days later, Johnson was left out the
FA Cup semi-final squad that lost 2–1 to a
Liverpool comeback, to end a week later reported as marking the end of the great Everton side from the previous decade. Johnson scored on his
Merseyside derby debut at Goodison Park's Gwladys Street end in Everton's 1–0 league win. He volleyed in a rebound after
Ray Clemence had pushed his header on to the post.
Bryan Hamilton and the clever
Colin Viljoen both weighing in with goals from midfield. Johnson assisted Whymark putting Ipswich 2–1 ahead in what was reported as Johnson having "a fine debut". Johnson's first Ipswich goal was on 2 December the same year, drawing 1–1 in the league at
Manchester City with a first time left foot equaliser from inside the box. That was the first of four Johnson goals in three games (all in the league), including a double against
Crystal Palace in a 2–1 home win. On 17 February, Johnson's headers from set-pieces led to two Hamilton goals, winning 4–1 in the league against
Manchester United before the then-record 31,857 Portman Road crowd. Johnson played on 10 March when that Portman Road record was surpassed when 34,632 saw
Arsenal win in the league 2–1. Another of his goals that season was when losing 2–1 in the league at Liverpool on 24 February. 4–2 on aggregate (both 2–1 victories), over East Anglian derby rivals
Norwich City. Johnson did not play in the away second leg. caused Johnson's stretchering off, needing scrotal stitches. Johnson consequently missed Ipswich's next three games. Johnson returned to the bench for the second leg in
Rome. Pre-kickoff,
Trevor Whymark was handed a commemorative trophy by a group of
Roma fans for his four first leg goals against their arch-rivals. That Roma provocation sparked Lazio
ultras and players to an evening of violence. Johnson subbed on in the 83rd minute.
Giorgio Chinaglia soon after scored his third of the game to put the tie back in the balance, 4–1 on the night (5–4 on aggregate to Ipswich). Johnson's low left foot finish from just outside the box then settled the tie 6–4. "Believe me, it was not football, it was war." Robson said afterwards. Ipswich beat
Frans Thijssen and
FC Twente home (1–0) and away (2–1) in the third round. Ipswich then lost the quarter-final to
Locomotiv Leipzig 4–3 on penalties. Both legs were 1–0 home wins.
Mick Mills was sent off in the 40th minute of the away second leg with the score at 0–0. Ipswich again finished fourth in the
league, qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
1974–75 season In the
UEFA Cup first round,
Frans Thijssen and
FC Twente eliminated Ipswich on away goals (2–2 in Ipswich, then 1–1 in
Enschede). Ipswich domestically chased the league and FA Cup double. Ipswich topped the table after a 2–0 home win over
Middlesbrough on 11 January, with Johnson's right foot shot from the just outside the box the second goal. All Ipswich
FA Cup opponents were fellow First Division clubs. Johnson scored in the third round round 2–1 win at
Wolverhampton Wanderers. He played in the fourth round, eliminating holders, Liverpool, 1–0 at home. His goal at 0–2 down in the fifth round hosting
Aston Villa, sparked a comeback 3–2 win. He also played the key pass to Talbot leading to
Bryan Hamilton's equaliser. They needed three "stamina sapping" March FA Cup quarter-final replays to eliminate
Leeds United. Johnson started all four games, including the 0–0 first of the four, setting a 38,010 Portman Road crowd record that still stands. Johnson headed Ipswich ahead in the away 1–1 first replay. The third game was another 0–0, this time at neutral
Filbert Street. Johnson was subbed off injured in the 37th minute of the fourth game, a 3–2 win played at Filbert Street again. He consequently missed Ipswich's next five games. Johnson thus missed the April semi-final 0–0 draw with
West Ham United, and the 2–1 replay loss. Results elsewhere that day meant Ipswich missed the chance to top the league for the first time since mid-January. That league season Ipswich, "made the early running, but fixture congestion and a relatively thin squad got the better of them." Title contenders Ipswich (2–1 at Leeds), Liverpool and
Everton all lost on the league season's penultimate Saturday on 19 April. Ipswich drawing their game in hand 1–1 four days later at
Manchester City won the title that day for
Dave Mackay's
Derby County. Ipswich finished third in that
league season, two points behind, but consoled by their third consecutive UEFA Cup qualification. Johnson again scored 15 goals in a season, this time in 48 games. Four days later, Johnson scored the winner in a 2–1 victory over
Feyenoord in the first leg first round of the
UEFA Cup. That was followed up by a 2–0 second leg home win. Against
Club Brugge in the second round, Ipswich won 3–0 at home but went out losing 4–0 in the away tie. Johnson and Ipswich ended the
league season in sixth, the lowest of his four Ipswich seasons. He scored eight goals in 43 games. Johnson scored 46 goals in 178 Ipswich appearances.
Liverpool Aged 24, Johnson joined
Bob Paisley's
Liverpool on 12 August 1976, In Johnson's first Liverpool season he was a frequent substitute, vying with the established Toshack and the young
David Fairclough to partner
Kevin Keegan. On 21 August, the opening day of the season, Johnson made his debut for Liverpool in a 1–0 home win over Norwich. He scored his first Liverpool goal a week later on 28 August, losing 2–1 at
Birmingham City. Liverpool progressed 4–2 on aggregate. this time in his derby debut for Liverpool. As of February 2025, only
Peter Beardsley has also scored playing for both teams in a Merseyside derby. he and Dalglish scored 55 goals that season between them.
Return to Everton Aged 30, Johnson returned to
Everton in August 1982 for £100,000, signed by ex-Everton early 70s team mate,
Howard Kendall. He scored five goals in his second Everton spell.
Loan to Barnsley He did not see out his second season back at Goodison after initially, being loaned on 2 February 1984 for a month to
Norman Hunter's
Barnsley. Barnsley won that
Second Division game 2–1 on 25 February.
Later career Aged 32, Johnson ended the 1983–84 season at
Billy McNeill's
Manchester City. Johnson then spent that summer under
Wim Suurbier at
Tulsa Roughnecks in the
NASL. On 10 October 1984 (13 days before his 33rd birthday), he signed for
Alan Kelly at
Preston North End, staying for the rest of that season. In August 1985, he joined non-league
Barrow, player-managing them from October for six months. In August 1986 aged 34, he joined
Naxxar Lions, under the revolution since 1984 of club President,
Michael Zammit Tabona. Naxxar earned three promotions in three years between 1986 and 1989, entering the Premier Division for the first time in the club's history. Johnson trained at Liverpool's Melwood training ground, flying to Malta once a fortnight to play. ==International career==