AFTER a career that yielded two league titles, three league cups and a Champions League dalliance with Celtic, Cliftonville favourite Barry Johnston has moved to newly promoted Carrick Rangers. As he tells Brendan Crossan, the Reds will always be close to his heart...
BC: What were the reasons behind your move to Carrick?
BJ: I spoke to Gary Haveron [Carrick Rangers manager] and I asked Gerard [Lawlor] and Tommy [Breslin] what they thought. I didn’t think I’d play as many games for Cliftonville this season and there are obviously young players coming through at the club and I don’t want to be seen as holding anyone back at the club. The opportunity came to play more games plus get the chance to do a bit of coaching and to get my badges. If Cliftonville would have really wanted me to stay I would have stayed. But it’s a good opportunity for me.
BC: So you could have stayed?
BJ: Well, there was no sense in me sitting on the bench and watching games. That would have broke my heart knowing that I wasn’t playing a part. This is something new and I can maybe pass on some of my old wisdom (laughing) to some younger players at Carrick.
BC: Are you nervous about the move?
BJ: I’ve never been afraid to take chances. It’s something I’m looking forward to. Gary [Haveron] is a very likeable person and seems to get the best out of people.
BC: What is Carrick’s aim this year?
BJ: To stay up, and maybe add a few more experienced players the year after and build bit by bit, maybe in the same way Ballinamallard United have done.
BC: Did you ever think that game against Crusaders on Boxing Day [when you injured your knee] would be your last for Cliftonville?
BJ: To be honest, I don’t even think about that. After all the highs I’ve had you just think of the good times. Hopefully people will remember me for winning leagues and playing against Celtic in the Champions League. I don’t want to be remembered for breaking my knee on Boxing Day.
BC: What were your highlights at Cliftonville?
BJ: Obviously winning the two leagues and winning my first big trophy with Cliftonville. It was the League Cup final and we were 4-0 up against Crusaders at Windsor Park. I remember when we were 3-0 up and ‘Cats’ [Ryan Catney] turned to me and said: ‘I can’t believe this. We’ve actually won something with Cliftonville!’
The two of us burst out laughing. I’ll never forget it.
I never thought anything would be better than winning the first league title at Cliftonville [2012/13] – I’ll never forget 'til the day I die Geordie McMullan’s penalty against Linfield that won us the league.
And then we drew Celtic in the Champions League. I love Celtic and that was a dream come true. I’ve two league medals – one each for my two wee boys – Flynn and Ferdia.
BC: What do you remember about the two Champions League games against Celtic?
BJ: I remember talking to Scott Brown during the game and ‘Cats’ told me off for talking to him. He told me to concentrate and to stop talking.
BC: How did Scott Brown react?
BJ: He was brilliant. I remember saying to him: ‘This must be what it was like when youse played Barcelona, with all the possession they had?’
And he said: ‘Youse have had more possession than we did against Barcelona.’
BC: Up to now, are you happy with your career?
BJ: Without a shadow of a doubt. Obviously I made some mistakes – leaving Cliftonville for Shamrock Rovers. But I worked under Michael O’Neill there and I know the amount of time he takes to put a training session together. His preparation is something that I’ve learned from, so I can’t really say I regretted moving to Shamrock Rovers, otherwise I wouldn't have worked with Michael O'Neill.
BC: You came back to the Reds again...
BJ: I thought it would have been when Eddie [Patterson] went, so fair play to Eddie for taking a gamble – and I know ‘Bressy’ and Gerard [Lawlor] had a lot to do with it. They wanted me back but Eddie showed faith in me.
BC: What were your ambitions when you first signed for Cliftonville under Marty Quinn?
BJ: To try and win something. I watched them every week. I would have been happy to win one League Cup – but to win two leagues, winning a couple more League Cups and playing in the Champions League, that’s more than I thought I could ever achieve.
BC: Who was your hardest opponent?
BJ: Paul McAreavey and Michael Gault. ‘Maccers’ was just a great player. Gaulty was an absolute torture for 90 minutes.
BC: Who was the best player you played with?
BJ: George McMullan. He could play anywhere. Liam Boyce, Joe Gormley and Chris Scannell would be up there too.
BC: What were your most enjoyable games with Cliftonville?
BJ: Celtic at Celtic Park and the day we beat Linfield 3-1 at Windsor which put us at the top of the league and on our way to our second league title. That was the best football Cliftonville ever played in one match.
BC: Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
BJ: Obviously my mother and father. They always pushed me. Football-wise, I’d say Packie McAllister. I played with Packie at Coleraine. I’m still really good friends with him and I asked him about my move to Carrick. He always seems to have the right answers for me.
BC: What was the lowest point in your career?
BJ: There were two lows. Losing in two Irish Cup finals.
BC: What were the best celebrations you had at Cliftonville?
BJ: We had an open-top bus tour after winning the first league title. The things that went on that bus were insane. It was just a brilliant day. I’ll never forget it.
BC: What will you miss about Solitude?
BJ: I’ll miss old club stalwart Freddie Jardine. We had a great changing room. I’ll miss the style of football because it really suited me, and playing with ‘Cats’ who was one of the best midfielders I’ve played with. But you just have to move on.
BC: What made that partnership with ‘Cats’ so special?
BJ: A lot of people said we could never play together. I don’t know why because we weren’t really that similar. We look alike but I take a bit more sun than he does! But in January we looked the same from the stand.
BC: Your best XI?
BJ: Conor Devlin, Georgie McMullan, Ronan Scannell, Marc Smyth, Packie McAllister, Barry Johnston, Ryan Catney, Chris Curran, Liam Boyce, Joe Gormley, Marty Donnelly. But Chris Scannell has to get in there somewhere…
BC: What’s your long-term plan?
BJ: I would love to manage Cliftonville one day.
BC: How would you like to be remembered by Cliftonville fans?
BJ: I just want to be remembered as someone who left everything on the pitch. Now I'll look forward to taking my kids to Cliftonville games.
