Jimmy Johnstone - the greatest player ever from Britain?

[artetas_biggest_fan]

I say Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) as George Best being from Northern Ireland I think he’s the most gifted from the UK/Ireland. Jimmy Johnstone I’ve only quite recently discovered. His ability is stunning. He did things that are Messi-esque. The close ball control, the effortless ability to glide past people with a drop of the shoulder (left or right). He verged on piss taking it’s comical. Watched this yesterday and found myself laughing at the stuff he was doing. I find it hard to think of a more gifted player from Britain.

 

[degsy]

I say Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) as George Best being from Northern Ireland I think he’s the most gifted from the UK/Ireland. Jimmy Johnstone I’ve only quite recently discovered. His ability is stunning. He did things that are Messi-esque. The close ball control, the effortless ability to glide past people with a drop of the shoulder (left or right). He verged on piss taking it’s comical. Watched this yesterday and found myself laughing at the stuff he was doing. I find it hard to think of a more gifted player from Britain.

The bloody red hand of Ulster might take offence at the aptly named Best not being included.
Not to mention...well plenty more
Mackenzie, Bowles Tony Currie Marsh, Charlie Cooke, Beardsley, Alex Young, LeTissier.
Every team seemed to have one Raich Carter, Mannion
aka, footballers - proper footballers.

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

Davie Cooper.

 

[larbert toffee]

I say Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) as George Best being from Northern Ireland I think he’s the most gifted from the UK/Ireland. Jimmy Johnstone I’ve only quite recently discovered. His ability is stunning. He did things that are Messi-esque. The close ball control, the effortless ability to glide past people with a drop of the shoulder (left or right). He verged on piss taking it’s comical. Watched this yesterday and found myself laughing at the stuff he was doing. I find it hard to think of a more gifted player from Britain.

Jimmy had outrageous skill, he was a coach at Celtic up until he became ill, I remember seeing a programme about him, they showed a clip of him coaching schoolboys, his enthusiasm was infectious and they just stood in awe of his skills even though he must have been in his mid fifties.
Not just a great player but also a great character who had a truly sad demise.
Respected by Rangers fans also tbf.

 

[jaycee]

Poor leagues Peter Beagrie

 

[dublinbluenose]

Is it not Trent or "Robbo" ?

 

[gonetomorrow]

As stated, every team seemed to have a maverick entertainer type of player. I remember being amazed by a certain Ken Wagstaff of Hull City when my dad and I took in a match on holiday in 60s Brighton.

 

[PSB1]

Gifted but plied his trade in a league filled with donkeys. Most gifted? No. Too many names to list.

 

[PaddyJames]

Deserves to be mentioned alongside Bobby Charlton, Dixie, Matthews, Finney, Dalglish, Law, Gazza and Rooney. Would have been interesting to see how he got on in England. With that talent I suspect he would have been a success.

Always loved this story about Di Stefanos testimonial at the Bernabeu. Johnstone ran them absolutely ragged, enough that Di Stefano applauded him off the pitch.

The night Celtic legend Jinky Johnstone demolished Real Madrid at Bernabeu

We look back on the night the 120,000 who turned out to say goodbye to Alfredo Di Stefano for his testimonial ended up clapping Jimmy Johnstone off the park instead.

www.glasgowlive.co.uk

 

[chrismpw]

Fairly decent, but no better than me at 5 a side walking football.

 

[royston1878]

Scotland in those decades of the 60-70's produced a ridiculous amount of talent, be fair to say they better than what England produced in those deacdes easily.

Must have been a country of maybe 2 million population in those decades as well which makes it even more impressive.

Most of them moved south of the border and were the best players in those conquering teams of the RS, United, Forest, Leeds who dominated English football the 60's 70's 80's.

My god that video is amazing, i'm ashamed to say i never knew of him.

 

[Methuselah]

Bill Shankly (or someone of his time) once said ' the opposition don't have a clue what Jimmy Johnstone is going to do. The problem is, most of his team mates haven't a clue either,'
I think similar points were made about many players who were classed as geniuses and Jimmy Johnston earned that label.

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Deserves to be mentioned alongside Bobby Charlton, Dixie, Matthews, Finney, Dalglish, Law, Gazza and Rooney. Would have been interesting to see how he got on in England. With that talent I suspect he would have been a success.

Always loved this story about Di Stefanos testimonial at the Bernabeu. Johnstone ran them absolutely ragged, enough that Di Stefano applauded him off the pitch.

The night Celtic legend Jinky Johnstone demolished Real Madrid at Bernabeu

We look back on the night the 120,000 who turned out to say goodbye to Alfredo Di Stefano for his testimonial ended up clapping Jimmy Johnstone off the park instead.

www.glasgowlive.co.uk

Have a vague recollection he went to Sheffield Utd at the tail end of his career, think the magic was on the wane then though unfortunately.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

As stated, every team seemed to have a maverick entertainer type of player. I remember being amazed by a certain Ken Wagstaff of Hull City when my dad and I took in a match on holiday in 60s Brighton.

Always seen the word 'maverick' applied to players who were incredibly skillfull but often inconsistant and generally considered unreliable on the big stage. I've only seen videos of Johnstone but everything I've read about him suggests he combined outrageous skill with tremendous consistancy. Believe he absolutely destroyed Leeds in the European Cup semi final second leg in 1970. An integral part of a Celtic team that was a big player on the European stage at the time.

 

[gonetomorrow]

Always seen the word 'maverick' applied to players who were incredibly skillfull but often inconsistant and generally considered unreliable on the big stage. I've only seen videos of Johnstone but everything I've read about him suggests he combined outrageous skill with tremendous consistancy. Believe he absolutely destroyed Leeds in the European Cup semi final second leg in 1970. An integral part of a Celtic team that was a big player on the European stage at the time.

It's time to revive the word maverick! Who are today's mavericks? Messi and Ronaldo? They're not in the same class as Jinky Johnstone who once appropriated a rowing boat after a drinks party in the Scotland camp and went out into the Irish Sea. He had to be rescued by the authorities!
I can't think of many players these days that I'd cross the road to see quite frankly.