Continuing with our ongoing series which focuses on the plethora of decent players the Hatters scouting regime brought to the club, players that could quite aptly fall under the terrace chant of:
“He’s One of Our Own”
I’ve selected Robert Simon Johnson as the third player to be featured.
Rob Johnson, as he was better known, was born in Bedford on 22-February-1962.
He first signed for the Hatters in August 1979 when he was just 17-years-of-age.
As a Hatter Johnson was to be part of the Kenilworth Road scene during the period 1979 to 1989 but was to make less than 100 league appearances for the club.
Although Johnson signed for Luton Town in 1979 he didn’t get to make his debut until late in the 1982 / 1983 season with his progress hampered by two serious knee injuries.
The following season Johnson was loaned out to Lincoln City but was to make just 4 appearances before returning to Kenilworth Road.
But it wasn’t to be until the 1985 / 1986 season that Johnson was to become a regular in the Hatters side, making 15 appearances.
Now established in the team and free from injury, Johnson’s midfield play was an integral part of the Hatters play and Johnson’s performances saw the player selected to play in that famous League Cup Final win, at Wembley, against Arsenal 1988.
A year later though Johnson’s Luton career was over when he moved to Leicester City, with whom he made 25 appearances before a move to Barnet followed. A lack of regular first-team action then saw Johnson move into non-league football where he signed for the local side Hitchin Town.
We can only wonder how Johnson’s career may have progressed if he wasn’t plagued by injuries.
As for video footage of Rob, we found this lovely clip that shows him scoring a fine goal whilst also being interviewed, enjoy:
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