Johnny Houston
John Houston MM and Bar (born 17 September 1889; date of death unknown) 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][2] He was capped by Ireland at international level and represented the Irish League XI.[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Houston[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 September 1889 | ||
| Place of birth | Ahoghill, Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –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) |
| National team | |||
| 1912 | Irish League XI | 2 | (0) |
| 1912–1914 | Ireland | 6 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Personal life
Houston served in the Royal Irish Rifles before and during the First World War and held the rank of acting colour sergeant.[4] He won the Military Medal in 1917 for conspicuous bravely, 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.[5] 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".[5] He was later awarded a bar to his Military Medal.[6] Houston married in 1915 and later worked at the Belfast General Post Office.[6] He served in the Tank Corps during the Second World War.[6]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Everton | 1912–13[7] | First Division | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 1913–14[7] | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | ||
| 1914–15[7] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| Partick Thistle | 1919–20[2] | Scottish First Division | 17 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
| Career total | 43 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 48 | 3 | ||
References
- Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 144. ISBN 978-1905891610.
- Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
- "Johnny Houston". NIFG. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
- "John Houston | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
- "December 1917". Everton Chronicles. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
- "Johnny Houston, Footballer and Soldier". Ballymena 1914–1918. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- "John Houston". Everton Football Club. Retrieved 9 December 2018.