He played his league football for Norwood in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and cricket with the South Australia cricket team in the Sheffield Shield.
He captained Norwood to a grand final in 1933, from fourth in the ladder, but they lost to West Torrens.
A rover, he represented the South Australian interstate team on one occasion.
[1] As a right-handed batsman, Johnson played in six first-class cricket matches for South Australia.
[2] Soon after his football playing career ended, Johnson was appointed Norwood's treasurer, a role he would hold for almost 40 years.