[1][3] Johnson was born in Grimsby and began working as a fishmonger whilst playing amateur football with Cleethorpes Royal Saints and then Scunthorpe & Lindsey United before being spotted by Second Division Bristol City in July 1929.
Bristol City were having a terrible campaign winning just three of their first 32 games before the club fell into severe financial difficulties and put their entire squad up for sale.
He suffered an ankle injury on the opening day of the 1937–38 season and Stoke manager Bob McGrory decided to sell him to West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £6,500.
[3] Johnson spent nine years with the Baggies and during World War II he guested for Crewe Alexandra, Leicester City and Notts County.
[3] After the war he played for Northwich Victoria and Hereford United and later ran a refreshment area in Dartmouth Park, close to the Hawthorns.