He attended South Church Street school, and played rugby at Cardiff International Athletic Club (CIACS) alongside Billy Boston.
Johnny Freeman played on the wing in Halifax's 10–0 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1963–64 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1963–64 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 2 November 1963.
Johnny Freeman represented Wales (RL) while at Halifax in 1963 against France at Stade des Minimes, Toulouse on Sunday 17 February 1963.
[2] After scoring 38 tries in the first 20 games of the 1957–58 Northern Rugby Football League season, Johnny Freeman also looked set to take a place on the 1958 British Lions tour to Australasia.
Here was a man who could go the length of the field, who could break tackles when apparently held, who could find that extra gear, when already seemingly flat out, who could go past defenders on the inside or the outside, who would be first to any kick forward and who could pluck interception tries out of nothing.