Wally Johnson (footballer)

Walter Simon Johnson (1 September 1887 – 9 October 1962) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Family The son of Thomas Henry Johnson (1866-1915),Deaths: Johnson, The Argus, (Tuesday, 2 November 1915), p.1; About People, The Age, (Tuesday, 2 November 1915), p.5. and Eliza Caroline Johnson (1863-1949), née Thomas,Marriages: Johnson—Thomas, The (Melbourne) Leader, Saturday 26 April 1884), p.42.Deaths: Johnson, The Argus, (Saturday, 16 July 1949), p.14. Walter Simon Johnson was born in Collingwood on 1 September 1887.Births: Johnson, The (Melbourne) Leader, (Saturday, 10 September 1887), p.42.

Football

Having initially tried to play with Collingwood, Johnson made his debut for Fitzroy in 1907 and finished the year as the club's joint best and fairest winner. He played most of his career at half back but played up forward for his first three seasons, topping Fitzroy's goal-kicking in 1908 with 27 goals.

A member of their premiership side in 1913, the following season Johnson represented Victoria at the Sydney Carnival. In 1916 he was appointed club captain and led the side to the premiership, defeating Carlton in the grand final. Fitzroy had actually finished the home and away season in last position; but, because of the war, only four teams were competing, and all qualified for the semi-finals.

For the next two years Johnson lived in the United Kingdom, where he worked in a munitions factory,Presentation to Players, The Herald, (Monday, 6 November 1916), p.9; Champion Footballers Indulge in Other Sports: Wally Johnson, The Winner, (Wednesday, 15 November 1916), p.8. before returning to Australia for one last season in 1919.

After retiring as a Fitzroy player,Football, The Age, (Friday, 16 April 1920), p.12; 'Kickero', "Footballers Look Forward to a Brisk and Busy Season", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 16 April 1920), p.3. he was appointed captain-coach of the Ballarat Imperial Football Club in 1924.Coach for Imperial, The Ballarat Star, (Monday, 14 April 1924), p.2; Wally Johnson as Coach, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Monday, 14 April 1924), p.2. He retired before the 1926 season commenced and took up umpiring.Men and Incidents in Ballarat Football, The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 21 April 1926), p.12.

Death He died at Parkville, Victoria on 9 October 1962.Deaths: Johnson, The Age, (Thursday, 11 October 1962), p.17.

Wally Johnson (footballer)

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