MO_TxTruBlu
Well-Known Member
I think the big man has suffered a lot of unfair criticism as a Player over the years, because of his media shite since he retired, but I still think he gave us as much as any player has given us in a decade, certainly in our lifetime.
For the benefit of those too young to have witnessed him as a Rangers Player, here are some highlights of what he did achieve in a Rangers jersey.
1970, Derek Johnstone, as a 16 year old boy, won Rangers their first Trophy in Four and half barren years, scoring the only goal of the game, in the League Cup Final v Celtic.
1971, as a 17 year old, He came off the bench in the Scottish Cup Final to score an 87th minute equaliser against Celtic...and despite this, was not selected for the replay!
1972, As an 18 year old, he was shunted into the back four at the last minute, due to Colin Jackson's injury, and played a pivotal role as a Central Defender in the European Cup Winners Cup Final victory, in Barcelona.
1973, He played in the first ever European Super Cup against the great Ajax side, as a Centre Back, and was given rave reviews by none other than Johan Cruyff.
By the end of that season, Derek Johnstone collected a Scottish Cup winners medal, had made over 100 appearances for Rangers, had been capped 5 times for Scotland, and graced the same field as such greats as Beckenbaur, Cruyff, Rivelino and Jairzhino...............and was still only a Teenager!!!!!!
1974, A barren season for Rangers. Johnstone was surprisingly left out of the starting line up for the League Cup Semi Final, in which a Harry Hood hat trick gave Celtic the win rather easily. Johnstone was reinstated at centre back immediately after this, and would make 43 appearances that season.
1975, Rangers win their first Championship Title in 11 years. Johnstone spent most of that season playing in midfield, and still finished with 16 goals, which was only two shy of centre forward Derek Parlane's total of 18.
1976, Johnstone reverts back to Centre Forward, bangs in 31 goals in 50 games, and Rangers do a clean sweep of domestic honours winning the Treble.
Johnstone scores after 22 Seconds, to give Rangers a 1-0 win at Tannadice to secure the Title.
One week later, he again scores inside the first minute (and another one later), as Rangers defeat Hearts 3-1 in the Scottish Cup Final, to wrap up the Treble.
1977, A barren season that was sandwiched with the two trebles. An injury picked up in a 1-0 win over Aberdeen in mid October, would prove crucial, as Johnstone missed 10 games in the next two months, that saw a previously undefeated Rangers struggle to overcome Clydebank in the League Cup, before being hammered 1-5 by Aberdeen in the Semi Final, and suffer 3 defeats in 6 League games.
Rangers finished their League campaign with 6 wins in 7 games in April, with Johnstone scoring in all 7 games.
Despite being unavailable for two months, and playing most of the season in Midfield, Johnstone still finished as Rangers Top Scorer with 21 Goals.
1978, Rangers again win all Three Domestic Trophies, and Derek Johnstone scores a staggering 38 Goals in 47 games
(and he never took a Penalty kick).
With Johnstone's goal tally at 90 Goals in the last three seasons, he was arguably the best all round striker in Britain, and he finally won an International call up as a Centre Forward.
Ally McLeod, brought Johnstone in for the home internationals, and he duly scored Scotland's only goals against Wales, and Northern Ireland, and was then inexplicably not used against England, and the World Cup Finals that followed.
1979, John Greig's first season in charge, where Johnstone 'preferred' to play at centre back
(and has subsequently been accused of lacking drive),
he still weighed in with 16 goals (which was only two less than top scorer Gordon Smith with 18 goals),
as Rangers retained both the League Cup and Scottish Cup, and narrowly lost out on back to back Trebles.
Even in Greig's second season (1979-80), where Rangers finished a disastrous 5th in the League, Johnstone was far and away the top scorer with 21 Goals. (no other player in the team made it into double figures).
For the benefit of those too young to have witnessed him as a Rangers Player, here are some highlights of what he did achieve in a Rangers jersey.
1970, Derek Johnstone, as a 16 year old boy, won Rangers their first Trophy in Four and half barren years, scoring the only goal of the game, in the League Cup Final v Celtic.
1971, as a 17 year old, He came off the bench in the Scottish Cup Final to score an 87th minute equaliser against Celtic...and despite this, was not selected for the replay!
1972, As an 18 year old, he was shunted into the back four at the last minute, due to Colin Jackson's injury, and played a pivotal role as a Central Defender in the European Cup Winners Cup Final victory, in Barcelona.
1973, He played in the first ever European Super Cup against the great Ajax side, as a Centre Back, and was given rave reviews by none other than Johan Cruyff.
By the end of that season, Derek Johnstone collected a Scottish Cup winners medal, had made over 100 appearances for Rangers, had been capped 5 times for Scotland, and graced the same field as such greats as Beckenbaur, Cruyff, Rivelino and Jairzhino...............and was still only a Teenager!!!!!!
1974, A barren season for Rangers. Johnstone was surprisingly left out of the starting line up for the League Cup Semi Final, in which a Harry Hood hat trick gave Celtic the win rather easily. Johnstone was reinstated at centre back immediately after this, and would make 43 appearances that season.
1975, Rangers win their first Championship Title in 11 years. Johnstone spent most of that season playing in midfield, and still finished with 16 goals, which was only two shy of centre forward Derek Parlane's total of 18.
1976, Johnstone reverts back to Centre Forward, bangs in 31 goals in 50 games, and Rangers do a clean sweep of domestic honours winning the Treble.
Johnstone scores after 22 Seconds, to give Rangers a 1-0 win at Tannadice to secure the Title.
One week later, he again scores inside the first minute (and another one later), as Rangers defeat Hearts 3-1 in the Scottish Cup Final, to wrap up the Treble.
1977, A barren season that was sandwiched with the two trebles. An injury picked up in a 1-0 win over Aberdeen in mid October, would prove crucial, as Johnstone missed 10 games in the next two months, that saw a previously undefeated Rangers struggle to overcome Clydebank in the League Cup, before being hammered 1-5 by Aberdeen in the Semi Final, and suffer 3 defeats in 6 League games.
Rangers finished their League campaign with 6 wins in 7 games in April, with Johnstone scoring in all 7 games.
Despite being unavailable for two months, and playing most of the season in Midfield, Johnstone still finished as Rangers Top Scorer with 21 Goals.
1978, Rangers again win all Three Domestic Trophies, and Derek Johnstone scores a staggering 38 Goals in 47 games
(and he never took a Penalty kick).
With Johnstone's goal tally at 90 Goals in the last three seasons, he was arguably the best all round striker in Britain, and he finally won an International call up as a Centre Forward.
Ally McLeod, brought Johnstone in for the home internationals, and he duly scored Scotland's only goals against Wales, and Northern Ireland, and was then inexplicably not used against England, and the World Cup Finals that followed.
1979, John Greig's first season in charge, where Johnstone 'preferred' to play at centre back
(and has subsequently been accused of lacking drive),
he still weighed in with 16 goals (which was only two less than top scorer Gordon Smith with 18 goals),
as Rangers retained both the League Cup and Scottish Cup, and narrowly lost out on back to back Trebles.
Even in Greig's second season (1979-80), where Rangers finished a disastrous 5th in the League, Johnstone was far and away the top scorer with 21 Goals. (no other player in the team made it into double figures).