Happy 74th birthday Wee Willie Johnston

[soulman101]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-4ZBCcIB7A

[mickd1961]

My hero.

Nobody else in an Albion shirt has even come close.

I’ve never known an Albion player to get those p I s s stained pensioners in Halfords Lane off their seats in the way Willie did.

I was heartbroken when we binned him off.

Genius.

[BaggieSingh]

Just a bit before me mate, have obviously seen highlights tho and agree what a player, a proper out n out skilful winger
Seemed to be a great character too (buying a shed, beer with the fans) I remember my uncle talking about him saying he was the reason they went up the Hawthorns

Was he better than Lawrie?

[boingy]

He wasn't Lawrie but equally Lawrie wasn't Willie. Both had confidence in spades but Willie was such a character and cheeky that he got the crowd off its feet constantly. Loved him to bits. lots of great memories.

[mickd1961]

Just a bit before me mate, have obviously seen highlights tho and agree what a player, a proper out n out skilful winger
Seemed to be a great character too (buying a shed, beer with the fans) I remember my uncle talking about him saying he was the reason they went up the Hawthorns

Was he better than Lawrie?

Their was something sublime about Laurie, he was graceful, like a cheetah, unbelievable leg power but tremendous grace.

Willie wasn’t your typical dribbling winger, he would tease the defender towards him and then knock it past him and with searing pace he’d leave him for dead.

My dad was a Leeds fan as was my younger brother but dad took me to Albion matches and he loved Willie.

My brother was a small winger, same size and build as Willie and dad taught my brother based on how Willie played.

Willie used to stay well up the pitch, often while we were defending but he’d be almost level with the home dugout.

My dad realised this was the way Albion stretched the play so well and were hard to defend against.

Often, the clearance or first pass forward was right into Willie and he’d usually knock it first time past the defender and race down the byline and cross for Joe Mayo, Ally Brown or Regis.

They say today’s players are faster than back in those days but don’t believe it, I don’t believe I have ever seen anyone faster than Willie over the first 5-10 yards.......you only need to look at the highlights reel to see that.

There are sadly just too few clips available of this icon in our history.

I believe an invite to The Hawthorns for the wee genius and a statue are long overdue.

The fact is that every single player in that 77-80 side deserves a statue at the ground.

Godden

Batson

Statham

Wile

Robertson

Cantello

Robson

Tony Brown

Ally Brown

Regis

Johnston

Cunningham

Giles

I wouldn’t change anything about those 13 players given the choice even now and given today’s fitness regimes etc I would say that this side, in their pomp, would be top 6 year in and year out even now.

[baggieal]

Loved them both and both in my time. For a little guy Willie did a great throw in and was a great entertainer who could take anyone on.

Laurie just oozed magic for me and was a delight to watch!

Nobody comes close to these two in today’s football of VAR and rainbow laces!

[BaggieSingh]

I was born a decade too late I think

[boingy]

Their was something sublime about Laurie, he was graceful, like a cheetah, unbelievable leg power but tremendous grace.

Willie wasn’t your typical dribbling winger, he would tease the defender towards him and then knock it past him and with searing pace he’d leave him for dead.

My dad was a Leeds fan as was my younger brother but dad took me to Albion matches and he loved Willie.

My brother was a small winger, same size and build as Willie and dad taught my brother based on how Willie played.

Willie used to stay well up the pitch, often while we were defending but he’d be almost level with the home dugout.

My dad realised this was the way Albion stretched the play so well and were hard to defend against.

Often, the clearance or first pass forward was right into Willie and he’d usually knock it first time past the defender and race down the byline and cross for Joe Mayo, Ally Brown or Regis.

They say today’s players are faster than back in those days but don’t believe it, I don’t believe I have ever seen anyone faster than Willie over the first 5-10 yards.......you only need to look at the highlights reel to see that.

There are sadly just too few clips available of this icon in our history.

I believe an invite to The Hawthorns for the wee genius and a statue are long overdue.

The fact is that every single player in that 77-80 side deserves a statue at the ground.

Godden

Batson

Statham

Wile

Robertson

Cantello

Robson

Tony Brown

Ally Brown

Regis

Johnston

Cunningham

Giles

I wouldn’t change anything about those 13 players given the choice even now and given today’s fitness regimes etc I would say that this side, in their pomp, would be top 6 year in and year out even now.

Well said Mick. Spot on. Willie was like lightening for pace. I used to love the way he went wide of the penalty box when the opposition had a corner and if Wile or Robertson got it clear, Willie would pick up and away he would go like the clappers. Turned many an opposition corner into a baggies attack. I never felt threatened by corners against us because it could so easily be an attack for us. Cunningham was classy, and his sense of balance was great to see. Cunningham would never kick the ref up his ass which I had the privilege to be about 20 yards from at the time. I've never heard the crowd sound like it did when Willie got the ball though. Huge lift in atmosphere.

[mickd1961]

Well said Mick. Spot on. Willie was like lightening for pace. I used to love the way he went wide of the penalty box when the opposition had a corner and if Wile or Robertson got it clear, Willie would pick up and away he would go like the clappers. Turned many an opposition corner into a baggies attack. I never felt threatened by corners against us because it could so easily be an attack for us. Cunningham was classy, and his sense of balance was great to see. Cunningham would never kick the ref up his ass which I had the privilege to be about 20 yards from at the time. I've never heard the crowd sound like it did when Willie got the ball though. Huge lift in atmosphere.

Most of us remember that incident 😆

At home against Third Division Brighton in the League Cup and I think we lost 0-2 at home in a big shock at that time?

They had a very promising young forward called Peter Ward who may well have scored that night.

Willie list his rag at the ref and aimed a kick up his a r s Eva’s he turned away 😆😆

I think that cost him a 9 match ban?