*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Frank Johnson
Appearances: 129 Goals: 66
Date / Year of birth: 7th July 1922
Position: Winger / Striker
Season of first appearance: 1947/48
Season of last appearance: 1951/52
Also played for: Canterbury City
Unpredictable, opportunist forward born in Dymchurch, Kent who had two spells with Margate. Frank initially joined the club from local side Rice & Son in July 1947 after scoring 51 goals for them in the Thanet League during the 1946/47 season.
He made his debut in a 5-2 win over Gravesend & Northfleet in a Kent League match at Hartsdown Park on 23.8.47, the opening day of the 1947/48 campaign. Frank scored in the game and his performance was described as "brilliant" by the local press. He went on to notch up a total of 29 goals from 45 appearances during the season as Margate won the Kent League title and that made Frank the club's leading marksman. His tally included a hat-trick in a 9-1 win at Aylesford Paper Mills on 20.12.47. On 6.5.48 Frank was part of the side that beat visitors Ramsgate 2-1 to win the Kent League Cup Final and on 8.5.48 he played as Margate won 4-1 at Gravesend & Northfleet to claim the Kent Senior Shield, completing a three trophy haul for the campaign.
During the 1948/49 season Frank was a fixture in the Margate side and he scored 16 times in the 37 games he played, including a hat-trick in a 6-4 defeat at Dover on 23.10.48. His individualistic style led to a memorable quote from the Isle of Thanet Gazette. During a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Tonbridge in the Kent Senior Shield on 9.10.48 Frank was said to be "under the impression that once he gained possession of the ball it became his exclusive property".
He continued to be a mainstay of the Margate side during the 1949/50 season and only missed one game, making a total of 39 appearances to take his overall tally for the club past 100. Frank scored 18 times, despite playing mainly as a right winger, and was the club's joint leading scorer along with Ronnie Martell. Both players scored their 50th goal for Margate during the season. Frank's goals included a brilliant brace in a 2-2 draw with Sheppey at Hartsdown on 1.10.49 - an overhead kick and a 20 yarder - and a great solo effort in a 4-3 win over Royal Marines Chatham at Hartsdown on 3.12.49.
In June 1950 Frank left the club and joined Canterbury. He scored for them in a 1-1 draw at Margate on 30.9.50 but his stay with City was brief and within a few months he'd returned to Hartsdown Park.
Frank made three first team appearances during 1950/51 and scored in each of them. He went on to spend the majority of the 1951/52 season in the reserves, scoring more than a dozen goals, but also played five first team games and scored once.
Frank then spent the entire 1952/53 season in the reserves, never making a first team appearance, and he left the club for good during the summer of 1953.
Frank was once described by the local press as 'the wandering boy'.
He died aged 81 on 22.2.04 at Medway Hospital and Frank had been living in Gillingham prior to his death.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1947/48 (MFC) |
45 (47) |
N/A |
29 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (1ST OF 18) |
1QR |
1R |
W |
W |
|
Margate
won Kent League title. Played in Kent League Cup Final (06.05.48 - beat Ramsgate Athletic 2-1). Played in Kent Senior Shield Final (08.05.48 - beat Gravesend & Northfleet 4-1). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1948/49 (MFC) |
37 (41) |
N/A |
16 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (10TH OF 18) |
PR |
2R |
2R |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1949/50 (MFC) |
39 (40) |
N/A |
18 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (6TH OF 17) |
EPR |
1R |
2R |
SF |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1950/51 (MFC) |
3 (41) |
N/A |
2 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (6TH OF 17) |
EPR |
1R |
2R |
RU |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1951/52 (MFC) |
5 (38) |
N/A |
1 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (4TH OF 17) |
1QR |
2R |
1R |
N/A |
|