Mark Johnson who played for Cheltenham Town and Gloucester City, has spoken on his playing and managerial career as well as the struggles and joys he faced along the way.
The Gloucester born footballer played for multiple clubs around the area including Cheltenham, Gloucester and Shortwood, in varying steps in non-league.
In an interview Johnson spoke on how he managed to sign for Cheltenham.
“I was playing for Shortwood, we were second in the league, and we won the GFA trophy.
“The final was at Whaddon Road, and the manager was there Chris Robinson, and he liked what he saw and signed me.
“He approached me after the game and after that he signed me, it was a great experience”.
Despite Cheltenham and Gloucester being the height of Mark’s career, it wasn’t the highlight as he spoke very positively of other clubs he played for.
“I enjoyed my time at Evesham United, under Chris Robinson again, I enjoyed my time playing under him; and I enjoyed my time at Cinderford FC.”
Although not all clubs were the highlight of his career, he did enjoy the clubs he played for including multiple managers whom he appreciated working under.
Those experiences led him to a player manager role at Chipping Norton Town where he describes the unfortunate end to his playing career.
“The worst injury I had was right at the end of my playing time, I was player manager at Chipping Norton Town, and I got injured playing Carterton Town.
“The pitch was uneven and I went down somewhere, and I had a tibia and fibula fracture, so both of them, but I was about 35 when that happened so I was pretty much near the end anyway.”
After the end of his playing career which occurred not long after the injury he suffered at Chipping Norton Town, Mark went into management and describes his experience doing so.
*Mark Johnson pictured at the bottom fourth from the left
“Back in those days, around 2005, 2006, the problem was getting players.
“We had tight player budgets, the first season I managed was okay, but the following season we struggled to get players because of the money we were paying.
“That was the biggest problem, getting players. It’s okay for young players because they have something to prove, they’re not bothered about the money, that’s why I always liked to play the young players”
As he took a liking to playing and developing young player, it became natural for Mark to coach and train his son.
After Mark had retired from management he went on to help develop his son’s talent and him play for non-league youth academies.
