The day City’s ‘Rambo’ wreaked havoc on Hull’s defence
IT said everything about Steve Johnson that his nickname among Bristol City fans during an all-too-short stay at Ashton Gate was ‘Rambo.’
The Robins have boasted many centre-forwards with greater ability over the years. But for sheer menace and intimidation, Terry Cooper’s £30,000 signing from Wigan Athletic in March 1985 took some beating.
The Rambo character played in action films by Sylvester Stallone during the 1980s was defined as being tough, raw and aggressive.
Three words which could equally have applied to the then 27-yearold Johnson when he made his first City start in a Division Three home game with this weekend’s opponents Hull City.
It was an Easter Monday fixture, played on April 8, 1985, and a bumper Bank Holiday crowd of nearly 12,000 assembled on a blustery afternoon.
City were chasing a second successive promotion, having gone up from the Fourth Division the previous May, and were lying fifth before kick-off, with ten games still to play.
Cooper already had two gifted and nippy strikers in Glyn Riley and Steve Neville. But he wanted a different option and found it in the battering ram physique of a good old-fashioned centre-forward.
Johnson had already played cameo roles as a substitute against Doncaster Rovers and Plymouth Argyle. Now he was given an opportunity to impress from the start against a Hull side, themselves gunning for promotion.
The strapping Merseysider replaced Neville, who dropped to the bench, and was about to make his mark in more ways than one – as battered visiting goalkeeper Tony Norman could testify after the game.
Twice Johnson was lectured strongly by referee Tom Bune for clattering into him as they leapt to meet high crosses. Hull’s defenders also knew they had been in a game as, according to my Evening Post report, City’s new boy gave them “a thoroughly uncomfortable afternoon”.
It was a game Cooper’s men had to win to keep tabs on the clubs above them and maintain realistic hopes of Division Two football the following season.
A run of five successive victories had lifted them into contention, but had come to an end with a disappointing 1-0 Easter Saturday defeat at Plymouth.
There was no sign of a dip in confidence as City ripped into Hull from the start. Howard Pritchard was in sparkling form on the right wing and almost grabbed a 16thminute lead with a shot that was charged down.
Moments later, Johnson showed great agility for a big man with a spectacular overhead volley, which flew straight at Norman.
Riley’s close control and ability to shield the ball also played a part in a rampaging first-half display by the hosts. He shot just wide, while Hull defender Lawrie Pearson, who would join City two years later on a free transfer without ever making a first-team appearance, headed narrowly wide of his own goal.
Hull lost midfielder Neil Williams with an ankle injury early on and spent the first half hanging on, without ever troubling City goalkeeper John Shaw.
A minute after the interval came the breakthrough. Riley held the ball up inside the box before feeding Pritchard, whose cross to the far post was met by Johnson with a firm downward header which gave Norman no chance.
It was a demonstration of the power in the air that Cooper hoped would add an extra dimension to his team’s play and a sweet moment for Johnson as he looked to win favour with a new set of fans.
After the game, Steve told me: “I couldn’t have hoped for a better start. The team played superbly and the crowd were marvellous.
“One of the reasons I opted to join City was that I knew I could count on good service from the wings. Howard Pritchard’s cross which made my goal was inch-perfect.”
There was no respite for Hull after falling behind. It was almost 2-0 when a trademark 25-yard rocket from Alan Walsh saw Norman save with a knee.
The killer second goal came 11 minutes from time, with Johnson again heavily involved. His glancing header from a Rob Newman across found Pritchard nipping in front of a defender to force the ball over the line.
Right-back Paul Stevens excelled in City’s defence, while Cooper’s choice for man-of-the-match was former Bristol Rovers centre-back Mark Hughes for the way he subdued the dangerous Billy Whitehurst.
Only once, late on, did the prolific Hull striker elude his marker. But, after rounding Shaw, he saw his shot cleared off the line by Walsh.
There was still time for Johnson to demonstrate his aerial prowess again, rising majestically to head another Newman cross fractionally too high.
No wonder Cooper was on cloud nine at the final whistle. “We out
played Hull in every department and seemed to have a greater will to win,” he said. “It was a magnificent display and a crucial result.”
I was moved to predict great things for Johnson in my match report, observing that “There is nothing the Bristol soccer public appreciate more than a blood-andthunder player.”
For by no means the only time in my career, my enthusiasm was misplaced. Johnson never settled in the West Country and would make only 15 starts and eight substitute appearances for The Robins, scoring three goals. He was sent on loan to Rochdale and Chester the season after making his debut before moving to Scunthorpe United for £15,000 in the summer of 1986.
City finished the 1984-85 season fifth in Division Three, while Hull went on to win promotion in third place behind Bradford City and Millwall.