Billy Johnson (footballer)

William Robert Johnson (born 25 September 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Braintree Town.

Billy Johnson
Personal information
Full name William Robert Johnson[1]
Date of birth (1999-09-25) 25 September 1999[2]
Place of birth Great Yarmouth, England[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Braintree Town
Youth career
Beccles Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Beccles Town 1 (0)
2018–2020 Norwich City 0 (0)
2018–2019 → Lowestoft Town (loan)
2020 → Braintree Town (loan) 10 (0)
2020–2021 Stevenage 0 (0)
2021–2022 Braintree Town 32 (0)
2022–2023 Gloucester City 2 (0)
2023– Braintree Town 1 (0)
2023 → Leiston (dual-reg.)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:10, 1 May 2023 (UTC)

Having begun his career at local club Beccles Town, Johnson joined Norwich City's under-23 set-up in August 2018 following a successful trial. He remained at Norwich for two years, spending time on loan at Lowestoft Town and Braintree Town of the National League South during the 2019–20 season. Johnson signed for Stevenage in July 2020 and spent one season with the club, before returning to Braintree Town on two different occasions between spells with Gloucester City and Leiston.

Career

Johnson spent the majority of his youth career at Beccles Town, progressing through the various age groups for his local club.[3] He later joined the Community Sports Foundation's Football and Education Programme in Norwich, which allows young footballers to continue their academic studies alongside a full-time football training programme.[3] The programme was delivered by former Norwich City footballers Adam Drury, Ryan Jarvis and Simon Lappin.[3] Towards the end of the 2017–18 season, Johnson went on trial with Peterborough United.[3] He was offered the opportunity to train with Norwich City during pre-season ahead of the 2018–19 season, with a view to earning a full-time contract.[3] Although Johnson was injured early-on during the trial, he was offered a one-year contract, with the option of a further year, which he signed on 6 August 2018.[3]

Upon signing for Norwich, he was placed in the club's under-23 team to continue his development.[3] Norwich took up the option of extending Johnson's contract for a further year in 2019.[3] He played three times for the under-23 team during the first half of the 2019–20 season, which included two appearances in the EFL Trophy.[4][5][6] Johnson joined National League South club Braintree Town on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season,[6] making 10 appearances during the loan agreement.[2] His contract at Norwich expired in June 2020.[5]

Johnson signed for League Two club Stevenage on 22 July 2020.[5] He made his professional debut in the club's 3–2 defeat to Milton Keynes Dons at Broadhall Way in the EFL Trophy on 6 October 2020.[7] He was released by Stevenage at the end of the 2020–21 season.[8]

Ahead of the 2021–22 campaign, following his release from Stevenage, Johnson returned to Braintree Town on a permanent basis.[2] He went onto feature 34 times in all competitions before departing the club at the end of the season before he eventually joined Gloucester City in December 2022. Johnson returned to Braintree on a third occasion in March 2022, providing competition to Jack Sims ahead of their play-off push. He immediately dual-registered with Leiston following the move.[9]

Career statistics
As of match played 29 April 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Beccles Town 2016–17[10] Anglian Combination Division One 10——0010
2017–18[10] Anglian Combination Premier Division 00——0000
Total 10——0010
Norwich City 2018–19[2] Championship 000000—00
2019–20[2] Premier League 000000—00
Total 000000—00
Lowestoft Town (loan) 2018–19 Southern League Premier Division Central No data currently available
Norwich City U23 2019–20[2] ———2[lower-alpha 1]020
Braintree Town (loan) 2019–20[2] National League South 100———100
Stevenage 2020–21[11] League Two 0000001[lower-alpha 1]010
Braintree Town 2021–22[2] National League South 32000—2[lower-alpha 2]0340
Gloucester City 2022–23[12] National League North 20——1[lower-alpha 2]030
Braintree Town 2022–23[2] National League South 10——0010
Leiston (dual-reg.) 2022–23 Southern League Premier Division Central No data currently available
Career total 460000060520
  1. Appearance in EFL Trophy
  2. Appearance in FA Trophy

References
  1. "EFL – Notification of shirt numbers – Stevenage" (PDF). EFL. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  2. "Soccerway – Billy Johnson". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  3. "Young goalkeeper Billy Johnson joins Norwich City". Norwich City F.C. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  4. "Games played by Billy Johnson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  5. "Goalkeeper Billy Johnson joins Stevenage". Stevenage F.C. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  6. "Billy Johnson joins Braintree Town on loan". Norwich City F.C. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  7. "Stevenage 2–3 Milton Keynes Dons". Soccerway. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  8. "Stevenage FC Retained & Released List 2020/21". Stevenage F.C. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  9. Cooper, Craig (24 March 2022). "Blues sign 'keeper as youngster goes out on loan". Leiston F.C. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  10. "Matches for Billy Johnson". Beccles Town F.C. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  11. "Games played by Billy Johnson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  12. "B. Johnson". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
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