Former Town and England striker David Johnson has died, aged 71.

Johnson, who had been suffering with throat cancer, joined the Blues from Everton in October 1972 from hometown club Everton in a deal which saw Rod Belfitt join the Toffeemen, who also received a £40,000 fee.

The frontman went on to make 174 starts and four sub appearances for Town scoring 46 times before moving on to Liverpool for what was then the Anfield club’s record fee of £200,000 in August 1976.

While with the Blues he suffered perhaps the club's most infamous injury in the 1973/74 UEFA Cup tie against Lazio when he required stitches to his scrotum following a challenge during the first leg at Portman Road.

He returned as a sub in the second leg in Rome and scored the winning goal as the Blues won 5-4 on aggregate in a game which ended in a near riot.

Johnson made eight appearances for England and scored six goals, the first three games and three goals while with the Blues, two on his debut in a 2-2 draw with Wales at Wembley in May 1975 and another in the 5-1 victory over Scotland, also at Wembley, the same month in which Town teammate Kevin Beattie also found the net. He was a member of Ron Greenwood’s squad at the 1980 European Championships.

While with Town, Johnson won the Texaco Cup in 1973 but it was with Liverpool he picked up most of his medals as the Reds won the First Division in 1976/77, 1978/79, 1979/80 and 1981/82, the European Cup in 1976/77, 1977/78 and 1980/81, the UEFA Super Cup in 1977, the League Cup in 1980/81 and 1981/82, and the Charity Shield in 1976, 1977 (shared with Manchester United), 1979 and 1980.

In 1978, he became the first player to score for both clubs in a Merseyside derby, an achievement subsequently only replicated by Peter Beardsley.

Johnson was in the First Division PFA Team of the Year in 1979/80 and was inducted into Town’s Hall of Fame in 2016.

He left Liverpool in 1982 to rejoin Everton before a spell on loan at Barnsley in 1984 and then a brief stint at Manchester City, before moving to US side the Tulsa Roughnecks, Preston North End, Barrow, where he was player manager, and finally Maltese club the Naxxar Lions.

Known as Jonty while with the Blues, the striker had a stake in clothes shop Jonty’s in Tacket Street which still trades.

Latterly, he had been involved in broadcasting on Merseyside and worked on matchdays at Anfield in corporate lounges.

Photo: Sporting Pictures

Barty added 13:41 - Nov 23 Very sad news. Great player. R.I.P. David. Our thoughts are with your family.
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Broadhill added 13:59 - Nov 23 What a player. We have been spoiled over the years. We have also been very lucky to see all of them. We have a whole generation now who have seen utterly dire football thanks to a certain Mr Evans. R. I. P. Jonty
4

blues1 added 14:03 - Nov 23 RIP Jonty. Great player.
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PhilTWTD added 14:46 - Nov 23 oldburian I stand corrected, misread the direction of the £40,000 fee, we paid Everton, as you say.
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OliveR16 added 15:12 - Nov 23 Many happy memories of a great striker.
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OliveR16 added 15:12 - Nov 23 Many happy memories of a great striker.
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senduntd added 15:49 - Nov 23 Very sad news, I remember well seeing him and Wymark play the first time i visited Portman Road in 1973. Having watched Southend United for 15 years they were a revelation for me to see proper football. They were exciting days.
1

therein61 added 16:19 - Nov 23 R.I.P Jonty you gave so many great memories with your never say die attitude always in the thick of things and scaring the hell out of defences with your pace and you were always up for a laugh, one such moment was after that Italian guy nearly removed your wedding tackle with his studs on being asked a few days afterwards by Mr John how the injury was you lobbed it out onto his desk and showed him(class act).

4

chopra777 added 16:22 - Nov 23 An absolute legend in the early days of our European journey. Another Ipswich hero lost from my scrapbook of 70's stars. Rest in peace David.
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Steelmonkey added 16:58 - Nov 23 Yes I was amongst those that at the time who couldn't understand us letting Rod Belfitt go and buying an “unknow” from Everton. RIP Jonty, thanks for all the memories.
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TimmyH added 16:59 - Nov 23 Another iconic forward passes away...when I first started supporting ITFC as a lad I was drawn into his devilish tash and the great partnership he had with Trevor Whymark, shows how good he was as Liverpool were after him and strange too only 8 England caps but scored 6 times! RIP David...happy early memories of supporting Town.
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Linkboy13 added 17:03 - Nov 23 Unbelievably sad news i didn't realise he was 71 . He was a really exciting player to watch especially when he was running with the ball. Robson once said that he ran like a deer which i found strange at the time. Johnson commentin after his injury against Lazio when he got kicked in the fruit and veg said it was a on the ball incident. Mariner was our most complete centre forward but Johnson was our most exciting. RIP Jonty.

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blueboy1981 added 17:06 - Nov 23 Very Sad News - a truly great Player for us in those days. Condolences to Family and Friends. R.I.P. David.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:14 - Nov 23 Very sad news. Another of our golden generation has passed away. RIP DJ.
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SussexTractor added 17:22 - Nov 23 Very sad news. He never got the credit at international level despite an excellent strike rate.
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itfchorry added 18:06 - Nov 23 Just awful news - Big Hero of myn Born the King of Portman Road Thoughts with his family and friends 💙
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ImAbeliever added 18:57 - Nov 23 Another of my all time favourites sadly leaves. Great CF, great ‘boutique' in town. RIP
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ChestnutSe added 08:53 - Nov 24 I have been lucky enough to see two great David Johnson strikers at ITFC. I remember buying a suit at Jonty's as well As many have said 71 is no age to go. Sympathy for his family and friends
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ChrisR added 10:03 - Nov 24 Possibly the best of SBR's only13 signings in 13 years? I recall SBR saying "can't believe we have him" Brilliant headed goal at Anfield in that 5-2 game .
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