By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)
Morpeth Town’s new signing Paul Johnson has his sights set firmly on breaking a Northern League record for most clean-sheets next season.
The 24-year-old central defender believes the record, that he holds with fellow new signing Matty Grieve, can be broken, and he also wants silverware after his Celtic Nation side finished second in the 2013-14 season.
“I just missed out on it (the league) with Celtic Nation, finishing second to Spenny, so it would be nice to win the Northern League and have a good run in the Vase and build some momentum,” Johnson said.
“I played with Matty (Grieve) at Celtic Nation and we held the record for most clean-sheets in the league, so something like that and win the league and Vase.
“If it wasn’t for the Vase run then I think that they would have gone close in the league as well, so hopefully we can emulate both this year and have a good run in both.
“It has to be league and Vase, that has got to be the aim. The Vase is what everybody looks at, the Vase games everyone gets up for it.”
Johnson began his playing career at Hartlepool United, a club that he joined at the age of 12, before turning professional in 2010.
After a successful three-month loan spell with Conference North outfit Workington, he was loaned out to Darlington before returning back to the Reds in 2013.
Celtic Nation was his next permanent home, where he went close to claiming Northern League glory, but after a season he moved to Spennymoor Town.
Johnson stated that once Morpeth showed their interest, there was only one destination where he wanted to go, and he was “delighted” to have signed for the Highwaymen.
“Spennymoor are going up to the next league, I could have stayed on there, but the chairman was really supportive in the fact that he knew I needed something a bit more local,” Johnson added.
“To be honest, I am starting a professional qualification in Accountancy, so I needed something a bit closer to home, and easier for me to get to.
“There was only a couple of options really and when Morpeth came it was the only place I looked at.
“I cut it fine, but I am happy to get it done and dusted,” Johnson added
“I am delighted to get things sorted, I am going away on holiday tomorrow (Tuesday), so I wanted to get things sorted before I went away.”
Just like former Spennymoor teammate Liam Henderson, Johnson had nothing but praise to say about his former club.
He said: “I absolutely loved my time there and I can’t speak highly enough of the place and anyone that asks about it, it is an unbelievable set up.
“The chairman, the manager, and the players there, the camaraderie there was unbelievable and I am hoping that it is going to be something similar at Morpeth.”
Main Photo by Chris Chambers/ CJC Photo (Official Morpeth Town FC Photographer)
