{"id":11186,"date":"2022-11-24T17:11:42","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T17:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.friendsofliverpool.com\/?p=11186"},"modified":"2023-02-02T13:15:35","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T13:15:35","slug":"liverpool-legend-david-johnson-the-doc-dies-aged-71","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.friendsofliverpool.com\/2022\/11\/liverpool-legend-david-johnson-the-doc-dies-aged-71\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool legend David Johnson \u2013 the \u2018Doc\u2019 dies, aged 71"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Reds striker David Johnson died yesterday after a long battle with throat cancer.<\/p>\n

He will be forever famous for wearing both the blue of Everton and the red of Liverpool, and being the first player to score for each side in the Merseyside derby.<\/p>\n

To date, only Johnson and fellow legend Peter Beardsley hold this record.<\/p>\n

His team mates called him \u2018the doc\u2019, as they would often find his match bag full of cough sweets and tablets, for his sore throat and headaches.<\/p>\n

Johnson famously said that Terry McDermott gave him the name and it stuck.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone used to go through my bag to use my gear.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTerry Mac went in there one time and took out all these pills and said: ‘It’s like a flippin’ doctor’s bag\u2019, and after that, it just stuck.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Everton, Ipswich and England<\/h2>\n

Johnson began his career across Stanley Park at Everton in 1969, aged 17 but his big breakthrough came aged 19 in 1971 when making his debut.<\/p>\n

In November of the same year, he scored in the Merseyside derby as the Toffees defeated Liverpool 1-0 at Goodison Park.<\/p>\n

If this didn\u2019t catch the Anfield club\u2019s attention then what would.<\/p>\n

\n

RIP the DOC-David Johnson\u2026To know him was to LOVE him\u2026Played for both Liverpool & Everton-Great character full of life..He\u2019ll be Missed by all who knew him\u2026Rest in Peace doc..\ud83d\ude22\ud83d\ude22\ud83d\ude22<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark Lawrenson (@MTLawrenson) November 23, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n