Johnson Leaves The Pitch For The Bargaining Table

Wednesday 28th Oct, 2009

The Brisbane Strikers will be without the services of Jamie Johnson next season, with the livewire midfielder announcing that he has hung up his boots at the comparatively young age of 27 to concentrate on a career with the Professional Footballers Association as its player relations executive.

The decision comes three and a half seasons after Johnson, a former Australian Under-17 (Joeys) international, left college football in the USA to join the Strikers. Johnson enjoyed a fruitful spell with the Strikers, winning the Brisbane Premier League championship, Grand Final and Premier Cup in 2006. He then went on to have two further seasons with the Strikers, captaining them in the inaugural Queensland State League season, before staying on to be part of the squad that took out the 2009 QSL championship.

Johnson had recently completed his legal studies and, a few months ago, was offered the chance to become the PFA’s player relations executive. While Johnson admits the decision to quit playing was not an easy one for him to make, the opportunity to take a job that combined his passion for football with his legal skills was simply too good to refuse.

“There were two factors that convinced me that retiring was the right thing to do”, Johnson said when asked why he had decided to quit the game at such a young age.

“Firstly, injuries. I’ve sustained many serious injuries throughout my career, particularly in the last two seasons. It got to a point where I decided I needed to listen to my body, which was telling me to stop.

“The second factor was a change in my personal circumstances. In short, I began my legal career early 2008, I married in May and then relocated to Melbourne for work in August. This new life has brought with it many responsibilities and consumes a lot of my time, which I would have previously used to focus on my football”.

Although he moved to Melbourne in August, Johnson continued training and made himself available for selection for the Strikers right up to the end of their 2009 QSL commitments. His last game for the club was against the Far North Queensland Bulls in Mareeba in August.

Johnson said he was retiring contented in the knowledge that he had achieved most of the aims he had as a young player. He was also happy that he can continue to have a constructive involvement in the game he loves, in a role that requires him to drive and organise the PFA’s membership and assist in individual and collective representation of professional footballers in Australia. His new career has already served him up a baptism of fire, pitching him in to help represent the Socceroos in their collective bargaining negotiations with Football Federation Australia.

“In 1999 my football ambition was to play for the Socceroos, Brisbane Strikers and overseas”, Johnson said. “I didn’t quite reach playing for the Socceroos, but now I get to represent them on the bargaining table – I am more than happy to settle for that!

“My ambitions outside football were to eventually study law, business and politics so that I could work in an area where I could make a difference. I would like to contribute by helping the growth of Australian football, both in the A-League and at national team level, and to ensure that players - the biggest stakeholders - are recognised for their contribution in that growth”.

Looking back at his playing career, Johnson said that the achievements he was proudest of were those that he could share with others.

“The best highlights of my career were all team related, not individual”, he said. “These included winning a silver medal at the 1999 FIFA U17 World Cup, winning promotion to the V-League (Vietnam), and then competing in the V-League with DaNang FC, playing in the America East Conference with Boston University in the NCAA and winning the Brisbane Premier League and grand final in 2006 and QSL championship in 2009 with the Strikers.

“I have been fortunate enough to play in some very successful teams”, he continued. “Although each of these teams were unique in their own way they were successful because they were made up of players who were committed to a common cause and included individuals who could inspire in times of need. From those experiences I learned how to operate within a team and the importance understanding my own role and responsibility within a team”.

Johnson said the last phase of his career – with the Strikers – had been a happy one on many levels.

“As I mentioned before, it was always an ambition of mine to represent the Strikers at some point in my career”, Johnson said.

“Additionally, it was a memorable experience on a more personal note as it provided me with the opportunity to play with people who have been influential, not only in my career, but in my life generally.

“Firstly, I played under my father (Garry), who assisted coaching the Strikers in 2007 and 2008. Secondly, I was able to play with Jeromy Harris, Stuart McLaren and Adam Webber. The Harris family and the McLarens have been family friends all my life. Jeromy and Stuart are the two players I idolised growing up and they certainly influenced the development of my character. And Adam has been my best friend for over fifteen years, having played in nearly every representative team with me since we were twelve”.

Apart from the shared pleasures of winning titles with the Strikers in 2006 and 2009, Johnson said his best memories of his time with the club were of Michael Butters’ hat trick in the 2007 BPL grand final against Rochedale Rovers, and winning the Players’ Player and Brisbane Strikers Supporters’ Association Player of the Season awards in 2007. He was succinct when asked what he would miss the most about being at Perry Park.

“The people”, he said. “I am leaving excellent coaches, team-mates, supporters and club administrators”.

For our part, the Brisbane Strikers Football Club would like to acknowledge what Jamie Johnson brought to the club. Jamie was an outstanding player – one who gave his all every time he stepped over the white line and who lit up many a contest with his nimble footwork, his passing and his ability to make a football do wicked things when struck from a free kick or a corner.

But beyond that, and off the pitch, “JJ” was an articulate and worthy ambassador for the club and the game, and a person of intelligence and integrity. Those are qualities that are now bound to serve him well in his new profession and his life in general.

We wish Jamie Johnson every success in his new career.