Shinboner number: 7
Guernsey number: 6
Born: May 1, 1895
Died: July 3, 1978
Occupation: Lamp maker
North Melbourne games: 37 (1925-27)
Goals: 32
Harold was born in South Melbourne, the sixth of a family of 10 children born to Sarah Ann (nee Fisher) and Willie Johnston. In 1915 he married Marjorie (nee Prescott) and they had three children.
He played with North Melbourne Association in 1920 and then in 52 games from 1922 to 1924.
A 168cm rover, he debuted with North Melbourne's VFL team in Round 1 against Geelong on May 2, 1925. The Argus newspaper reported, "Johnson was incapacitated after the first term". He had broken a rib but, "refused to keep off the ground and his play in the second half was very fine".
He continued to play 17 games in 1925 and was regularly named in the best players. The following year against Essendon in Round 1 it was noted, "the most consistent player was Johnston who played fine football as rover." However, he was dropped after Round 4 and didn't resume playing with the seniors until Round 12 against Essendon at Arden St, in which the Essendon supporters "disapproved of his too-forceful tactics."
He played solidly for the rest of the season, kicking at least one goal in the final six games of the year. He played 10 games in 1927, with his final game for North against Collingwood in Round 18. Johnston only played in six winning games and one draw in his 37-game stint with North.
In 1930 he transferred to VFA team Sandringham FC, playing 14 games in a range of positions. That same year he umpired three VFL Senior matches and was a boundary umpire in 1931.
Johnston is buried in Keilor Cemetery, Victoria with his wife Marjorie.
