Everyone remembers Joe’s classic win in 1986 when he beat Steve Davis 18-12 at odds of 150-1 to raise the silver lady at the Crucible.
Johnson remains a snooker favourite, mixing attacking play with jovial humour and exotic footwear. However if one looks beyond this veneer, where did this potting legend learn his trade and what made him become one of the greatest players that UK snooker has ever produced ?
Joe, a former pipe layer and trainee mechanic rose to the fold in the early 1970s becoming a National Under-19s Champion In 1971. Turning professional with the likes of Tony Meo and Cliff Wilson, Johnson was able to cut his teeth on the baize, making his first television appearance in The Tyne Tees Challenge against the late, Graham Miles. Footage of which I am still to this day trying to obtain for him.
Away from the table, Joe is a very private family man whom I have the privilege to be friends with his daughter Nicky and his son Don and wife Janine. Always there for me and so generous.
I digress,back to Joe’s Career, in a recent interview Dennis Taylor reeled off his classic victories with the interviewer trying to avoid talking about the classic 1985 final. Similarly Johnson’s career will always be remembered for 1986 but what else did he win ? His other classic win was over his rival Terry Griffiths who he beat 9-7 in the Scottish Masters in 1987 and a further two non ranking events.
Johnson holds the record for reaching two consecutive World Championship finals in 1986 and 1987 but Davis got the better of him in 1987, winning 18-14.
Off the table, Johnson has had heart and eye problems but I have never seen him down. He is one of those people that lights up your day and has such a sharp wit. He is able to create a joke out of a comment, a rare skill.
He is also a very talented commentator, working with Eurosport, travelling with the tour.He is not only able to capture the atmosphere of the table in a microphone but bring also his vast player knowledge to the wider audience.
Hindsight is a powerful thing and critics would say Johnson should have won more. I personally believe that to be a disservice to this multi talented player who brought the green baize to life.
Even in his latter years, Joe has still been able to produce a 147 in a club and has shown some of his great talent in the Seniors Masters where he won 3-1 against Dennis Taylor to reach the latter stage of the competition.
I have always found Joe, generous, funny and a good listener, am proud to call him a friend and salute him as a player, viva Joe Johnson!
