Exclusive:'Rankles with me' - Danny Johnson makes Hartlepool United admission after sealing Spennymoor Town move
Former Hartlepool United striker Danny Johnson has opened up on his time at Victoria Park after joining Spennymoor Town.
Danny Johnson has admitted his disappointing spell with Hartlepool United will ‘rankle with him for the rest of his life’ as he takes the next step in his career with National League North neighbours Spennymoor Town.
The Teesside-born striker was part of the Pools youth setup during the formative years of his career before a goal-laden stint with Northern League club Guisborough Town triggered a career that has taken Johnson to the likes of Cardiff City, Leyton Orient and Walsall. After years of being linked with a move back to Victoria Park, Johnson finally returned to Pools last summer with high hopes of establishing himself as part of a side that would push for promotion into the EFL.
However, after failing to score in 27 National League appearances during the campaign, Johnson was one of 13 players that departed Pools at the end of the season and he will now resume his career in the black and white of Spennymoor. The experienced frontman feels he has something to prove with Tommy Miller’s side on the back of an underwhelming spell at The Vic and described the last 12 months as ‘really disappointing’.
He told The Mail: “I have something to prove - but looking back, it’s really tough for me. I was at Hartlepool in their youth setup and got released and then throughout my whole career it was about I was wanting to go back but they didn’t want me or they couldn’t do it for whatever reason. It seemed like it was just never going to happen and then I got the chance to go back last year and it was something I always wanted to do. So for it to turn so sour and leave a bitter taste is really disappointing - and that’s something that will rankle with me for the rest of my life probably because it was so disappointing. I just want to get back to enjoying football, I just want to get scoring goals again and playing with a smile on my face.”
Options
Johnson wasted little time in making an impact with his new club as he marked his Moors debut with a goal in Saturday’s pre-season friendly win at Northern Premier League East club Blyth Spartans. The striker came off the bench at half-time and was partnered by former Pools loan signing Richie Bennett as Tommy Miller’s side claimed a 3-1 win at Croft Park in their opening friendly fixture of the summer. Johnson and Bennett will compete with Moors legend and club captain Glen Taylor and fellow summer signing former Harrogate Town man Aidan Marsh for a place in Miller’s starting eleven during the new season - and Johnson has stressed every member of the attacking ranks will be needed during the campaign as they push for success on a number of fronts during the campaign.
He said: “It was good to be out there and obviously I haven’t played too much football over the last few months so it was good to get out there. It’s been tough. I was a little bit rusty because it’s the first 45 minutes I’ve played in a while but it was great to get a goal and get a first one on the tally. You look at the level, if you want to get out of the league, you need to have a good selection of strikers because when it gets tough in December and January, you need those options to step up and try and get those goals to get the club to the top of the league.”
‘One step further’
The Moors have enjoyed a remarkable rise up the non-league pyramid over the last decade and will hope to push for promotion into the National League as former Pools favourite Miller embarks on his second managerial reign at Brewery Field. Since Johnson faced Spenny in the Northern League during his time with Guisborough and Billingham Synthonia, the Moors have secured three promotions and have been in and around the National League North play-off places with regularity in recent seasons.
The high point came during the 2018/19 season when Jason Ainsley’s side suffered an agonising penalty shoot-out defeat in a play-off final against Chorley and saw their dreams of a first ever promotion into non-league’s elite brought to an end. Challenging for a top seven place will be the main target once again during the new season - although there are a whole host of contenders for a play-off spot with several clubs across the division spending big during the close-season.
Johnson has watched the Moors push up the pyramid from afar over the last ten years - and he is now determined to help his new club ‘go that one step further’ as he prepares for his first season at Brewery Field.
He said: “I remember playing against Spennymoor in my Northern League days and Jason Ainsley always likes to mention I scored against his side whenever I played against them. I’ve seen Spennymoor’s rise up the leagues when I’ve been at other clubs and have always kept an eye on them. They’ve always been in and around the play-offs in recent seasons and I just hope we can push again this season because we are putting a good squad together and we want to have a good season and go that one step further.”
Your next Hartlepool United read: Lee Clark identifies 'big benefit' after Hartlepool United pre-season win at Seaton Carew