Former Town and England striker David Johnson has died, aged 71.

Johnson, who had been suffering with throat cancer, joined the Blues from Everton in October 1972 from hometown club Everton in a deal which saw Rod Belfitt join the Toffeemen, who also received a £40,000 fee.

The frontman went on to make 174 starts and four sub appearances for Town scoring 46 times before moving on to Liverpool for what was then the Anfield club’s record fee of £200,000 in August 1976.

While with the Blues he suffered perhaps the club's most infamous injury in the 1973/74 UEFA Cup tie against Lazio when he required stitches to his scrotum following a challenge during the first leg at Portman Road.

He returned as a sub in the second leg in Rome and scored the winning goal as the Blues won 5-4 on aggregate in a game which ended in a near riot.

Johnson made eight appearances for England and scored six goals, the first three games and three goals while with the Blues, two on his debut in a 2-2 draw with Wales at Wembley in May 1975 and another in the 5-1 victory over Scotland, also at Wembley, the same month in which Town teammate Kevin Beattie also found the net. He was a member of Ron Greenwood’s squad at the 1980 European Championships.

While with Town, Johnson won the Texaco Cup in 1973 but it was with Liverpool he picked up most of his medals as the Reds won the First Division in 1976/77, 1978/79, 1979/80 and 1981/82, the European Cup in 1976/77, 1977/78 and 1980/81, the UEFA Super Cup in 1977, the League Cup in 1980/81 and 1981/82, and the Charity Shield in 1976, 1977 (shared with Manchester United), 1979 and 1980.

In 1978, he became the first player to score for both clubs in a Merseyside derby, an achievement subsequently only replicated by Peter Beardsley.

Johnson was in the First Division PFA Team of the Year in 1979/80 and was inducted into Town’s Hall of Fame in 2016.

He left Liverpool in 1982 to rejoin Everton before a spell on loan at Barnsley in 1984 and then a brief stint at Manchester City, before moving to US side the Tulsa Roughnecks, Preston North End, Barrow, where he was player manager, and finally Maltese club the Naxxar Lions.

Known as Jonty while with the Blues, the striker had a stake in clothes shop Jonty’s in Tacket Street which still trades.

Latterly, he had been involved in broadcasting on Merseyside and worked on matchdays at Anfield in corporate lounges.

Photo: Sporting Pictures

PJH added 11:18 - Nov 23 Sad news. He turned out to be a great signing although at the time people wondered why we had allowed Rod Belfitt to leave and had got an 'unknown' to replace him. He formed a great partnership with Trevor Whymark in what became Sir Bobby's first 'great' ITFC team. R.I.P.
24

cressi added 11:19 - Nov 23 RIP Jonty a decent player with a bit of pace remember the swap with Belfitt went on to have a good career at Liverpool
1

RegencyBlue added 11:25 - Nov 23 Sad news. He was a quality player for us and a real character by all accounts. RIP
2

Moisha added 11:27 - Nov 23 71 is no age really in this day and age. RIP Jonty
5

chepstowblue added 11:28 - Nov 23 The 5-4 victory against Newcastle in 74/5 was one of my earliest memories of the team as an 8yr from South Wales. Johnson's impact in the game made him an instant hero of mine. This is very sad news, and for me totally unexpected. RIP Sir.
3

Bazza8564 added 11:30 - Nov 23 RIP fella, I'm with Moisha, 71 is so young. Remember when he was here clearly
2

bluerico added 11:36 - Nov 23 I remember moaning about letting Belfitt go for Johnson, but what a player he was for us. Also remember him getting a nasty injury playing against Lazio. RIP David. Thoughts with your family.
7

grumpyoldman added 11:40 - Nov 23 Lazio at home comes to mind, where he was constantly fouled and went off injured, as he was seen as our biggest threat, Trevor Whymark scored all our four goals that night. DJ was and still is a blue legend, RIP.
8

BobbyBell added 11:40 - Nov 23 A great striker for us and Liverpool. RIP David.
3

Nesspointrunner added 12:04 - Nov 23 Ahh I remember that game against Newcastle. One of the most exciting that I have seen.
3

trncbluearmy added 12:04 - Nov 23 Born is the king of Portman Road Few years ago Jonty and Johnny Wark bought a team of ex Liverpool players to play a game in North Cyprus,they were surprised at how many ex-pat Town fans turned up. Jonty managed the team and Warky played. Both ITFC legends RIP Jonty, thanks for the memories
5

IpswichT62OldBoy added 12:04 - Nov 23 Oh no. Very sad.
2

parhamblue added 12:25 - Nov 23 RIP Jonty. One of our greats.
4

oldelsworthyfan added 12:27 - Nov 23 I'll never forget his hat trick for us against Coventry. One of our top class centre forwards. RIP David
3

BlueandTruesince82 added 12:31 - Nov 23 Sad news RIP David
2

muhrensleftfoot added 12:38 - Nov 23 Very sad. One of the ITFC legends. He scored the only goal when we beat Liverpool 1-0 on my 21st birthday, 4th December 1976. I was there and had a fantastic day!
2

itsonlyme added 12:40 - Nov 23 Extremely sad! A truly great striker! RIP Jonty!
2

Ipswichbusiness added 12:43 - Nov 23 He must have been good for both Bobby Robson and Bob Paisley to sign him.
5

muhrensleftfoot added 12:48 - Nov 23 Just fact checked my post above. It was Mariner that scored the goal v Liverpool. Sorry old man memory! RIP Jonty.
2

BlueArrow added 12:48 - Nov 23 Always sad to lose a Blue.RIP Jonty thanks for the memories. Condolences to his family and friends.
1

Suffolkboy added 12:49 - Nov 23 Character, determination ,technique and talent he epitomised the qualities BR sought and delighted on the pitch ! RIP DJ ! COYB
1

midastouch added 13:08 - Nov 23 Sad to hear this. He was in the Top Trumps pack I had as a kid. A top quality player. RIP DJ.
1

johnwarksshorts added 13:16 - Nov 23 Sad news indeed. Had the privilege of watching him play many times. Top striker. R.I.P.
2

oldburian added 13:35 - Nov 23 Did not realise the deal meant we got Jonty and money, thought it would be the other way round. On honey moon in 1973 in Mallorca came across an Everton fan and the comment made on the transfer was that we got a Derby horse in exchange for cart horse. Probably a bit unfair on Belfitt but not that much! A much underrated striker just behind Mariner and Crawford in my estimation. His ability to hang in the air was outstanding.

3

Dissboyitfc added 13:40 - Nov 23 Very sad to hear this news RIP David! I was at Portman road for his debut, cracking 2-2 draw against Leeds.
2

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