In-demand striker reveals why he wanted to join Seaham Red Star

Andrew Johnson has revealed that he turned down an offer from a top five Northern League Division One club before joining Seaham Red Star.
Seaham Red Star manager Mark CollingwoodSeaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood
Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood

The striker ended a goal-laden spell with Bishop Auckland last week and was the subject of interest from a number of clubs across the league’s two divisions.

Johnson held talks with one club that were sat in the top five of Division One when the coronavirus epidemic brought a premature end to the season in March.

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But it was a conversation with Red Star manager Mark Collingwood and the advice of a number of Johnson’s former team-mates that eventually saw him decide to move to the Ferguson Motor Repairs Stadium.

He told the Echo: “I spoke to a few clubs in the last few days before signing for Seaham.

“I spoke to Colly and he just seemed really genuine, a good bloke and that was backed up by what a few other players told me.

“I wanted to stay in the first division, he told me I’d be his number nine and that he had confidence in me to get goals.

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“There was a team that wanted me in the top five of the division and, if I am honest, that would be the offer most people would have taken.

“But I want to play week-in, week-out and I have the confidence that I can do good things at Seaham.”

Johnson will offer Collingwood with an opportunity to replace the goal lost by top scorer Dan Wilson’s departure to North Shields.

The striker become a firm favourite at Bishop Auckland and won the Northern League’s golden boot award on three occasions on his way to scoring 240 goals in 281 appearances over two spells the Two Blues.

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He admitted that it had been a “difficult decision” to bring an end to his time at Heritage Park but insisted it was the right time to start a new chapter in his career.

“It was a difficult decision, but I just haven’t enjoyed it over the last two years, and I think my performances have reflected that to be honest.”

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