Football: LEE LOOKS DAD CERT FOR GLORY; COCA-COLA PLAY-OFF WEEKEND SIX SIDES AIMING TO GRAB MOMENT OF GLORY Being the boss's son has not stopped Johnson climbing big ladder Bristol City v Hull City CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF.Byline: BY MIKE WALTERS LEE JOHNSON Lee Johnson is the name of:
And it would be an even more remarkable achievement after spending most of his career trying to convince sceptical fans his place in the team is based on pure footballing merit, not nepotism nep·o·tism n. Favoritism shown or patronage granted to relatives, as in business. [French népotisme, from Italian nepotismo, from nepote, nephew, from Latin . Johnson's father, Gary, the Robins manager, is just 90 minutes from back-to-back promotions and restoring topflight top·flight adj. Informal First-rate; excellent. topflight adj → de primera (categoría or clase) topflight adj → football to Ashton Gate Ashton Gate Stadium is a stadium in Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it has an all-seated capacity of 21,497, with an effective capacity for football matches (depending on how many away for the first time in 28 years. Yet the father-and-son combination were once viewed with such suspicion that, on his Bristol City debut, one snarling snarl 1 v. snarled, snarl·ing, snarls v.intr. 1. To growl viciously while baring the teeth. 2. To speak angrily or threateningly. v.tr. fan told Johnson the younger: "We don't want you and we don't effing want your old man, either." But the clan are now in line for a double celebration - a Wembley triumph and the manager's first grandchild, with Lee's wife Nicola due to give birth in 12 days. Midfielder Lee, who could be restored to the starting line-up against Hull in this afternoon's pounds 60million shootout Shootout Venture capital jargon. Refers to two or more venture capital firms fighting for the startup. in the Championship playoff final, admitted it has been a battle to win over wurzels wary of City's generation game. Johnson conceded: "Being the manager's son is both a strength and your weakness - it's your strength in that you're permanently having to prove that you are worthy of your place and it's not looked upon as nepotism. "But, at the same time, it's human nature for people to look at it and say, 'He's only playing because his dad picks the team' - and I would be the same, so I don't hold it against anyone for thinking that way. "There have been times in my career when I've been going through a bad run of form or playing with an injury, and it's been difficult. If you do get a bit of stick from some sections of the crowd, which has happened in the past, it hurts. "But all I can do is give my best every week and, over time, prove that I am worthy of my place. You have to earn your stripes and, hopefully, I think the majority of fans appreciate what I do now for the team. "Frank Lampard had similar problems at West Ham (when his father, Frank snr was No.2 to Harry Redknapp). I've read his book, and it's exactly the same for me here, except the good thing with me is that I've only really had success playing for my dad. "Had we been in a relegation battle, it would probably be 10 times harder." THE RISE AND RISE OF LEE JOHNSON 2002-03 - Yeovil: Promoted to from Conference to League 2 2004-05 - Yeovil: Promoted to League 1 2006-07 - Bristol City: Promoted to Championship 2007-08 - Bristol City: Promoted to Premier League? PROBABLE TEAMS BRISTOL CITY Basso Orr McCombe Carey McAllister Noble Elliott Carle McIndoe Trundle Adebola HULL Myhill Ricketts Turner Brown Dawson Garcia Ashbee Marney Barmby Windass Campbell TV TIMES: Live on Sky Sports 1, 2pm BETTING: Bristol 15-8, Hull 5-4, draw 2-1 CAPTION(S): FAMILY FORTUNES Lee aims to make it a double celebration with dad, Gary (above) |
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