E. A. Johnson was cox to the successful Nottingham Union BC fours of Harold Ives, L. G. Potter, George Beaumont and Bob Starkey that were virtually unbeatable through 1927 and 1928. They went to the 1928 Olympics as one of the favourites but, in Amsterdam, were without Johnson who was only the reserve cox to Thames Rowing Club’s Arthur Sulley. Johnson had coxed the four to victory in the Wye Challenge Fours at the Hereford Regatta just two months before the Games and, even one month before they were due to start, was still first choice but Sulley got the call.