Ex-Manchester Grammar School student F. E. Johnson played for Old Mancunians and was selected to represent The North in the annual match against The South several times in the 1920s. An attacker, he also played for Lancashire, and was in their County Championship-winning teams of 1925 and 1926 when they beat Kent 21-3 and Middlesex 15-5 respectively. He was also a member of their winning team in 1929 when they enjoyed another big win, by 18 goals to three over a combined team from the London Counties.