Eddie's hockey career never really ended

But 23 years on, he is still playing a major role in the club's success as head of their thriving youth section.

Newcastle-born Johnson, now 63, said: "I came to Birmingham to do my teacher training and I was about 18 when I started playing for Wednesbury.

"I played until I was about 40 when I picked up a really bad injury. I tore a calf muscle which then didn't heal properly.

"It clotted up and went into a deep vein thrombosis. I was rushed into hospital one Sunday morning and they didn't let me out until the Friday because it went up into my lung.

"I could have died, I lost part of my lung and that is when I stopped playing. It just refocused things. I couldn't play so I just focused even more on the coaching.

"It doesn't really make it harder to coach. I don't do so much of the running stuff that I would have done as a player but you can jog, you can walk. As long as you get round, it doesn't matter too much."

Fortunately, since that harrowing setback both Eddie and the club's youth section have gone from strength to strength.

Johnson helped form the youth team set-up back in 1988 to ensure the club could produce its own first team players after a couple of local schools stopped playing hockey.

From humble beginnings the set up has grown and it is now enjoying its highest numbers, with around 65 youngsters on the books.

Johnson, who lives in Walsall, said: "When we started we probably had about a dozen players. We could just about get a team out.

"Now there's 60-70. We have under-eights, under-10s, under-12s up to under-16s and so on.

"Over 27 years we have had hundreds of kids who have come though the ranks into the first team.

"I have got people who I coached as primary school children and now their children are playing, so there is a nice family feel to the club."

There have been some high-fliers to emerge from the club in that time, perhaps the most notable of all being Eddie's son Michael who played in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics for Great Britain.

They are still producing internationals today, with 18-year-old James Greenway a current member of the British Colleges squad, while the club has churned out dozens of county and regional level players.

Johnson, who now has three grandchildren playing for the club's youth teams, said: "It is a real bonus if they go on to higher levels like county or regional or international hockey.

"It is great but we don't do it for that reason, though. It started off to build the club up.

"When you get youngsters coming through, it doesn't matter whether they get to international level or whether they just play club level. It is just nice to see them getting out and playing."

Johnson, who is approaching his 64th birthday, remains as active as ever in both the club's youth set up and in schools hockey within his local area.

He spends around 20 hours a week coaching, both at the club and at schools, and has no plans to relinquish his current role as youth development officer any time soon.

He said: "I have always enjoyed it. I have lived in Walsall since 1972 when I joined the club. I have been a player, captain, coach, youth development office.

"I am 63 now. If I didn't want to do it any more I would stop but I still enjoy it, it keeps me active and fit, running around after the youngsters and bringing the new ones on. That is why I still do it.

"I have always enjoyed it and you want to pass it on to the younger generations. It has paid off for the club. It has helped to keep our club going, certainly."

It is a view seconded by Wednesbury club chairman Ron Campbell.

The club has expanded from two to five senior men's sides over the years – including a development squad called the Badgers – and Campbell said: "Eddie has been very instrumental in developing first team players.

"We have had a lot of youngsters over the years join at a very young age and then progress to play first team hockey.

"It is hard to put a figure on how many but you could say that at least half of the current first team have come through the youth section, which is probably now at its peak.

"He also coaches in schools and as those players grow older and develop we hope that there is a natural link then for them when they leave school to come to Wednesbury and play their hockey for us.

"He has also encouraged other players and members to get their own coaching badges to help with the coaching structure he heads up.

"We have got first team lads who are now qualified coaches who can help him with the training sessions.

"He is a key figure within the club and he is still prepared to get out there coaching kids and club members in all weather. He absolutely loves coaching and he's been tremendous."

Wednesbury Hockey Club are holding fortnightly training sessions for children over the close season at their Willenhall Academy base on Saturday mornings.

New members are welcome and can contact Eddie for more information on 07963 562 321 or via email at Jejohnson49@hotmail.com