'My body can't continue': Former Portsmouth, Bradford and Middlesbrough man forced to retire - aged 29
The right-back finished runner-up in The News/Sports Mail Player of the Season for 2020-21
A former Pompey player has been forced to call time on his playing career - at the age of 29.
Callum Johnson has been dogged by injuries over recent years, restricting him to just 11 outings for National League Gateshead this term.
Now the right-back, who has also represented Middlesbrough and Bradford, has announced his retirement after declaring his body ‘is no longer able to continue playing’.
Johnson was signed by Pompey for around £100,000 in September 2020 by Kenny Jackett and went on to make 48 appearances, scoring once.
The full-back also marked his maiden Blues season by finishing runner-up in The News/Sports Mail Player of the Season for 2020-21.
However, Jackett’s replacement Danny Cowley deemed Johnson surplus to requirements and he was released in the summer of 2022 upon the expiry of his contract.
Now, following subsequent spells with Ross County, Mansfield, Bradford and Gateshead, he has hung up his boots almost four years later.
‘My body is no longer able to continue playing’
‘However, those who know me or have followed my journey will know I have suffered from 14 muscle injuries over the last two and a half seasons. Although we eventually discovered the cause of the constant muscle injuries, my body is no longer able to continue playing.
‘To all of the fans of every club I have played for, whether I was playing 40 games a season in my prime or in recent years doing everything possible to get back fit and showing glimpses on the pitch of what I was capable of, thank you for your support.
‘To all the players I have shared the dressing room with, I’ve met some top professionals, learnt so much throughout my career and made friendships that will last a lifetime, best of luck with the rest of your careers.
‘Thank you to the managers and staff who put their trust in me, I always did everything I could to repay your belief in me on the pitch.’
After 119 appearances for Accrington, Johnson was signed by Pompey to replace James Bolton at right-back in League One.
He subsequently established himself as first-choice under Jackett, although missed the behind-closed-doors EFL Trophy final defeat to Salford at Wembley through injury.
The former Middlesbrough youngster would then start 11 of the final 12 matches of the season under interim head coach Cowley as the Blues missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the 2020-21 season.
Out of favour under Danny Cowley
However, following Cowley’s permanent appointment as head coach in the summer of 2021, Kieron Freeman and then Mahlon Romeo were recruited as right-backs.
He then moved to Ross County in the Scottish Premiership, featuring 24 times, before returning to England for an 18-month stay with Mansfield.
More recently, he was with Bradford last season, featuring 14 times in their League Two promotion season, before dropping into non-league with Gateshead last summer.
In a statement, the 21st-placed National League club said: ‘All at Gateshead FC would like to thank Callum for his contributions during his time on Tyneside, and wish him the best of luck in retirement and for the future.’