Henry Johnson came home from serving in Egypt with the RAF during the First World War to build quite a footballing portfolio. He had been a junior international but in May 1919 he represented the Egyptian Forces v the BEF at Stamford Bridge and, again at the same venue, represented the British Army versus the Belgian Army (see his scrapbook section for more details).

So it was perhaps a question of with whom, rather than if, he would embark on a professional career in 1919.

Coventry, newly-elected to the Football League’s  Second Division, got to have first pick. After only two games for them and a spell with Darlaston in the Birmingham League, he joined Southampton.

He had two sustained spells at inside-left in their 1921-22 campaign, scoring twice in their 8-0 thrashing of Northampton on Christmas Eve and being ever-present, with two more goals, in their seven-match run-in, undefeated, as they snatched the Third South championship from Plymouth. Henry struggled, however, to hold down a Division II place and duly returned to the Third South with Queens Park Rangers. He top-scored for them in 1924-25, the only occasion during his stay that they did not finish bottom and need to seek re-election.  After which, he returned to the Birmingham League with Cradley Heath and then wound down with lesser lights. In 1939 he was a turner and assembler at a plumbing works.