Liverpool and Real Madrid fans spotted at Merseyside cemetery

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Liverpool and Real Madrid supporters travelled to a Merseyside cemetery today to celebrate the life of a footballing pioneer. Ahead of tonight’s Champions League match at Anfield, there will be a major focus on the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold, the West Derby-born right-back who left his boyhood club in the summer to join Real.

As the ECHO reported this morning, Johnson was born in Dublin in 1878 and enjoyed a prolific career as an amateur footballer before he made the move to Madrid FC in 1902, before the team was renamed as Real Madrid in 1920. At the time Ireland, was a part of the United Kingdom and Real Madrid's first ever President said Johnson was the only one with any experience during the early days of the club.Johnson played as a forward and is credited as scoring Real Madrid's first ever goal.

He also went on to manage the club in 1910.After playing such a pivotal part in Real Madrid's history, Johnson came to Merseyside Liverpool’s United Alkali Company and acted as secretary for his local bowls club. He died of pneumonia at the age of 50 in March 1929.Ahead of tonight's prestigious game between Liverpool and Real Madrid in the Champions League, fan groups from the two clubs united to pay tribute to Johnson's incredible legacy.Fans from both clubs laid floral tributes and a prayer for Johnson was delivered in Spanish.