Real Madrid's first ever goalscorer is buried in Wallasey as little known connection unveiled

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Liverpool Echo IconNewsLiverpool NewsLiverpool FCReal Madrid and Liverpool FC fan groups will united today to pay tribute to the forgotten legendTrent Alexander-Arnold, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Thomas Gravesen are just some of the notable footballers to have called both Merseyside and Madrid home over the course of their lives. Football culture is integral to both the cultures of Liverpool and the Spanish capital so it's natural there will be some figures that connect the two regions.However, one name you might not be so familiar with is Arthur Vere Scott Johnson, who just so happens to be one of the most important figures in Real Madrid's history and is buried in Wallasey.

Johnson was born in Dublin in 1878 and enjoyed a prolific career as an amateur footballer before he made the move to Madrid FC.Johnson was one of many people from the United Kingdom and Ireland to take the game of football across the world as the popularity of the beautiful game spread across the globe at the turn of the 20th century.He joined Madrid FC in 1902, before the team were 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.According to a Guardian article, Julian Palacios is quoted as saying in Phil Ball's book White Storm: 100 Years of Real Madrid: "The only guy who really knew what he was doing back then was the Englishman Johnson.“Lovely chap too, but he took the game very seriously.

He got married here in Madrid on a Saturday and turned up to play the match on the following morning. I don’t know what his bride thought.”Johnson played as a forward and is credited as scoring Real Madrid's first ever goal, paving the way for such icons as Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskás, Raul and Cristiano Ronaldo.He also went on to manage the club in 1910 and a footballing myth attributes Johnson with the idea of Real Madrid wearing an all white strip, as he was inspired by the English team Corinthian.After playing such a pivotal part in Real Madrid's history, Johnson came to work on Merseyside and died in 1929 aged 50.He is buried at Rake Lane Cemetery in Wallasey.Ahead of tonight's prestigious game between Liverpool and Real Madrid in the Champions League, fan groups from the two clubs will unite to pay tribute to Johnson's incredible legacy.The official fan club will meet with Liverpool FC fan, Les Wright, to commemorate Johnson later this afternoon.The Liverpool FC group will hand over a Real Madrid wreath to lay at the foot of Johnston's gravestone and the Real Madrid fan group will say a few words in tribute to the man buried in Merseyside who helped change football forever.Liverpool FC vs Real Madrid kicks off at Anfield at 8pm