Cody Johnson Says He’s Ready To Shine As Halifax Town Step Up Preparations
The 20-year-old midfielder has followed Adam Lakeland from King’s Lynn and is aiming to make his mark in the National League.
Johnson Eager to Prove Himself in Senior Football
Halifax’s latest addition, Johnson, has vowed to take the National League by storm after joining the club this summer. The former Stockport County midfielder links up once again with manager Adam Lakeland and assistant Sam Walker, having impressed under their guidance at King’s Lynn last season.
“I can’t wait to get going,” said Johnson, who believes he is ready to embrace the demands of fifth-tier football. “It will be a step up but I don’t doubt myself. It’s all about progressing and improving.”
His route to The Shay has been far from straightforward. Released by Oldham Athletic for being too small, Johnson joined Stockport County and soon hit a growth spurt that altered the course of his career. Loan spells at Banbury, Scarborough and Rochdale followed, but it was his full season under Lakeland in the National League North that marked a turning point.
“Playing men’s football at 17 really helped me,” he said. “That first season at King’s Lynn was huge for me. Over 40 games, living away from home, cooking for myself, growing up on and off the pitch – it was everything I needed.”
Built on Trust and Development
Lakeland’s trust in the youngster has been a major factor in Johnson’s development. The midfielder praised his former and now current manager for always backing him, even when returning from Stockport to King’s Lynn mid-season. That belief, he says, allowed him to express himself and improve physically.
“They let me grow into games, build my match fitness, and they worked on everything with me,” he explained. “Positioning, recovery, even small things like heading or using my weaker foot. They were always there.”
Writer’s View
This looks like a savvy bit of business from Halifax Town. Cody Johnson arrives not as a raw prospect but as a young midfielder with over 80 senior games under his belt and a full season of step-two football behind him. His rapport with Lakeland and Walker is clear, and continuity in coaching could help him hit the ground running.
Halifax have built a reputation for giving young players the freedom to thrive, and Johnson fits that mould perfectly. If he continues on his upward trajectory, this could be another example of Town turning promise into profit – both on the pitch and eventually in the market.
