PERS. INFORMATION

CLUB HISTORY

• Carlisle United FC | Youth – 2018
• Queen of the South | Youth – …
• Gartcairn FA Juniors | 2023 (loan)
• Cumbernauld Colts FC | 2025 | (loan)

INTERVIEW

Introduce yourself…

I’m Ben Johnstone, born in Dumfries and I play football for my boyhood club Queen of the South.

What do you believe are your biggest strengths as a midfielder?

I believe my biggest strengths are my passing and the energy I can give from the middle of the park.

How difficult was it balancing school life with academy football as a teenager?

I found it alright actually, I’ve got a very supportive family so they’d help me through any difficulties I had with balancing both of them.

Can you tell me about your time with Carlisle United, including what you learned during your four-week trial and how the experience helped your development as a player?

I was only young at the time and obviously, in the end, I didn’t get signed. That made me mentally stronger in dealing with failure, learning how to overcome it and become a better player from the experience.

Was joining Queen of the South FC an easy decision for you? 

Yes, very easy. It’s a club I’ve gone to watch since I was little, so when I got the chance to sign for the under-14s, I was never going to turn it down.

What differences did you notice immediately between academy football in England and Scotland?

I didn’t feel like there was too much of a difference. There are always really good players at any academy you go into, and that was the case with both of these clubs.

Were there any coaches at Queen of the South FC who had a particularly big influence on your development?

I couldn’t name just one, to be honest. They’ve all been a great help to my development as a football player, but I’d say Willie Gibson especially, as he moved me up to the first team and gave me my debut at 17.

You were around the first team before becoming a regular, how valuable was that learning period?

It was so valuable because you go from training with youth players to playing with experienced professionals, and you learn things instantly from them when you see what they’re doing before, during and after training.

What did the loan spells at Gartcairn FA Juniors and  Cumbernauld Colts FC teach you about senior football?

It taught me loads as that was my first experience in men’s football, development totally goes out the window and all that matters is getting the 3pts on Saturday which is the reality of all levels of men’s football.

What are your personal goals for the upcoming season with Queen of the South FC and what can supporters expect from you next season?

Personally I would like to try and build on my breakthrough year last year and do as well as I can performance wise but most importantly try to do well as a team and finish as high up the league as we can.