A BROADCASTER who is to work on his fourth FIFA World Cup later this year is hoping to inspire the next generation to follow their dreams.
David Johnson, 52, grew up in Prescot, and his dad Arthur, from Thatto Heath, was a coalminer at Sutton Manor Colliery.
He attended Prescot Comprehensive School and left at 16 and worked as an apprentice in TV production at the University of Liverpool.
He then worked in non-linear editing, and from then got involved in live TV production. Manchester United fan David then worked for a period at MUTV.
In 2002 he got to work on live games in the Champions League, including the final at Hampden Park in Glasgow, and since, he has amassed great experience working at many of the biggest football tournaments in the world.
David, who has his own company, Johnson Media, will travel to Qatar later this year to work on nine matches during the tournament, including what will be his first World Cup final on December 18.
His role of broadcast liaison officer is a job that only around 350 people in the world are qualified to do.
“You get asked to look after the live production on site,” said David, who worked during the Euros last summer.
“When we’re sat at home watching on ITV or BBC you get the interviews with Harry Kane, or whoever.
“At the stadium there are broadcasts from all over the world. My role is to work as part of a small team to make sure every one of those broadcasters get as many interviews after the game as possible.
“Before the match, and after the game, there is all sorts of live production, I manage that with my colleagues. It is pretty full on for the two days around the game, you need to have a lot of experience.
“I work with two or three other people that can speak six or seven different languages, and between us we manage all the requests.”
Dad-of-one David, who lives in Rainford, is hoping that his story can help young people appreciate that there are many opportunities out there for them to progress in their careers and lives.
“Some of the stories coming out are saying children haven’t got any opportunities and stuff like that, and times are tough right now and have been for a few years,” added David, whose dad Arthur also played for Saints between 1961 and 1963.
“But there’s nothing to stop anyone. For example, if you work in a hairdressing business, you could try to work in a film set.
“That’s the way I was brought up, work and become the best you can do, if you enjoy it.”
David, who recently retired playing and is on the committee at Prescot Hockey Club, added: “For the new generation, try and aspire to achieve your goals because it can happen, and it does happen.
“It takes hard work but if you stay focused and willing to make sacrifices you can achieve what you want.”
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