Doncaster Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday: Stoke City loanee Tommy Simkin on his 'mad' mentor

The saying that all goalkeepers are a bit mad may be a hackneyed cliché. But in Johansson's case—the Stoke City number one and former Rotherham United custodian—it rings true, in the nicest possible way, according to Simkin.

The Swede earned a deal with the Millers after coming over for a two-week trial when Covid restrictions started to be lifted in June 2020.

Everyone at the club thought the world of him during his time in South Yorkshire and not just because he was a damn good goalkeeper.

In a 2023 interview with The Yorkshire Post, Johansson recalled his upbringing in Stockholm. 'I was crazy as a kid. I played handball, something called floorball and football at the same time,' he commented.

Simkin can also vouch for Johansson's 'craziness'.

Ultimately, there will be a time further down the line when the 21-year-old may see the Swede as a real rival.

Having mastered League Two during a loan stint at hometown club Walsall in 2024-25, Simkin is hoping to successfully handle what League One can throw at him in his season at Rovers to ultimately prepare himself for a Championship shot at his parent club. Or maybe higher.

For the time being, the England under-21 keeper is happy to continue his lower-division education. Johansson remains a mentor - and there is method in his madness.

Johansson's sunny disposition belies what he has had to contend with. His football dreams were in jeopardy when a serious back problem was diagnosed after he joined Aston Villa in his mid-teens.

Several specialists warned him against continuing football at that level and he was out of the game for over a year.

Johansson fought back to where he is now. He values his profession and also cares about Simkin.

When he was injured last winter and Simkin was recalled back from a loan spell and fast-tracked into the first-team at Stoke with loanee Gavin Bazunu also sidelined, Johansson was there for his mate, who made 17 appearances in the second half of 2025-26.

Simkin, preparing for Saturday's derby with Sheffield Wednesday, said: "Generally after most games, if he was not with his family, he'd give me a call and speak to me about life, football and family. If we were having a long drive, we'd call each other.

"He's top-drawer and especially when I was at (Leyton) Orient (last season) - probably having a tough time - he would give me a call and just be there for you as a mentor and older player.

"And then when I came back, he sort of knew the pressure of playing for the club. Stoke's a massive club and he's a good bit older than me and had that experience and probably given me a bit of experience that I didn't have.

"I spent a week with him 24-7 (at end of last season), which was actually class as I think he enjoyed it as I brought the 'kiddie' side out in him.

"He just needed somebody to stay with. We finished on a Saturday, I think he got married on the Monday back in Sweden and then he came back for the week and his family stayed there; he's got two young kids.

"Just being with each other the whole time, it was class. Just seeing what he's like at the training ground and then away from the club and we were playing golf together and that. It was priceless."

Like Johansson, Simkin is a bubbly individual but is also serious about his craft.

The similarities with the Scandinavian don't end there.

Like Johansson—whose father Tobias was a lower-division keeper in Sweden - sport is in Simkin's blood.

His uncle Darren played for Wolves and dad Neil was a former karate world champion. Cousin Lily plays for Wolves Women and his nan was a successful runner.

Simkin continued: "To be fair, the whole family's quite sporty.

"My nan's an Olympian. She was a sprinter and my uncle used to play for Wolves, so he probably talked to me more about footy to be fair.

"But my dad's always at the games with my mum, wherever he is. If it's with England, Donny or whatever.

"I'll always give them a little call after the games and just have a chat. We're always speaking about football and life."

Settled and pretty proficient in goal he may be, but things might have been different when the Midlander first joined Stoke's academy.

Simkin explained: "I started as centre-half and then I think, when I was about 14, our goalie got injured - and we needed a goalie for a cup game.

"So I went in goal and played all right and then went back outfield for a couple of weeks.

"I was awful and then I went: 'oh, do I try it in goal (again)? So I thought I might as well and now I'm here."