Johnson was unranked throughout the 1980–81 season. His season started with the 1980 UK Championship in which he beat John Dunning 9–6 in the last 32 before losing 9–4 in the last 24 to Patsy Fagan. At the 1981 Yamaha Organs Trophy Johnson lost all three of his qualifying round matches; he was beaten 3–0 by both Mike Hallett and Tony Knowles and 2–1 by Willie Thorne. The following event however, the 1981 English Professional Championship saw Johnson avenge his loss to Knowles with a comprehensive 9–2 win in the first round. Johnson received a walkover in the last 16 against John Pulman and this took Johnson into the quarter finals, where he lost 9–5 to Ray Edmonds. At the 1981 World Championship Johnson lost his opening match, a last 48 encounter with Tony Meo. Johnson matched Meo virtually frame for frame throughout the match until losing the final frame and the match 9–8. Johnson received no ranking points during the season, his prize money for the season was £850, 28th on the money list and he finished the season still unranked.