 The ground on which the stadium is built has long been used for sport . The playing fields in Moston were purchased on behalf of the workers of " Johnson , Clapham and Morris " , a metal working and fabrication business . The fields were named for Ronald Lindsay Johnson ( 24 September 1889 – 29 May 1917 ) , a member of the Johnson family who died while serving as an Acting Captain and Divisional Trench Mortar Officer ( <unk> ) in the First World War . As <unk> for the 23rd Division , Johnson was responsible for co @-@ ordinating the targeting and positioning of mortar batteries and it was during preparation for the Battle of Messines that he was mortally wounded on 29 May 1917 . He had ascended to chairman of his family business following the deaths of his father in February 1914 and his brother William in July 1916 . His will ( compiled before Christmas 1916 ) originally left his shares in the family business in trust for the benefit of the employees of the firm ; but when this bequest was deemed to be impractical , the trustees decided instead that eight acres of land should be purchased for the staff as playing fields and a recreation ground . They were opened in the presence of his mother on 17 June 1925 . 
