Johnno back in town!

FORMER Warrington player and coach Brian Johnson is set to return to the town.
The former full-back will make a return to Wilderspool later this month when the Wolves Academy take on the Australian Institute of Sport.
The match will be part of the Australian’s touring agenda which starts this week and will be one of only two opportunities to watch this AIS side in England with the remainder of the tour being played in France.
The Wolves Academy will entertain the Australian Institute of Sport side, which is coached by Brian Johnson, on Thursday November 25 kicking off at 7.30pm.
Admission will be £5 Adult and £2 concessions/juniors.
John Bastian, Director of Youth Development, said: “We will field a strong 2010 under 18s side for this competitive game. It will be a great test for the side against the top junior players in Australia. This is a high profile game for the academy to get this opportunity to play the Australian Institute of Sport. It will be good to welcome back a former player and coach in Brian Johnson who is held with high regards at the club. Gary Chambers and Richard Marshall will be in charge of the team and hopefully we can get as many supporters as we can down at Wilderspool to enjoy what we expect to be an entertaining and hard fought game of Rugby League.”
Gary Chambers, Wolves Under 18s Coach, reflected on his memories of Brian from his time as a player and coach at Warrington: “Brian’s loyalty and focus was always fantastic, the service he gave to the club as a player was exceptional as was his move to coach. He was my first professional coach when I signed and he was always ahead of his time in many aspects, many of which we still do today. He was a real thinker and his morals as a person were exceptional. It was great for him to take me under his wing when I first started out.”
Chambers added: “This game will be a good opportunity for our young players to get in some pre-season preparation and blow off those cobwebs. Knowing Brian and how he likes to prepare our Australian opposition will be highly skilled with a good game plan. He will select a wide range of players and gel them together well as a team.”
During the 86/87 season Johnson crossed for 25 tries – the highest total ever for a Warrington full back. He helped Wire to third place in the league and runners-up spot to Wigan in the John Player Trophy and in the revamped Premiership Trophy.
In November 1988 he took over as the new chief.
He was an instant success by leading Wire to almost Challenge Cup semi-final glory over Wigan at Maine Road. Only a 60-yard Joe Lydon drop goal and a late try knocked the stuffing out of Wire. Two months later the two sides clashed again on neutral soil – this time as a promotional game at the County Stadium, Milwaukee, America.
Silverware success came the season after as Wire stormed to glory in the Lancashire Cup final over Oldham – Wire’s ninth win on the trot – and better still Johnson secured Warrington their first trip to Wembley for 15 years to face Wigan in the final of the Challenge Cup.
He stayed in charge until 1995-96 centenary season, the last campaign to be played in winter.
It was a season cut short to make way for Super League.
Warrington reached the semi-finals of the Regal Trophy and were paired away to much-improved St. Helens.
That semi-final turned out to be the blackest day in Warrington’s history – an 80-0 mauling that was Warrington’s heaviest defeat and Johnson resigned the following morning.