The canny pipe-smoking Scot took over when York were struggling badly towards the bottom end of the Fourth Division, and although he couldn't initially stop them having to apply for re-election, eventually led them gloriously into the second tier of English football for the first and only time.

He was born in Coldstream in December 1918 and went on to play for both Nottingham clubs. Johnston actually appeared in the Notts County side that lost to York in FA Cup quarter-final in 1955.    

A fully qualified FA coach, he spent four years in Finland with Valdokoski and won the Finnish Cup during his reign. Returned to England and in turn became manager of Rotherham United, Grimsby Town and Huddersfield Town before being appointed York boss in 1968.

Gradually he started to turn things around at Bootham Crescent, and after finishing mid-table in his first full season in charge he led the club to promotion in 1970-71. The next two seasons City only survived on goal-difference in the higher division. But in 1973-74 they finished third in the table and were therefore gloriously promoted to the second division for the first time in their history.

York made a good start to the next campaign, only to be rocked when it was announced in the January 1975 that Johnston had asked to be released from his new four-year contract. He was eventually allowed to leave and rejoin Third Division strugglers Huddersfield Town as general manager, and spent a further two years at Leeds Road. He died in 1994.