GARY JOHNSON will return to his former club Bristol City aiming for a repeat of one of his favourite victories at Ashton Gate.
The Torquay manager spent nearly five seasons in charge of the Robins taking them from League One to the 2008 Championship play-off final, where they lost at Wembley to Hull City.
But with the national stadium being used to host European Championship fixtures, Johnson is set for a homecoming which is already reviving memories of his time at the club, and if you’re thinking of having a flutter check out this marathonbet sign up offer.
“I haven’t been there for five years or so,” he told The NLP. “I was there when the plans were there for the stadium and the new training ground, I might have got them in the Premiership if I had all that when I was there!
“It’s always nice to go back because I had an affinity with the place, we had a couple of promotions and nearly got to the Premiership, one game away, against Hull, of course, ‘Dean Windass Day’.
“We had a great semi-final there against Crystal Palace and I’ll always remember that. My son (Lee) took over a couple of managers after me, he was here today which was nice, and I’m sure he’ll be there on Sunday.”
Character
Johnson saw his side come through a tough clash against Notts County, who twice equalised to send the tie to extra time.
But Dean Moxey wrapped things up with a penalty after Asa Hall put them back ahead following a brace from Danny Wright.
“It was a tight affair because there were two good teams out there,” said Johnson. “To beat Notts County in the semi-final when the next game is for the Football League is a great feat. We’ve been a League club as well but they’ve been more recent than us.
“It was nice to go one up and then good character after it was 1-1 to come back and then come back again at 2-2, that’s the character of our group and our staff. We know what we’ve got to do in all scenarios.
“I thought at the beginning of the first and second half we got at them and scored our goals and that kept us in good stead for when we had a little quiet spell.
Atmosphere
“We had to keep going, keep believing in what we’re doing, keep believing we were mentally and physically fitter than the opposition and hope then the goals would come.”
The atmosphere inside Plainmoor was electric and Johnson praised the club for getting them over the line.
“Credit to the football club they’ve created a fantastic atmosphere with the scarfs, the clappers, the music and the fans responded, and they got their reward,” he said. “That was a well-planned event by our football club and it came to fruition.”
Johnson, having extended his contract at the club, has one more hurdle overcome to return Torquay to the Football League.
“I haven’t got a book where I’ve written down things that work or don’t work,” he added. “But what I do know is what’s in my head and I think I know how to motivate this group of players. We’ll get them in Monday and start preparing for the final. We’ve got this far so we’re doing something right.”
