The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Fraserburgh can do it, says stalwart Johnston
He’s helping to bring through the next generation of Fraserburgh players and Graham Johnston believes they may soon aspire to play in the SPFL.
That’s because the club legend is backing his side to make a pyramid playoff comeback against Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic.
Fraserburgh face the Lowland League champions at Bellslea on Saturday in the playoff semi-final second leg trailing 3-1.
But Johnston, 35 – who retired from playing in 2019 and now coaches the under-18s – thinks the Buchan outfit can still set up a final with League Two strugglers Cowdenbeath.
Johnston, who made 502 appearances and scored 168 goals in black and white, said: “It’s great to see the club involved with the playoffs. I was with the club as a player for 17 or 18 years, but first and foremost I’m a fan of the club.
“I’m now a coach and it’s part of me, I was there on Saturday cheering them on and hopefully this Saturday they can get to the final.
“Bonnyrigg are a good side, but I don’t think the tie is over. The team has scored more than 140 goals this season and at Bellslea, if we go in front, I can only see one winner to be honest.
“Bonnyrigg are a good side, they were strong, they were compact and they were a threat when they got forward.
“But I feel if Fraserburgh can move the ball a little bit better then we can cause them severe problems.
“Anything can happen at the Bellslea, it’s a completely different set-up to playing anywhere else.
“The players probably feel they let themselves down a little bit (in the first leg) and they’ve got more to offer.
“If we were to get an early goal and the crowd get on top of them they will be in for a tough afternoon.
“In years gone by I don’t think it (promotion) would have been given much thought.
“But now everyone wants to go up and I firmly believe the club can get promoted and this tie is far from over.”
Johnston came through the Fraserburgh youth ranks and spent his entire career with his hometown club.
He hopes youngsters trying to follow in his footsteps can progress to a side playing Scottish League football.
He added: “For 30-plus years the club has brought in players from the youth set-up.
“There’s very few teams round about that are in the
SPFL and heavily involve youth. If the Broch were to get promoted I’m sure youth will still play a massive part because it’s the culture of the club to bring players through.
“I don’t think the structure of the club would change much at all.”
Johnston also played his part in Fraserburgh’s only victory against Bonnyrigg – a 2-1 win in a Scottish Cup first round replay in 2009.
Four of the current squad had a role in that success and Johnston hopes they will be celebrating again this weekend.
He said: “Bonnyrigg were still in the Juniors at that time, but they were a really good side.
“When we went down there for the replay Steven Main scored really early and then I scored direct from a corner.
“But it seemed to be
Scottish Cup tradition for Johnston to get sent off and that was not long after I scored.
“I was sitting in the dressing room and Marc Dickson walked in. I said ‘you’re subbed early for you.’
“And he said ‘no I’ve been sent off ’ and I was thinking ‘oh no.’
“Then Neil Main got sent off with 10 minutes left and Bonnyrigg got it back to 2-1, it was a really breezy day and against the wind the lads managed to hold out.
“It was Charlie Duncan’s 1,000th game so even though I was sent off it’s still a good memory.
“The amazing thing is four players that played on Saturday played in that game in 2009.
“Paul Leask, Jamie Beagrie, Bryan Hay and Willie West all played and I believe they’ll manage to get another win against Bonnyrigg.”