JOHNSON'S talents set Wilderspool alight between 1938 and 1951.

And then beyond his 198 appearances in primrose and blue, Johnson served Warrington as a scout and spotted for the club another great winger in Brian Glover.

Glover, like Johnson himself, went on to join that select band of players who have scored more than 100 tries for the club.

Those fortunate to have seen Johnson play refer, without hesitation, to his brilliant side step.

One story about him illustrates the point wonderfully well. Johnson was haring down the left wing at a packed Wilderspool but being rapidly closed down by the opposing full back.

The full back went to tackle, but in a fraction of a second, Johnson side stepped out of reach, leaving the full back to floor the touch judge.

Johnson made his Warrington debut at home to Halifax in January 1939 but his playing career was interrupted by World War Two.

He guested for Wigan in 1943/44, scoring 15 tries in 24 appearances, and won the first of his 10 England caps in 1944. He was Warrington's only representative on the Great Britain tour to Australia in 1946.

The first six seasons after the war saw Johnson in his prime and with Brian Bevan on the right wing and Johnson on the left, the Warrington threequarters had pace in abundance.

Johnson was in his usual spot on the left flank when Widnes were thrashed 19-0 in the 1949/50 Challenge Cup final at Wembley. He also played in two Lancashire Cup finals against Wigan in 1948 and 1950 but was on the losing side on both occasions.

Johnson's career came to a tragic end when he suffered a broken leg in the club's defeat to Workington Town in the 1951 Championship final in front of 61,618 fans at Maine Road.

His try total had ended at 112.