On this day in 1997 Allan Johnston made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at St James’ Park. The midfielder is most notable for scoring the final competitive goal at Roker Park.
Born in 1973 in Glasgow, Johnston began his career in Edinburgh with Hearts. He would spend six years at Tynecastle, scoring a hattrick against Rangers and losing out in a Scottish Cup final (also against Rangers) along the way.
A brief spell at French side Rennes followed before he made a switch to Sunderland in March 1997.
Unfortunately his addition wasn’t enough to see us avoid relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season after a 1-0 defeat away to Wimbledon. Although in the penultimate game of the season he scored the final competitive goal at Roker Park as we smashed Everton 3-0. Johnston headed home a Chris Waddle cross in the 68th minute in what was also his first of 20 goals for Sunderland.
The following season ended in play-off final heartbreak on penalties but Johnston would score 11 goals, which included a hattrick vs Huddersfield, a last minute equaliser at the Stadium of Light against Birmingham and a late winner as we beat Portsmouth 2-1.
In the 1998-99 season, in which we earned a huge 105 points in the First Division and the title, he formed a great partnership with Mickey Gray. ‘Magic’, as he was called by Sunderland fans, this time around managed eight goals. His final competitive goal in a Sunderland shirt came in April 1999 in a routine 2-0 win as we hosted Huddersfield.
Johnston’s final game would be the last game of the season, a 2-1 victory versus Birmingham. Despite him playing well, being a fan favourite and him scoring twice for Scotland in June 1999, he was frozen out of the squad for the next season in the Premier League. Peter Reid’s reasoning for doing this was because he had had bad experiences with players going into the final years of their contracts in the past.
As such he spent the 1999-00 season out on loan, first at Birmingham City in the First Division and then at a Bolton side managed by Sam Allardyce helping them to qualify for the playoffs. Another promotion wouldn’t be added to his CV however as the Trotters were defeated in the semi finals by Ipswich Town.
Sunderland was arguably the best time during his career, with him also earning the majority of his 18 caps for Scotland whilst on our books.
With the campaign over he would leave Wearside and move to his home city of Glasgow with Rangers. He wasn’t the most prolific in his one year there though, only managing two in Champions League qualifiers and another in the Scottish Cup.
A £600,000 transfer saw him move back to England in 2001 to North Yorkshire outfit Middlesbrough. It was another time to forget though as he managed just one goal in the Premier League and he spent most of the 2002-03 season on loan with Sheffield Wednesday and the 2003-04 season not featuring.
Kilmarnock was his next destination and he was able to find some consistency there, playing over 100 times and staying for five years.
One year at St Mirren came afterwards before moving to Queen of the South. Johnston signed as a player then became a player-coach and then player-manager. The 2012-13 season, his last as a footballer, saw him win the Scottish Second Division and the Scottish Challenge Cup.
He returned to Kilmarnock as a manager after these successes and helped them to avoid relegation but was sacked when he came out against the selling of a player.
During his time at Dunfermline Athletic (his next job) he managed them to a promotion to the Scottish Championship and then to the Scottish Championship play offs but they lost, eventually being sacked as they stalled in mid table.
The final management job he’s held to date was a return to Queen of the South, he was brought in to help them avoid relegation in the play offs to League One which he was able to do. He was relieved of his duties in February 2022 with the club looking certain to be relegated.
