The rest of his career reads like a Boys' Own novella. He overcame (by his own admission) average technique through sheer hard work, dedication and innovation (not least in his personal training methods) to become one of the first picked for Middlesbrough before making a big money move to Liverpool.

Johnston is an Anfield legend for his exploits during their heyday during the 80s, winning several league titles, the European Cup and scoring the winner against Everton in one of the most memorable FA Cup finals of all time. His leap of ecstasy after scoring that goal has to be one THE iconic images in Australian sporting history.

He did make the fateful comment re surfing for England, and I have always lamented the fact he didn’t play for Australia at a time when we really needed him. I suspect he laments it also.

He gave the game away at his peak for family reasons, then became an entrepreneur – going through the usual cycles of success and bankruptcy – and continuing to polarise, as he did throughout his football career.

And still does, apparently.For those who are upset about his alignment with Southern Expansion – give him a break. He really was a genius footballer with incredible guts, an original thinker about the game, and a person prepared to risk everything for his ambition from Day One.

I hate the fact that he never played for Australia but I love the fact he did help put us on the map as a footballing nursery. The journey for the likes of Kewell, Viduka, Cahill, Bosnich, Schwarzer, Okon, Slater, Aloisi, Wilkshire, Muscat, Moore, Neill, Lazaridis and the hundreds ever since was made easier because of the credibility won for Australian football by Craig Johnston.

He still has the capacity to make a contribution to Australian football so I, for one, am happy to see him back in the game - putting the politics of Southern Expansion to one side.

Let the brickbats commence.

Adrian’s latest book The Fighting Man is in the shops right now or available through Booktopia. Adrian also wrote Mr Cleansheets.