Junior football is littered with the names of players who have made the transition into management, but few can claim to have made the return journey.

So step forward one-time Queen of the South frontman Brian Johnston, who last night signed for Thorniewood United just months after stepping down as Lanark United manager.

Now the 38-year-old finds himself again living the Scottish Cup dream as the Woodies go up against Broughty Athletic at Robertson Park in a postponed third-round clash on Saturday.

The highly-regarded marksman's hunger for cup glory is as strong now as it was 15 years ago when Peter Millar first reinstated him to the Junior ranks at Cambuslang Rangers after he had been shown the Palmerston door in a cost-cutting exercise.

He said: "Rowan Alexander had just taken over as Queen's boss and wanted to cut down on the amount of Glasgow-based players at the club. I was freed midway and ended up at Somervell Park. Peter had put together a decent side and we reached the quarter-finals only to lose out to Tayport.

"I suffered the same fate the next year after joining a Glenafton side that lost out in a last-eight tie to Auchinleck.

"Things looked even more promising with my next club Kilwinning Rangers, who went all the way to the semi-finals in 2006/07 season only to lose out to Kelty Hearts."

Brian went on to endure shorter cup campaigns with Irvine Meadow, Vale of Clyde and Lanark before hanging up the boots to make a success of a Moor Park dugout role.

His time in charge lasted just 15 months before mounting work commitments as European Purchasing Manager with electrical giant Philips contributed to his resignation.

He admitted: "I probably moved into management too soon because I just didn't have the time to give the job my best shot, particularly when it came to bringing in new players. It's difficult making signing approaches down a phone line from Holland or Hungary and it was embarrassing to dish out pelters to some guys for missing training nights when I wasn't there myself."

Brian received a number of signing approaches from Central District clubs, including home town team East Kilbride Thistle.

However, he felt compelled to grasp the chance to play at the higher Super First Division level.

He said: "It was a shock when the Thorniewood management team of Andy Frame and JP McBride asked me to play against Greenock after one training session. My fitness could have been better, but winning 3-2 for our first league win of the season made it a perfect day, so I didn't hesitate when asked to sign.

"Broughty deserve our respect but getting past them and landing a decent draw could put us into the last-16 where anything can happen."

Johnstone Burgh host the visit of Largs Thistle in an all-West Region affair, but the other ties taking place present testing travels for clubs from these parts with Port Glasgow up at Dyce, Kilbirnie Ladeside also in the far North to face FC Stoneywood and Yoker in the Kingdom of Fife for their replay joust against Dundonald Bluebell.