STEPHEN JOHNSTON

Name: Stephen Johnston
Role: Assistant Manager
Age: 30

A promising striker in his younger days, former Senior Team Joint-Manager (along with Russell Gorman), Stephen Johnston started his management career as an underage coach with Copany Rovers, before becoming assistant to the then manager, James Given in June 2006. After James resignation around Christmas '06, Stephen was appointed Joint-Manager along with Russell Gorman, and ended the 06-07 season by blooding in a number of youngsters and picking up a few points along the way.

Stephen and Russell continued to add to the personnel for the start of the 07-08, and Copany's transformation was underway - with the side picking up the maximum points in their opening four encounters. However, a mid-season slump in form meant that despite a promising end to the campaign, the Cobras missed out narrowly on promotion after losing their last three games of the season.

What appeared to be a really strong outfit seemed in place for the start of the 08-09 campaign. However, pre-season saw the losses of Dermot O'Hara, Sean Sands, and Thomas Given in what was a blow to their hopes. However, the side was still strong and opened their campaign with three wins and a draw out of their opening four games. Three successive defeats followed, but Copany's season took a turn in Kerrykeel with an impressive 3-0 rout. A spell of three wins and two draws in the following five matches left the Cobras in the promotion mix-up with three games remaining, and Copany duly secured promotion for their first promotion in 18 years.

After taking a sabbatical for the 10/11 season, Stephen returned to the setup assisting at underage as well as becoming assistant to Russell Gormans charges for the 11/12 Season.