The day Willie bought a greenhouse - during a game

Albion legend Willie Johnston has been back to The Hawthorns for the launch of his book Sent Off At Gunpoint. He's been looking back at his Baggies career with Ian Winter

[@starmersbarber]

Such a likeable person. He has the light on in his eyes. There are so many fantastic stories doing the rounds...such a cheeky lad! Aye- some of the red mist moments were certainly nothing to be proud of (I remember some awful incidents when he returned to Scotland), but his wing play is what stays in my memory the most. I'm too young to remember his first stint at Rangers, but remember some fantastic displays for West Brom...and he thrilled me in that classic mid-70s Scotland period with magnificent performances v England and Czechoslovakia. It's a shame he couldn't have stayed a bit longer at WBA- that felt like the best phase of his football career.

[@dragoonboy8870]

Oor wee Willie Johnston is the best.

[@stevendudley9499]

my fav player

[@iaincathro3373]

Magic! Buy a greenhouse when taking a corner!!!

[@jaynebradbury9070]

Willie Johnston on the wing, what a player! Fantastic memories of watching him play! 💙🤍

[@thomascraig1517]

He sat on the ball....while playing the Germans! Brilliant! Wee Bud my dad looked after you ....players today take note ....this man is class!

[@stevecrompton7491]

Willie as a baggies fan I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service to our club you are an albion legend watp

[@allanarmstrong4333]

Wille was a brilliant player. And a reall character.he used to make me smile the things he got up to. I loved him to bits.he said he wished he was still playing.so do I if only we had that team of 78/79 .

[@webbsmotorhomeadventures1231]

I was there 1978 4th round replay 45 thousand fans it was awesome best live game I ever saw omg what a game Willie Johnston what can I say my favourite ever Albion player

[@gordoncampbell100]

As a Rangers fan of a certain age . Absolute legend @ Ibrox . What a player , so privileged to see him play as a wee boy .

[@gojomusic3896]

got my pic took with him today at Merry Hill Centre at his book signing - loved him...the cheer that used to go up at The Baggies when he'd receive a ball on the half way line and rip past defenders was as loud as scoring a goal - he was a true entertainer - a TRUE Albion great. Gaza

[@stuarthandley7102]

true baggies legend thank you great memories

[@Stinge1]

My favorite Albion player ...proper wing play great crosser of the ball TRUE legend!!!

[@tramlad2]

Luv Bud, great winger a cracking guy to boot, Legend

[@showbizsam4440]

Remember being in Kirkcaldy one day and spotted Willie coming out of the pub he was running. Said hello and he stopped and gave me a couple of minutes of his time. My father hitch-hiked to Barcelona from Glasgow for a European final and Willie got two goals that night. Thanks Willie. You're a true gentleman.

[@janmikolajczyk5587]

Was a brilliant dribbler of the ball a Albion legend

[@flemingcourt]

What a great bloke. Be it Rangers, West Brom, Whitecaps, what a character and great entertaining footballer.

[@johnblack9298]

Great Ranger

[@HaroldGoodfortune]

The great Willie Johnston. My schoolboy hero🕺

[@MikeBuckland1954]

What a wonderful trivia quiz question - Who is the only player to buy a greenhouse while taking a corner? I doubt any other player can claim to have done that!

[@robitsme]

Growing up he was my hero. I use to play football over the park, two jumpers for goalposts and me thinking I was Willie Johnston.. Absolute legend he was at West Brom. I remember he use to beat players, then go back and beat them again for a laugh. Remember him dropping his shorts to his ankles after he took a corner against Liverpool and we scored.

[@tezzahomebrew4049]

im a wolves fan in my eyes he is the best player iv seen round ere.if he was around now he wud be worth a fortuen.class player before his time.

[@portorico4726]

I was allways amazed when willie played with rangers, when he crossed the ball it allways seemed to be over the penalty spot, waiting for the gers players running in to head it, best crosser of a ball I have seen

[@thecoinjar]

What an outstanding character. He was such a joy to watch at Empire Stadium with the Vancouver Whitecaps!

[@ellorquiano1336]

Great player! You were never sure if he was going to tear the opposition apart or thump the right back, but there were few more skilful men on the ball than Willie.

[@weebolddavy]

A fabulous player, seen him countless times on the left wing at Ibrox with wee Willie Henderson on the right wing and Jimmy Johnstone at Celtic. Scotland has had a glut of great wingers over the years. Nice to see him continue to display his exciting skills at West Brom, one of a kind then.

[@Ruda-n4h]

Why was his nickname 'Bud'?

[@Bobscotman369]

A true gentleman.

[@laurencerampling5785]

simply THE BEST!!

[@boris1873]

legend

[@stuarthandley7102]

simply the best great player

[@zx7gp]

The shit this guy did in Vancouver with the Whitecaps.He was fantastic!!!! still very well loved here.Great to see you WJ!!!

[@r.crompton2286]

Do you remember 32,000+ Vancouver fans all screaming in unison, " Willie!! Willie!! " From a '79-'80 season ticket holder.

[@zx7gp]

@@r.crompton2286 YES!!!

[@sjoldtimer]

The beer swig in San Jose, before delivering the game winning corner stands out.

[@meljohn73]

Willie willie willie Johnston on the wing on the wing. ⚽

[@homerwba12]

true legend, best left winger clubs ever had. together with laurie cunningham, if only we had these 2 today.

[@8busby]

Loved Willie Johnston. When you see some of the shite players that has been sold for multi millions, how much would Willie be worth in today's transfer market?

[@gordybradley]

WE WANT WILLIE WE WANT WILLIE BAGGIES.

[@jhvoojh]

Funniest streak ever ended up at the Queens in Smethwick. If you know, you know!!

[@63Baggies]

I've always said that we should have played with both Laurie and Willie as dual wingers; both could outrun the wind and had that special trick to mug full backs. Willie was mugged in Argentina, especially considering that the Germans were blood doping at the time. I miss those days at the Hawthorns.

[@Ruda-n4h]

The Germans blood doping - nonsense.

[@davidcolman839]

Wee bud legend and a gentleman. Watp

[@garyscott1690]

Legend.

[@roberttelford745]

Imagine CR7 negotiating a deal on a greenhouse with a fan while taking a corner. Changed days.

[@starmersbarber]

A canny boy is Willie Johnstone!

[@richardcoats6430]

Sat on the ball v Bayern Munich, swigged a beer whilst taking a corner in the USA and bought a greenhouse during a game?Legend 💙

[@NorthernSoulGer]

Wee Bud - a class act Rangers Legend

[@neilmaclean294]

Never forget 'I'm sittin' doon oan the ball at Ibrox ... against Bayern Munich !! loved Willie Johnston, ma favourite Ranger as a wee boy when ma da used tae gi'e mae a lift ower the turnstile.

[@CbrigBear87]

Rangers Legend.

[@jarrodhayes5093]

first Willie jonno, then Laurie cunningham,then came peter barnes who somehow had to fill the boots of those two, impossibal task bless him

[@gordonm.7387]

When football was fun!

[@bryanwatt3943]

In Barcelona in 1972 Colin stein scored one willie Johnston 2 oh oh oh oh oh 🔴⚪🔵

[@chrishill9276]

Faster up the wing than Usain Bolt #boingboing

[@yantheman11]

I would say Willie Johnston was the best British winger of all time, as a Man.Utd. fan I would add that George Best was the greatest player in any position on the park, apart from George Willie is my No 1 , followed by Willie Morgan, Ian Storey Moore and Eddie Gray, Eddie would feature higher but lacked the pace of the others.

[@WELLBRAN]

there were lots of good players every team had a 2 or 3 top class players and on their day teams could beat anyone eg when the old third division had many very good teams who Div 1 teams did not want to be drawn in the FA cup. much more open competition in those days...and not about buying expensive squads

[@caveman385]

Rangers legend!!!

[@scottie278]

@robitsme My hero growing upin Scotland, two jumpers and a tennis ball :-)

[@thomascraig1517]

Only wee Bud !😅

[@Ruda-n4h]

Why was he called' Bud'.

[@rabblue]

wee bud