IT WAS 22 years ago, but Tommy Johnson remembers the first time he met Jimmy Sirrel with frightening clarity.

Johnson was an associate schoolboy with Notts County in 1986, at the dawn of his career.

Sirrel was in his final year as the Magpies' boss.

The striker recalls his disbelief that someone of Sirrel's stature was leading training sessions for the club's schoolboys.

Most of all, he remembers the instant respect he felt for him. That, Johnson says, has been enduring.

In his tribute to the most famous manager in the history of the world's oldest league club, he needed only two words: Absolute legend.

Johnson said: "I was 13 the first time I came down here and Jimmy was the manager.

"I remember my first training session was with him.

"It was unbelievable and I have had nothing but respect for him ever since.

"Unfortunately when I started my apprenticeship he had just left the club."

Johnson revealed it was because of Sirrel he turned down the chance to join his hometown club, Newcastle United, in favour of accepting the apprenticeship at Meadow Lane.

He said: "One of the main reasons I came down here was because of Jimmy.

"As soon as I arrived I wanted to sign for the club. I could have gone to other places, but I felt right at home here.

"That speaks volumes for Jimmy and the club.

"It was a great start for me. I couldn't wait for the school holidays to come so I could come down here and train with the lads.

"It was such a homely club, and he created it.

"He was different class. Nobody speaks badly of him. He is so highly respected, a football man through and through.

"Everyone who has played here knows what kind of club it is, and the part Jimmy has played in its history. That will never be forgotten."

Johnson attended the club's tribute night for Sirrel at Meadow Lane in January.

He said: "It was good to see him and it's just so sad, not just for Notts but for football, that he is gone.

"It is nice looking back that we all got the chance to pay our tribute to Jimmy.

"Everybody has got a story to tell about the gaffer.

"We were at the ex-players golf day on Wednesday and everybody was talking about him.

"He was such a character and a great lad.

"You don't get characters like Jimmy nowadays, because football has changed."

Johnson insists it will be almost impossible for any manager to achieve the same feat as Sirrel: guiding a club from the bottom tier of English football and into the top-flight.

He said: "He got them out of the doldrums and took them into the First Division.

"He was fantastic, everybody knows that and I am sure there will be tributes made all across the country, and all across the world.

"It will be a very hard job for anyone to do what Jimmy did because of the way football has gone now, with all of the money.

"He will be looking down at us now, saying he did it."