MANCHESTER City’s Life President was on a pilgrimage to the Borders at the weekend in honour of his favourite ever football player.

Bernard Halford became club secretary of the Blues in 1972 – a position he held until 2011 when he was honoured with his new position – after eight successful years at Oldham Athletic.

Over the decades the 76-year-old has rubbed shoulders with, as well as signed, many of the greats of the game.

But Bernard, known affectionately throughout English football as Mr Manchester City, remains loyal to his friend for many years, Bobby Johnstone.

Over the weekend Mr Halford visited Bobby’s grave in Selkirk as well as many of his old stomping grounds in and around the Royal Burgh.

And he reunited Johnstone’s first Scotland cap with the jersey he wore during the 3-2 defeat of England on April 14, 1951.

Bernard told us: “Bobby and I were such good friends and he remains the favourite player that I signed – in fact, he is my favourite player of all time.

“Bobby made teams play. He was the greatest exponent of the weighted pass and he was such a joy to watch.

“He is the only player in the history of the game that signed for a club and multiplied the gate by six and kept them – that was at Oldham Athletic in October, 1960 – where we went from an average crowd of 3,000 to 18,000 because Bobby was playing.

“He was a great footballer, a great lad and a great pal.

“I have so many fond memories of my pal Bobby Johnstone.”

Bobby Johnstone began playing with Selkirk and Newtongrange Star before being signed by Hibernian in 1946 as a 17-year-old.

His time at Easter Road will always be remembered for becoming part of the Famous Five attacking line, which also included Lawrie Reilly, Willie Ormond, Gordon Smith and Eddie Turnbull.

Bobby’s 19-year career took him to Manchester City, where he scored in consecutive FA Cup finals, before returning to Easter Road and then onto Oldham, where he and Bernard were to become firm friends.

Bobby also accrued 17 caps, scoring 10 goals, for Scotland as well as representing Great Britain.

During Mr Halford’s visit at the weekend he reunited Bobby’s first international cap with the shirt which hangs in the town’s rugby club.

He explained: “I heard about Bobby’s cap being auctioned a couple of years ago and I contacted the auction house and offered to pay the estimate.

“I have a glass case in my office at home which is designated entirely to Bobby with things like programmes, ticket stubs and other memorabilia… the cap sits in its own glass case next to it.

“I have memorabilia from many players I’ve got to know over the years such as Eusebio, Pele, Stanley Matthews, Wayne Rooney and Tom Finney, but Bobby’s case takes pride of place.

“It is very special I am standing here at Selkirk Rugby Club with the cap in front of the jersey that Bobby wore.”

With Selkirk Football Club being homeless for a number of years, Bobby’s jersey was donated to the town’s rugby club for display.

And it shares a frame on the Philiphaugh club’s wall of fame with the town’s first rugby player to ever be capped, Willie Bryce.

The scrum-half played for his country in the post war years before, remarkably, moving to hockey, where he was also capped.

Selkirk RFC president Rob Forrest welcomed Mr Halford to Philiphaugh on Saturday. He said: “It is a surprise for many people to see Bobby Johnstone’s first international jersey on our wall with Willie Bryce’s jersey.

“We are extremely proud to have Bobby’s jersey and we are delighted to welcome Mr Halford this afternoon.

“Bobby was a sporting great from our town and he more than deserves his place on our wall of international players.”

On Friday evening Mr Halford took part in a question-and-answer session within the clubrooms of Gala Fairydean Rovers.

During an entertaining evening he revealed that the only Scottish player Bobby had ever recommended to Manchester City was Gala’s John Collins.

Gala Fairydean Rovers secretary Graeme McIver said: “I have been secretary of Gala for four years and it feels like a lifetime – Bernard Halford has literally been involved in the game for a lifetime.

“It was a thrill for everyone who attended to hear Bernard’s stories.

“This is a man who has signed some of the greatest footballers in the world and also lifted the FA Cup when City won it in 2011.”