MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands Radio Manager: Football Fan and Coach.
The newly appointed Station Manager of the Falklands Islands Broadcasting Station, Stephen Johnston flies to the Islands on Monday (August 14) to take up the post.
The new Manager, aged 40, has recently returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Gulf , a federation of seven emirates with a population of more than two-million, half of them from South Asia, so there are radio stations broadcasting in several languages, including Arabic, Hindu and English. Mr Johston was most recently a programme director of a commercial station, 2FM. In three years in the UAE, in Dubai and Ajman, he helped to set up two radio stations in the Gulf and to develop a third.
His career radio career began in 1984 with Sony Music UK, where, as Sales and Radio Promotions Manager, he came into contact with many pop music stars. In 1996 he became Roadshow Co-ordinator with E MAP On-Air until going to the Gulf. He freelanced as a commentator on several radio stations in Northern England, in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, where he was a regular football commentator.
In an interview with Mercopress, the new Manager disclosed that he is a football fanatic like his predecessor, Patrick Watts, MBE, who retired last year after a distinguished career as Manager of FIBS. Mr Johnston, born in Blackpool, lived in the Wirral and supports Tranmere Rovers, which is over-shadowed by the football giants across the River Mersey, Liverpool and Everton.
He has also qualified as a football coach for under sixteens, which could keep him busy in his spare time, as Patrick Watts and the Shackleton Scholarship Fund have been seeking a football coach for Falklands youngsters. He has two teenage sons of his own and is divorced. Asked why he wants to go to the Falkland Islands , Steve Johnston said he has always wanted to travel and explore the world to get to know other peoples and cultures.
Harold Briley, London
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