LENNY JOHNROSE, the former Hartlepool United striker, returns to the club on Saturday.

Signed from Blackburn for £50,000 in 1991, Johnrose is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease and is back at Pools to meet up with former team-mates and raise funds and awareness of the disease.

Johnrose will be a guest of the club at the game with Dover. He was a popular player under then boss Alan Murray, forming a potent strike partnership with Andy Saville, who will also be in attendance along with John MacPhail, Keith Nobbs and others.

In 2018, he revealed he had been diagnosed with MND – a degenerative condition which affects the brain and spinal cord, and stops messages from reaching the muscles, causing them to weaken, stiffen and waste.

Since then, he has refused to be defined by the diagnosis, and is out to educate people about the disease and help raise funds to continue the work to find a cure.

Pools boss Craig Hignett saluted Johnrose before his return.

“Players who go through hardships, you see it with Gary Parkinson at Middlesbrough, players who go through hard times like Lenny, it is a travesty,’’ he said. “I wish Lenny all the best, I really do.

“The fans here realise what he is going through, he is loved and respected here - you see the posts on social media.

“I hope we can win for him and the fans show their support for him.’’

And Hignett added: “When I was in Cyprus I had a team-mate die who had a dead leg - it's then you realise how small football is in the grand scheme of things.

“We have seen that this week with Chris Ord.

“For 30 years he did wonders for junior football in the area. Players like Jonathan Woodgate, Stewart Downing, Ben Gibson, they all started at the TJFA. It wouldn't be there without people like Chris.

“Lenny is a top man, fond thoughts and memories of him.

“He was a forward at Blackburn when I was floating about and signing for Boro, I didn't really play against him, but I know all about him and his career. He was a good player and is a top man. Everyone I speak to has nothing but good things to say about him.’’

And Johnrose admitted: “I can’t wait to come back to Hartlepool.

“I have only been back once since I left and that was for a cup game with Bury and I think we got battered that day!

“I presume things have changed a little bit since then but it will be good to come back because I have so many fond memories of the club and the town.

“As well as that, I am on a bit of a mission really and raising funds and awareness for MND is something I feel really passionately about.’’

A full interview with Johnrose about his time at Pools is in the club’s matchday programme, The Blue Print, available at the Super 6 Stadium priced £3.

At noon at Brierton School, Pools fans will take on the 1991 side in a seven-a-side game, while Saturday's fund-raiser takes place at the Catholic Club, Marlowe Road. Tickets are £10 and for information contact Andy Wilson on 07760 886 715.