Gary Stopforth believes there is a ‘common misconception’ about the management style of Chester FC duo Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson.

The 31-year-old – who joined the Blues on a one-year deal this summer - is no stranger to the new joint-bosses, having played under them at both Ramsbottom United and Salford City, where he helped them win promotion to National League North and was part of the club’s run to the FA Cup second round.

Morley and Johnson were catapulted into the limelight in the fly-on-the-wall documentary Class of 92: Out Of Their League, initially following the Ammies during the 2015-16 campaign, where they forged a reputation as hard task masters not afraid to speak their minds.

Stopforth explained: “They’ve been my managers on and off for about six years now and I played with them for two years before that at Clitheroe.

“I enjoy the training they put on. It’s always high tempo and if I’m going to travel all the way over from Colne for training then you don’t want to travel for nothing. If you’re driving an hour one-way you need to know you’ll get something out of it and that’s certainly the case here.

“They are good people. Lots of people have a misconception of them because of the BBC and Sky documentaries. You’ve got to remember during that first documentary we only lost six games all season and got promoted, did well in the FA Cup.

“But they only showed the games where we lost because it makes for better TV. But that’s how it goes I suppose.”

Johnson and Morley were regularly seen by TV viewers dishing out verbal punishment in the dressing room whilst at Salford, and when asked about the infamous hairdryer treatment, Stopforth replied: “They are never nasty with it. There’s always a reason behind, you know it’s coming because you have not done what they are asking you to do.

“But they’ve always got your corner and playing when they are on the sidelines, it’s like having two bouncers having your back! But it’s great to play when it’s like that.”

Stopforth is relishing life at Chester, who he describes as a ‘proper football club’ and believes the Blues will be competing at the right end of National League North this season.

“It’s a good club, a proper football club,” he said.

“I was at Stockport for a bit and it feels like that, a big club with loads of tradition and the closer we get to the season I can’t wait.

“You can bring in as many names as you like but if they can’t do it on the pitch then it’s pointless.

“If we get our own philosophy of how we want to play with and without the ball, and apply that, then I think we can do really well. Of course, the opposition will be much fitter when the season starts but we’re a new team trying to find out who works well with what, and once we know each other’s games and I think we’ll get stronger as the season goes on.”

Stopforth, who joined Chester from Colne last month, was one of a handful of Johnson and Morley’s trusted lieutenants who accompanied academy graduates in a 4-0 win at Llandudno on Friday night.

“The lads did really well, everyone applied themselves well,” he added.

“We had a mixed team, couple of younger lads and a few of us senior players but we did what the managers have been telling us to do.

“We had more shape and we’re getting a bit fitter. The shape changed during the game, Llandudno kept going back to the keeper, so it enabled us to press high and push up a lot more.

“We ended up scoring goals when I went off, so I don’t know if I softened them up maybe!

“They had experienced lads in their team but our young lads they are very fit, they can run all day. When I was 16 or 17, I was a fit lad, but I’d be drinking Lambrini on the streets with my mates! Not doing what these lads are doing, they are fitter than some professional players and they are a really good set of lads.”