6
ALWAYS GOOD TO MEET A FAn
Andy Mitten Fanzine editor
I wrote to Alex as a 16-year-old in the summer of 1991, saying that I
was editing a fanzine called United We Stand and I’d love to interview
him. He replied on club-headed notepaper, saying he’d be happy to
help. I went to the team hotel with this big red ghetto blaster with a
tape-to-tape, and I pressed record. He started laughing. He was used
to hardened journalists – but I was just a young fan. He was calling
players over and saying, “Here, come and look at this.”
He spoke to me for an hour, then asked if there was anything else I
needed. I said, “I’ve got to go now.” To get his undivided attention for
that long and then end the interview, I look back and think what an
idiot I was!7
TAGGART n EARLY In VOLVED In An OTHER MURDER
Paul Parker Manchester United defender, 1991-96
The first rollocking I can remember was during training not long after
I’d arrived at the club. The gaffer got nutmegged, and, being a fan of TV
sleuths, I turned round and called him Taggart. I’d been led into it by
Steve Bruce. Suddenly everything seemed to go quiet and everyone
stood still. I can’t remember exactly what he said, but at that moment
I thought my time at the club had ended just after it had started.8
THE TIME HE MADE LEE SHARPE SELL HIS DOG
Lee Sharpe Manchester United winger, 1988-96
My worst hairdryer was at half-time in a game against Liverpool. He
said he was kicking me out of my house and that I had to stay in digs.
My girlfriend had moved up from Birmingham, so she had to go back
home. We split up. I also had to sell my car, and my dog!9
SCOUTIn G FOR SUCCESS
Paul McGuinness A cademy director, 1992-2016
The key change he made early on at Manchester United was putting
Brian Kidd in charge of all the scouting in the local area. The club
hired a load more scouts and became far more active in that
department. Alex was very supportive but he would let you get on
with your job. Then, when you told him, “You need to have a look at
this player”, he would take you at your word and let that player train
with the first team.
That re-focussing on youth players, and the core of
homegrown players that followed, helped bring back the spirit
of Manchester United.10
THE CLASS OF ’92 EMERGES
Paul Parker United defender, 1991-96
Fergie didn’t really speak to most of us about all the young players
coming through. He just kept coming up to the likes of me, Paul Ince
and Denis Irwin to say that these players – Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes,
Gary Neville, David Beckham and so on – would be taking our places
soon. He kept repeating that. He believed in what was coming
through and it turned out that he was right.11
HOUSE OF CARDS
Gary Pallister United defender, 19 89-99
The gaffer loved cards. We’d have a card school at the back of the bus
for away games – me, him, Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson, Denis Irwin
and Brian McClair.
He was a really bad loser. I often thought he hated to lose more than
he loved to win. We’d play Hearts, and I made a point of trying to pass
on my bad cards to the gaffer. He’d call me every name under the sun.
Then whenever he lost, the table would be upended with the cards
going across the bus. The players sitting in the rows in front would get
showered with cards and say, “The gaffer has lost again, has he?”12
HAn DLIn G THE PRESSURE
Paul McGuinness Academy director, ’92-16
One of the big things about Alex was that he could be in a pressure
situation with the first team but box that off and switch his attention
to another matter – something with the youth team, say. For
example, the season United won their first title in 26 years [1992-93]
the team started badly: after drawing the third game, they were in
the bottom three. Yet 10 minutes after the game he came to me and
said, “Get me Paul Gibson’s number.” Paul was an under-16s keeper
who’d broken his nose earlier that day. Alex phoned up his parents.
Afterwards they said, “With everything that’s going on with the first
team, we can’t believe he’s phoned us.”13
n URSE FERGIE
Dion Dublin United striker, 1992-94
When I broke my leg in 1992 the gaffer said, “ If you still want to come
on European trips, I’ll book two seats on the plane for you – no
problem.” I had a cast all the way up to my groin; I was pretty much
immobilised. He also drove from his house to mine and came into my
living room to give me a Christmas present by hand, which was a
really nice gesture. It was towels, since you ask...ImagesGetty Images; PA; AlamyFourFourTwo.com The Managers 45FERGIE