Little Book of Manchester United (15 page)

*Goal scored in all competitions to end 2008-09.

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HAPTER 16:
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ALLISTER,
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EGG,
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LAYER OF THE
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EAR

Pallister

Beginning his career in non-League football with Billingham Town, Gary Pallister, born 30 June 1965, went on to become one of United’s most successful players. Even when playing for Billingham, Pallister was working 16-hour shifts on Teesside Docks. In April 1988, while playing for Middlesbrough, he became one of the few players to be capped for England while playing outside the top division.

Signing for United in 1989, Pallister was a tall, commanding central defender who built a strong partnership with Steve Bruce. Their formidable alliance began on Pallister’s signing and lasted until 1996, while between 1990 and 1992 their understanding for each other’s game enabled them to win a hat-trick of Cup successes.

Pallister signed for the club for the record fee of £2.3 million and Alex Ferguson had high hopes for him. He recognised potential in Pallister and, after a shaky start where he conceded a penalty on his debut, put the mighty man on a rigorous training regime which built up muscle and turned Pallister at 6ft 4in into a giant. The triumphs and Cup victories gave United the chance and the confidence for a run of four Premiership titles in five years.

*Gary Pallister lifts the Premier League trophy after their 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford, May 1993.

Missing only one game between 1992 and 1995, Pallister played over 400 times for United in all competitions, combining consistency with a fast pace and comfort with the ball. He received very few bookings during his career and was only once sent off which the FA later agreed was an error. During the 1995-96 season, he was forced to miss many games due to back problems, but managed to return for the climatic end to the season when United won their second Premiership and FA Cup Double.

Not known for his goalscoring, the two goals he headed into the net against Liverpool at Anfield undoubtedly won United the Premiership and Pallister received his fourth Premiership winners’ medal. Back trouble again intervened and he finally moved back to Middlesbrough in July 1998 for £2.5 million.

Pegg

It took diplomacy on the part of United’s chief scout, Joe Armstrong to encourage David Pegg (born 20 September 1935) to sign for the club in 1952, aged 16. Pegg was the most sought-after schoolboy player, having earned five England schoolboy caps.

*David Pegg in action, February 1957.

He was a naturally gifted winger who worked in real contrast to right-winger Johnny Berry. Berry was renowned for his direct approach and his ability to dart in and out of the opposition’s territory, while Pegg was adept at swerving and fluid movement. But he also had the ability to cut inside suddenly and was most powerful close up with a left foot that could kick the ball with great force through the opposition defence.

He made his debut for United in December 1952 against Middlesbrough, but his position in the first team was not secure and he constantly battled with Albert Scanlon for the left-wing position. Matt Busby, had at the time, a team that was bursting with talent, but Pegg’s performances in the FA Youth Cup saw victories in 1954 and 1956 and did much to enhance the image of the Busby Babes. David Pegg was a reserve at the time of the Munich air crash and sadly did not survive the tragedy.

Player of the Year

Awarded since 1974, members of the PFA, the players union, vote on who has been the best player. All professional footballers, regardless of nationality, under the age of 23 playing in the English leagues are eligible for the Young Player of the Year award and, the following Manchester United players have been recipients: Mark Hughes (1985), Lee Sharpe (1991), Ryan Giggs (1992 and 1993), David Beckham (1997), Wayne Rooney (2005 and 2006), Cristiano Ronaldo (2007). Recipients of the Player of the Year award are: Mark Hughes (1989 and 1991), Gary Pallister (1992), Eric Cantona (1994), Roy Keane (2000), Teddy Sheringham (2001), Ruud van Nistelrooy (2002), Cristiano Ronaldo (2007 and 2008), Ryan Giggs (2009) and Wayne Rooney (2010).

*Cristiano Ronaldo who came third in the Player of the Year award.

The Football Writers’ Association have since 1948 presented an annual award to the player whom its members deem the best football player in England. The following United players have been honoured: Johnny Carey (1949), Bobby Charlton (1966), George Best (1968), Eric Cantona (1996), Roy Keane (2000), Teddy Sheringham (2001), Cristiano Ronaldo (2007 and 2008) and Wayne Rooney (2010).

*Cristiano Ronaldo was PFA Player (and Young Player) of the Year in 2007 and 2008.

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HAPTER 17:
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UIXALL

Quixall

Albert Quixall was already the golden boy of English football when he crossed the Pennines from Sheffield Wednesday to join Matt Busby’s bereft post-Munich team in September 1958. Busby paid a record British fee of £45,000 for the inside forward with an eye for goal.

Quixall was born in Sheffield on 9 August 1933 and turned pro with Wednesday in 1950. Blessed with sublime ball skills and a flair for invention, he rattled up 63 goals for Wednesday during an eight-year career at Hillsborough, and turned out five times for England.

He made his Old Trafford debut in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur and, after a shaky start to the season, helped his new club finish as runners up in the First Division. He went on to make 184 appearances for United, ending his Reds career with 56 goals.

*Albert Quixall (third from right) celebrates Manchester United’s FA Cup win in 1963 with his teammates.

Fans lucky enough to have been in Munich in August 1959, when Bayern took on United in a pre-season friendly, witnessed a special Quixall moment: he scored from 58 yards, direct from the second-half kick-off, when he spotted the German goalkeeper off his line.

Quixall picked up an FA Cup winners’ medal in 1963 before leaving the club for Oldham Athletic the following year, as a certain Denis Law arrived at Old Trafford. He subsequently played for Stockport County and Altrincham before retiring in 1968.

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HAPTER 18:
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OBERTS,
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OBSON,
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ONALDO,
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OONEY,
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OWLEY

Roberts

Charlie Roberts, born 6 April 1883, became one of United’s all time influential captains. Signing for the club in 1903, his transfer fee from Grimsby Town was £600. The meagre fee for such a phenomenal player was to turn out to be a great bargain for United and Roberts quickly became Ernest Mangnall’s right-hand man on the field. He made his debut in 1904 and for the following nine seasons was rarely out of the first team. Playing in the centre-back position he established himself in the United defence.

Roberts, Dick Duckworth and Alex Bell contributed to one of the most outstanding half-back line-ups of all time. He captained a side that won League Championships in 1908 and 1911 as well as taking United to lift the FA Cup for the first time in 1909. As a founding member of the Football Union, Roberts – alongside Billy Meredith – held strong in his principles and did not allow the FA to persuade him to renounce the newly formed Union.