Chris Brunt recalls his first meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson

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The first time Chris Brunt had met Sir Alex Ferguson was during his schoolboy days at a trial. At that time Ferguson was the boss of the Red Devils. Chris was then representing a team from Belfast and they had come for playing in England at the United’s former training ground.

Brunt , it appears, had always been a fan of the United club and so overawed was he at meeting up sir Ferguson that he could not recollect the exact words the legendary star had said. Vividly he recalls it all to be about United and Rangers that he had spoken.

Chris Brunt today plays for Middlesbrough. He is also a team member of the Northern Ireland international team.  His knowledge about Sir Ferguson and United dates back to the age of when he was two and Sir Ferguson the manager of United.

Chris Grant mentioned that he had been in the scout when he had met Sir Ferguson and that taking an autograph was something that was not a done thing then. In the process he had missed out that opportunity when the great legend would take the scouts into his office and speak to them one to one.

Sir Ferguson would be appearing on the field for the final time on Sunday and the event is being prepared for by the authorities. Chris Brunt, who would also be playing indicated that the plan of Albion players forming a guard of honour for the match is something he does not appreciate.

The match itself was very important in the words of Chris Brunt and not just because it would be Sir Ferguson’s last appearance at the field in an official position. Their team would need to win the match and get 50 points to secure the eighth position he mentioned. It would be Sir Alex’s desire to win this last match as manager of Manchester United and it was up Chris Brunt and his team to make sure that his dream did not come true.

 

500th Stanley shareholder is Sir Alex Ferguson

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500th Stanley shareholder is Sir Alex Ferguson

500th Stanley shareholder is Sir Alex Ferguson

Red Devils’ boss become Th’owd Reds shareholder! 

Footballing minnows Accrington Stanley Football Club has just announced that they have their 500th shareholder as part of their long term plan to issue shares to their fans. This is not just any ordinary supporter however, and the name on the 500th share certificate is that of a certain Sir Alex Ferguson.

The director of Accrington Stanley Peter Shaw, along with the senior none executive Idris Khan, presented Sir Alex with his share certificate on Wednesday at Man Utd’s training ground this week. Shaw said that the club was extremely grateful for the display of support that Sir Alex had shown towards the club. The Chief Executive Rob Heys said that the supportive gesture of becoming a shareholder was very gratifying.

Mr Heys also said hat they were not only honoured by his decision, but were truly touched by the support he has shown for a historic sporting neighbour. He added that everybody at the club was looking forward to welcoming him to their next AGM, where he will receive his official shareholder vote.

Stanley has always had strong connections with Scotland after manager Walter Galbraith signed 11 Scottish players to form the famously successful 1950s Stanley side – this was recalled by Sir Alex when he received a retro Stanley football and commemorative book.

Sir Alex said: “Everyone has heard of Accrington Stanley and I am so pleased to see a small community club flourishing during these times.

“Long may they continue to be an active and healthy member of the Football League.”

Accrington Stanley announced its programme to expand club ownership and secure its financial future through the issue of shares to fans last October.

Shares have been sold to fans locally and around the globe, with shareholders in Canada, Brazil, Finland, Australia and the USA.

Shares cost £100 each and can be purchased from the club shop or online at www.wearestanley.co.uk

To see footage of Sir Alex receiving his share, visit www.youtube.com/stanleyshareoffer 

 

Sir Alex questions FA argument

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Sir Alex questions FA argument Sir Alex Ferguson believes that the disagreement between England manager Fabio Capello and the FA  will end up having a negative effect on the international team, unless the two parties can bury their differences and learn to work together again.

The difference of opinion stems from the FA’s decision to take the captain’s armband from Chelsea defender John Terry until the verdict in his upcoming trial is delivered. Terry faces a charge of racially abusing another defender, QPR’s Anton Ferdinand, and is set to appear in court in July.

Capello has already launched a stinging attack on the FA for taking the step, arguing that Terry is innocent until proven guilty and that the English football authorities are delivering their own justice. But the comments in the media could end up putting the England manager himself in hot water and he has been summoned to appear before the FA to explain why he so publicly disagreed with the organisation’s decision.

Other managers, including Fergie, have been weighing in on the issue, with Terry’s club manager, Andrew Villas-Boas backing Capello for taking a stand and defending one of his player’s against unfair treatment. Villas-Boas added that the England manager had the right to hold an opinion on the matter and shouldn’t be prevented from expressing that opinion by his bosses at the FA.

A meeting between Capello and the FA is set to take place this week to discuss his future as England manager and whether or not he breached his contract by criticising his employers so publicly. The FA’s main problem seems to be that Capello had not told them that he intended to give an interview on the subject to an Italian television company so they were unprepared for the subsequent media storm.

John terry, meanwhile, has been attempting to keep a low profile; his only recent statement has been to the effect that he will continue to play for England even though he is no longer allowed to wear the captain’s armband.

Sir Alex ends his BBC boycott

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Sir Alex ends his BBC boycott The recent end to the boycott of the BBC by Sir Alex Ferguson has led many people to wonder how it actually begun in the first place. This is a common problem with long running arguments; we sometime forget how it all started.

The conversations between Sir Alex and Mark Thompson, BBC director general, will probably never be known as both parties have agreed to not comment on the talks. The only reason for Ferguson’s original boycott was the BBC airing the documentary ‘Fergie and Son,’ in 2004 – he never actually mentioned what it was in the documentary that affronted him and caused him to boycott the BBC.

The only time he spoke of the BBC since 2004 was in 2007, when he accused the broadcaster of being incredibly arrogant and saying they would never apologise for the content of the documentary. He said the film was very insulting to his son and damaged his honour. He also accused the BBC for making up the contents of the documentary.

The documentary focused on Ferguson’s son, Jason. Alex Millar directed the programme and went back to examine the revelations that the agents Jason had once worked for had got £25,000 for the transfer of Massimo Taibi, a goalkeeper. Other transfers were also examined in the film.

John Magnier and J P McManus, former friends of Ferguson’s had asked nearly one hundred questions about the football clubs financial propriety. These questions were leaked to the Daily Mail and United faced much greater scrutiny. As a response to this, the club decided to conduct a review of all its transfer dealings.

Before the airing of the documentary, the BBC released information about some of the findings that Millar had made. Unexpectedly, and in an attempt to pre-empt the revelations in the film, the club publicly announced that it was reviewing its transfers.

Sir Alex Ferguson knuckles rapped by FA

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Sir Alex Ferguson knuckles rapped by FA Following recent comments he made about referee Howard Webb, Sir Alex Ferguson, was warned by the Football Association as to his future conduct. The FA had charged Ferguson with improper conduct after he discussed Webb two days prior to the United’s victory over Chelsea on May 8th. He said they were getting the best referee and there was no doubt about it, but getting a bad decision is our fear, in his pre-match news conference.

The FA sent all managers a letter in October advising that any pre-match comments would be interpreted as attempting to influence an official, whether negative or positive, and be in contravention of Rule E3. Last Friday the FA charged the United manager and now have decided as the governing body, that a warning is the measure to be taken as this time.

This rule was enacted in the beginning of the 2009/10 season and formally reiterated on October 21, 2010 to all clubs read a statement from the Regulatory Commission. This is the first time this matter reached the commission and is a clear breach, but they felt it was a minor breach but nevertheless it should be taken as a sign to all managers for the future that this type breach will result in an FA charge.