"For as long as I can remember, whenever I was asked 'What do you want to be when you grow up' I always gave the same reply: 'I'm going to play for the Reds. Manchester United. Nobody else matters'."Manchester, 1974, and seven-year-old Nicky Welsh is about to set foot in Old Trafford for the first time. This is the beginning of a five-decade love affair with football and a passion for Manchester United that will define Nicky's life for ever.My United Road tells the true story of the fan who made it onto the pitch - almost. Signed for Manchester United from school as an apprentice, then a professional, surrounded by legends in the making, Nicky found himself on the cusp of a brilliant football career......which never happened.By turns humorous and humbling, Nicky's book is the story of a dream that so nearly came true, and a history of the Reds from the 1970s to the present day, told with passion and wit by someone who saw it from the inside. His story may be personal, but it will mean something to anyone who knows what it means to love your club, who dreams of wearing its shirt, and whose heart has soared and sunk in the stands.
Dragonfly, tells the story of two young soldiers from Manchester. Tommy Conlon and Colin Lindsay. We begin on the day of the Manchester bombing, back in 1996. The two boys are ten-years-old and playing in Bogart Hole Clough. They are being observed by a strange, looking Dragonfly. Suddenly, Colin catches the insect off guard and grabs it. He gently holds for a second, then lets it go. The 'Magical' Dragonfly remains unharmed and is grateful. It decides to stay with the two boys until their very end. Twelve years later, now both Paratroopers, Colin and Tommy are supposedly killed in action in Afghanistan. However, at the same time, they are seen in Manchester. Tommy at the birth of his baby daughter. Colin having a drink with his Father in their local pub. Six years on, ex-Army officer and now novelist James Pearson, receives a visit off a former Sergeant-Major with a book idea. He relates this strange tale. Of how the soldiers temporarily came back to life. So, unfolds Dragonfly...
This is the tale of two cities divided by football and united by tragedy. The story begins in emnity when United's Busby Babes face Santiago Bernebeu's Galacticos in the 1957 European Cup semi-final. United were a team made up of hand-reared British and Irish youngsters who had conquered British football with relative ease. They faced Madrid's reigning European Champions led by 'The Blond Arrow' Alfredo di Stefano. Inevitably United lost that tie over two legs but the pair seemed certain to be rivals for years before the Munich Air Disaster ripped apart Manchester's pride and joy. In the years that followed Real Madrid's president moved heaven and earth to help his club's former foes and a series of friendly matches were played to help United's languishing coffers as Real completed their now legendary 5 European Cup victories in a row from the inception of the tournament. Following the Mancunian side's recovery and rehabilitation, the clubs met once more and this time it was for real. United's aging side battled through to the 1968 European Cup semi-final to face the Madrilenos once more.Madrid, by now six times winners, looked certain to go through when they raced into a 3-2 aggregate lead in Spain before David Sadler and Munich survivor Bill Foulkes scored late goals to send United through to a date with destiny against Benfica in the Wembley final. This riveting footballing story featuring most of the greatest players of the fifties and sixties but most importantly two great rivals and friends: Madrid President Santiago Bernebeu and United manager Matt Busby.
'ABIDE WITH ME' Scarlet Ribbon: If you're properly cursed everyone's relationship with their football team has moments that will live with you forever. They don't have to be fantastic wins or great goals. It could be one almighty fine day out with friends or a memory of watching a match with your dad when you got absolutely hammered 5-0. But he might have said something that made you laugh and forever more will be there when you think of your team's colours. And your dad. Football is an addiction, don't let anyone kid you. Whether it be Morecambe, Mansfield or Manchester United. I became a red through family, late seventies, I picked my games The first, West Bromwich Albion at home when we got beat 5-3. However, at the time in complete young anorak mode just to score three goals under Dave Sexton was today akin to winning the Champion's league. So, began a lifetime love affair. The 1979 FA Cup semi-final replay at Goodison Park against Liverpool. Listening with my mum and gran whilst my dad was at the match. The crackling tones emerging through the transistor radio and then Jimmy scored My gran one of the great United fans and I miss her so. A first trophy in 1983, Big Ron's team, Robbo, Whiteside and the lads, a thirteen-year-old watching United running round Wembley with the FA Cup. The eighties though, my season ticket should have been issued with a health warning stamped Liverpool. Come the nineties and Ferguson. Night turned to day. The Anfield mob were not just put in their place but evicted. I experienced United winning the league after twenty-six years. I saw the European cup ripped from Bayern Munich in Barcelona like a thief in the night. Under Moscow red skies in a Mancunian downpour we drank and danced till dawn and more as my team took on and beat Abramovich's Chelsea in his own back yard. This as he watched on a throne. Priceless. Life, kids, work, spark and shine, they break your heart and can make you cry, smile, laugh and scream at the moon, but one thing remains constant. Through love and despair Manchester United football club have always been there. My favourite moment as a red? Listening to 'Abide with Me' before kick-off at the 1994 FA Cup final against Chelsea and soaked to the skin as the rain came down. Then, with twenty minutes to go and 4-0 up the double won, United fans broke into a rendition of 'She wore a scarlet ribbon.' Hope you enjoy the read. A selection of articles, stage plays and books. You get one team, and Manchester United were mine.
In the grim aftermath of the Munich air disaster, when Manchester United were decimated and all but down and out, a little-known fact is that one team more than other stood by their side. Real Madrid. Champions of Honour tells of the five friendlies they played in order to help raise money for the Old Trafford club and help them get back on their own two feet. A tale from a different era, but one I believe deserves to be told. Long before Sir Alex Ferguson declared on Real's divisive attempts to sign Ronaldo that he 'Wouldn't sell that lot a virus.' In a different world, a different time, President Don Santiago Bernabeu, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas arrived in Manchester like white knights in shining armour.True champions of honour. @johnludds
