“And Manchester United,” said Mark Chapman on Match of the Day 2, “are eighth.” To supporters of other clubs, this may be a case of how the mighty are fallen. And yes, it is a crashing come-down from Sir Alex Ferguson’s day, but some of us go back a bit further than that.
This is my 50th season. I started off as a fairly typical United fan: born and bred in London, idolising George Best, no previous connection with Manchester. In that first season, 1969-70, the number eight loomed large. The first game I wouldn’t forget was the famous FA Cup tie at Northampton, the 8-2 win in which Best, returning from one of his many bans, scored six. The first league position I remember was the one at the end of that season. “And Manchester United are eighth.” Best, Law, Charlton, Stiles and Stepney: eighth.
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