Alex Fergusons’ 1st ever XI: Where Are You Now?

2012/13 has been a season for high profile retirements from football. Carragher, Petrov, Owen, Scholes and Beckham have all hung up their boots after illustrious playing careers, but surely the most talked about retirement has to be that of Sir Alex Ferguson, stepping down after 26 years and 38 trophies as manager of Manchester United.

Ferguson was appointed manager in November 1986 following Ron Atkinson’s dismissal. Fergie’s first game came away at Oxford City in a 1st Division match.

Thisisfutbol.com takes a look at where Alex Ferguson’s first, first eleven are today…

GK – Chris Turner

Turner, an acquisition from Sunderland, played 64 times for United between 1985 and 1988. Following Man Utd, the talented shot stopper moved back to the team he supports, Sheffield Wednesday. Following spells at Leeds and Leyton Orient, Chris Turner became manager of the latter in 1994. After suffering relegation with Orient he joined Hartlepool in 1999, saving them from relegation and turning them into promotion challengers. In 2002, Turner joined Sheffield Wednesday, gaining promotion to League 1 in 2004 before being controversially sacked after a slow start in the 3rd tier.

He moved to Stockport before re-joining Hartlepool asDirector of Sport. He left the post in 2010. He is currently chief executive at Chesterfield FC

RB – Mike Duxbury

Having signed as a youth player in 1976, Duxbury played 299 times for United. Towards 1990, the right-back was struggling to get into the team and, following the 1990 FA Cup final, left for Blackburn Rovers for free. He later played for Bradford City and Golden in Hong Kong.

Since retiring in 1994, Duxbury moved into the coaching side of the game. He worked with the Manchester United Soccer Schools programme in Hong Kong and Dubai, and taught physical education in the junior department Bolton School.

LB – Arthur Albiston

Another player promoted from the youth system, Albiston played 485 times in 14 years at Old Trafford before moving to West Bromwich Albion for a free transfer in 1988, re-joining Ron Atkinson. Following spells at Dundee, Chesterfield and Chester, Albiston moved to Sweden and to Molde. He spent two years in Scandinavia before returning to the UK, playing for Ayr United, Sittingbourne, Witton Albion and Droylesden during the mid-1990s before retirement in 1996.

He went into management with Droylesden for a season before returning to Manchester United as a Junior coach between 2000 and 2004. He currently works for MUTV, Manchester United’s official television channel, acting as match summariser during live coverage of the club’s reserve and academy teams.

CB – Kevin Moran

After converting to football from Gaelic football, Moran was scouted by Manchester United in 1978 playing for Bohemians in Ireland. After 10 years at Old Trafford, Kevin Moran left for Spain in 1988. Two seasons later, he joined Blackburn and was very successful at Ewood Park before retiring in 1994. Later that year, Moran formed a football agency, Proactive Sports Management; his clients included John O’Shea and Steve Finnan. Moran has also worked as a pundit on Irish television channel TV3.

CB – Paul McGrath

Widely regarded as the best player to come out of Ireland, McGrath was a tough tackler, and he played extensively despite persistent problems with his knees for Man Utd and Aston Villa. He played for Derby County and Sheffield United before retiring in 1998. Upon retiring, he settled in Monageer, County Wexford.

In 2004, one year after being taken to court, charged with a breach of the peace, McGrath returned to the football world after five years, moving to Waterford United in Ireland as director of football.

CB – Graeme Hogg

Hogg signed from the youth set up in 1985.

He went on to represent the club 81 times before moving to Portsmouth, Hearts, Notts County and Brentford before retiring in 1998.

He is no longer involved in football. He’s still probably best known for taking a slog to the face from Craig Levein.

RM – Clayton Blackmore

The Welsh International was a combative player known for his attacking free kicks and as an useful player who could play well in defence, but could play equally well in midfield or as an emergency forward. Following a highly successful spell at Old Trafford, Blackmore moved to Bryan Robson’s Middlesbrough in 1994, helping them gain promotion to the Premier League. He left Teesside in 1999, playing for Bristol City, Barnsley, Notts County, Leigh RMI, Bangor City and Porthmadog.

He spent two years managing Bangor City and Porthmadog in the Welsh Premier League, before returning to play for Neath Athletic. Blackmore hung up his boots in 2010 and is now Manchester United’s Under-15s manager at the Academy.

CDM – Remi Moses

Signed for £500,000 from West Brom in 1981, Moses became a key member of United’s midfield during the 1980s. But a succession of injuries cost him his place in the team and in 1989, the Englishman retired at the age of 28. A certain ‘what could have been’ topic is now into some unusual hobbies.

As well as buying and selling property, the former United hard-man helps coach the Manchester Warriors U20 inline skating side, which has since won the Great Britain inline Hockey League. As with many former Old Trafford favourites, Moses still has close links to the club and can be found occasionally coaching Old Trafford FC as part of the ‘unity in the community.’

ST – Frank Stapleton

The Irishman was a tough tackling forward who excelled in heading the ball. He started his career at Arsenal after being rejected by United as a youth player. Stapleton eventually joined Manchester United in 1981 for £900,000 following an illustrious spell at the Gunners. His move was met with controversy as he rejected an Arsenal contract, concerned about the clubs ambition. Stapleton Stapleton became a byword for greed and disloyalty among supporters, and still is.

Following further success at Old Trafford, Stapleton left in 1987 after scoring 78 goals in 365 appearances. His next 8 years were spent at Ajax, Anderlecht, Derby County, Le Havre, Blackburn Rovers, Aldershot, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City (as player manager) and Brighton before retiring in 1995. Following a well-travelled playing career, Stapleton went into management with American side New England Revolution in 1996, before being appointed as Bolton Wanderers’ specialist strikers coach.

CM – Peter Davenport

Davenport joined United in 1986 for £750,000 following a successful 4 years at Nottingham Forest. Ron Atkinson had signed the midfielder as a direct replacement for Barcelona bound, Mark Hughes. He was undoubtedly one of the best players during Ferguson’s season, finishing as top scorer with 16 goals, and easing Manchester United away from any relegation fears. Following Hughes’ return from Spain in 1988, Davenport found first team opportunities scarce and in 1988, left for Middlesbrough. In 1990 he left for Sunderland, becoming a prominent player in their promotion efforts.

Following his spell in the North East, Davenport ended his career at a succession of lower league outfits, including Aerdronians, St. Johnstone, Bangor City and Southport where he also became caretaker manager. They remained unbeaten during his tenure. He was appointed manager of Northern Ireland in 2000; however he was sacked later that year after refusing to work alongside newly appointed joint-manager, Gil Prescott. He has since managed Bangor City, Colwyn Bay, at Southport for a second spell and Bradford Park Avenue. Asked in 2011 what he was up to now, Davenport said,

“I have worked as a cover supervisor at my son’s school, St Anselm’s College, Wirral, for the last six months. If a teacher is off ill or on a course, I take the class. I have a sports science degree and am studying to get my teaching qualification. Previously, I had been a classroom assistant at a local primary school, which whetted my appetite for teaching, though I see myself in a secondary school.

LM – Peter Barnes

Peter Barnes is one of a minority to have played for both Manchester sides. Following spells at Man City, West Brom and Real Betis, Manchester United signed the winger, initially on loan from Leeds United in 1984, before signing for £50,000 from Coventry. His first team action was limited by Jesper Olsen at United and chances became even scarcer following Sir Alex’s appointment as manager. Barnes took to hiding in the communal baths in the dressing room to avoid Ferguson’s famed ‘hair-dryer’ treatment.

He was transferred back to Manchester City in 1987; soon fell out of favour and joined Bolton Wanderers, Port Vale and Wimbledon on loan. After leaving Maine Road in 1988 he embarked on an extraordinary tour of global football playing a handful of games for Hull City, SC Farense (twice), Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland, Stockport County, Footscray JUST, Bury, Drogheda United, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Stafford Rangers, Northwich Victoria, Wrexham, Radcliffe Borough, Mossley, Hamrun Spartans, and Cliftonville. This took him to Portugal, Australia, Malta, the United States, and both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Following retirement from playing, Barnes had brief spells managing Gibraltar and Runcorn before working for Manchester City and the local radio. Since August 2010, he has been based in Kuala Lumpur, working as a Premier League pundit for Malaysian network, Astro, and its thrice-weekly FourFourTwo TV programme. On the night that his former club Manchester City clinched the 2011–12 Premier League title, the normally reserved Barnes sang a rendition of Blue Moon during the post-game show in Astro’s studios. He also continued his father’s legacy, running soccer schools for impoverished local children.

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So there we go. Manchester United subsequently lost the game 2-0, leaving the club in 20th position and with fans fearing the worst. But in true Fergie style he transformed the team and finished safely above relegation in 11th and we all know where he went from there…

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