The game at Edgar Street between Hereford United and Peterborough United tomorrow might have given Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson the perfect excuse to return to one of the grounds he sent a team to under his management many years ago.
With his son, Darren, in charge at Peterborough United and loan players from Old Trafford expected to feature for both clubs, Sir Alex would have had plenty to take note should he have been able to attend.
Unfortunately Manchester United are at home to Blackburn Rovers tomorrow with a tea-time kick-off.
It was on Saturday January 28th 1990 that Manchester United came to Edgar Street for a fourth round FA Cup game with Sir Alex in charge. He wasn't too pleased with the muddy pitch which made the tie hard work for his players. It took them 84 minutes before Clayton Blackmore scored the only goal of the game.
Although he had been at Old Trafford for nearly four years, many of his signings hadn't quite reached the expectations of the fans, and the manager was reportedly on the verge of being sacked, with many believing that defeat to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup Third Round would seal his fate. A 56th-minute goal from Mark Robins won that match for United and started them on a cup run, which included the Hereford game, that would take them all the way to the final at Wembley, where they beat Crystal Palace 1–0 in a replay after a 3–3 draw in the original match. And Sir Alex has been in charge ever since.
Back to the present. At Peterborough they currently have one player on loan from Manchester United, James Chester.
And at Hereford there are two from Old Trafford, Sam Hewson and Febian Brandy.
Good reason for Sir Alex to look at the match reports and maybe remember that cup game at Edgar Street 19 years ago played in front of 13,777 fans.
Latest Betting:
Hereford 12/5 Draw 12/5 Peterborough 11/10
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Scarborough In The League At Edgar Street On Tuesday 19th November At 7.45pm