I was in one of the several club bars behind the main stand at Crystal Palace FC, with my school team, that had been invited by Ron Noades to watch Palace play United in a league match in the early 90s. Noades' son was at the school at the time. Ron, was Chairman of CPFC and he kindly invited the squad to watch this glamorous league game.
Several of the locals in the bar thought some of the teenagers with me, smartly dressed in suits, collars and ties, were part of the Manchester United Youth team that had been so successful that season. We were quite good footballers but not that good and nobody looked remotely like David Backham, but they milked it!
The United Youth team notably included the Nevilles, Butt, Scholes, Giggs and Beckham.
The TV story is about their careers and their latest investment in Manchester based, Salford City FC. Salford qualified for their first FACup first round proper on Saturday when they dispatched Southport 1-0, in the fourth qualifying round. This is Salford's first appearance at this heady level. This interest in a local side such as Salford is encouraging for Non-League football.
Another Manchester club, FC United, the club formed by disillusioned Man U supporters at the Glazer takeover, has also progressed, after beating Sporting Khalsa from the Midlands, the lowest rank team in the draw. Cheap curry and rice was on offer to the crowd at Khalsa's ground that was heaving with their biggest crowd of 2252.
The draw is tonight at 7pm on BBC2, Radio5 and BTSport. A local derby maybe?
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