Alan Tonge spent five-and-a-half years at Man Utd and went through some difficult times before reinventing himself in a second career that has earned him a new title.
"You've been absolutely f**king useless tonight." Those were the final words from legendary Manchester United youth coach Eric Harrison to Alan Tonge after a dressing room dressing down for the then 15-year-old right-back at Gresty Road.
Some of what he went through as a child at United has helped forge aspects of the 52-year-old's character now and still influences his teachings at the University Campus of Football Business , but at the time it was immensely difficult for someone who describes themselves as reserved, going into an environment full of masculinity.
"Some of the rituals and initiations were a little bit near the knuckle and some of it was not very nice to go through. It’s something I feel wasn’t right," Tonge said. Tonge was the first player to be offered terms by Ferguson, in early January 1987, hence the title of the book. But he fell just before the Class of 92 and was a little too early to benefit from the focus on youth that was being reintroduced at United.
"Aidy was on a par with Ryan at the time. When you get these experts watching racehorses on the gallops they say the dogs are barking about a horse about to make its debut, but the dogs were barking about Aidy as well. "I remember Steve Bruce saying ‘you can’t sit there, that’s the gaffer’s table, he plays cards there’. Senior pro, no problem, I get up to move straight away and then Fergie gets on. Brucey shouts to him ‘gaffer, Tongey said he’s not moving’. Fergie said ‘you better get moving’. I was out like a shot.
Ferguson and Archie Knox were present that day and the manager singled Tonge out for praise after the game, telling him how well he had done against City's left-winger Jason Beckford, who was getting first-team chances at Maine Road. Tonge knew contract decisions were being made and came away from the conversation feeling positive.
"I felt I’d let my family down, I’d let lots of people down. From a young age because you’re a reasonable footballer your identity shapes around that. People in the village knew I was at United and they stopped and asked how’s it going and who have you got at the weekend?'
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