Lee Sharpe On Manchester United, The influence Of Bryan Robson, And His England Career

You started your career at Torquay United before moving to Manchester United. What do you remember from your time at Torquay?

“I remember it being a beautiful place to start with and I was extremely fortunate to have good digs. I stayed with a Scottish landlady called Irene Thompson and her husband at the time, Bill, and their two kids. I was made to feel at home as a 16-year-old kid, 300 miles away from home. That was one of the most important things for me. I remember the club being an amazing place to be. It was hard work.

“We had a couple of the young lads leave because the training was so hard for the apprentices. I remember Cyril Knowles, the manager at the time, looking after me and introducing murder ball, which really put a bit of aggression into my game that I was certainly lacking.”

When the interest came in from Manchester United, how did you feel? Because it is not a move that too many players have made, swapping Torquay United for Manchester United.

“No, it was a little bit scary, if I am honest. It is an offer you cannot refuse and cannot turn down, but also one that is petrifying and scary. To go from fourth division at the time to first division a year after leaving school and only just making it in the Torquay first team.

“My dad was concerned that I was going to go there, get swallowed up, and never be seen again. But it did not work out like that. It was a fantastic move, one that came out of left field and unexpectedly. I had no idea about it. And obviously one that worked out well.”

Who were the big characters in the United dressing room when you initially went in?

“The big characters were Gordon Strachan, Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Brian McClair. We also had Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath.

“There were so many players in there that you could call captains, leaders, aggressive, funny. It was a daunting dressing room to walk into.”

Under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, you won numerous Premier League titles and an FA Cup. What are your memories of those successes?

“Those were great times. Part of our early success was down to Bryan Robson because he was an unbelievable leader and like a manager on the pitch. He dictated the pace of play, how we played, what we did, and what went on during the 90 minutes while we were on the pitch.

“The manager obviously did his own work and we were given a lot of information about the teams we played. I think one of the biggest things for us was losing the league to Leeds. That really galvanised us as a team, as a unit. And then after that, winning the Cup Winners’ Cup against Barcelona, that gave everybody the confidence that we could go to the next level and beat anybody if we put in the performances.

“Then following that, we went on to win the first Premier League title. And after that, the belief went up and we just won one after another.”

What are your memories of that Cup Winners’ Cup final against Barcelona in Rotterdam?

“My first memory is just that I was absolutely petrified. A massive Cup final, Barcelona, live on TV. It was scary.

“I mean, it helped that it rained on the night in Rotterdam. I think the stadium was three-quarters full of Man United fans. It was a bit more like a home game than an away game. And to win the game was absolutely incredible. I remember watching European nights as a kid with flares, scarves, and flags waving. And it was exactly that.

“The rain coming down, the crowd and the ground full of Man United fans singing Man United songs. It was unbelievable.”

In terms of your time at United as a whole, what would you pick out as your personal favourite memories from the success that you had?

“There’s so many. I mean, the season I had when I scored, I had to go to Highbury. I got my first England cap. Then we went on to win the first Premier League in 26, 27 years. The Cup Winners’ Cup was unbelievable.

“Then, the players I was fortunate enough to play with. People like Bryan Robson, Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Gary Pallister, Steve Bruce, Peter Schmeichel, Mark Hughes and Eric Cantona. They were just phenomenal players and great teammates. I was just fortunate that we got to play with such influential, strong-minded players that were out there to win. It was amazing.”

Was it evident that the Class of 92 would go on to have big careers at United when they started training with the first team?

“Yeah, I think they were always pencilled in to be coming into the first team. So, the first team lads knew who the potentially young lads were coming through. So, we always knew Beckham. Beckham was always in the dressing room before games in London.

“Scholesy, we knew he had a lot of ability but were not really sure if he was getting kept on or not up until one point. Obviously, the two Neville brothers came in and Nicky Butt and Giggs just before them. It has always been a theme at Man United that young lads get a chance if they are good enough and these lads were always going to be good enough.

“Once they got the chance in the team that we were in, they were looked after. They worked their socks off and they did unbelievable jobs.”

“England was a little bit of a weird spell for me because, under Graham Taylor, we were not too successful. We failed to qualify for the World Cup in America. So the manager was getting a lot of heat and stick from the press and the media.

“I think at the time, a lot of the senior pros were not too keen on the manager. Thought he was underqualified to have the job. Whereas I was a 19-year-old kid. I had been in Man United’s team for two years. There was a little bit of expectancy on me playing for Man United. So, when I went out with England, that all fell away. And Graham Taylor said, ‘You’re a young lad. Just go and express yourself and enjoy yourself.’ So that is exactly what I did. I loved pulling the shirt on. I loved playing for England, although it was not the best of times for us as a team.”