
Show Notes
In 1990, Jim Leighton was dropped from the Manchester United team for the FA Cup Final replay. In his place, Les Sealey was called up, and continued his own story on the way to becoming a United cult hero. You'll be familiar with the story being about Alex Ferguson's ruthless decision in pursuit of winning. This is the other side. Of Sealey, joking that he deserves a game because Jim never misses one - of Leighton himself, speaking of how difficult life was at the club - and then of Sealey again, speaking about the friendship that formed between the two.
The episode is released to coincide with Sealey's birthday.
United Unheard delves into the archive of Tom Tyrrell, presented by Wayne Barton, to reveal more.
If you enjoy Manchester United history beyond the headlines, subscribe to United Unheard for conversations that uncover the untold stories and forgotten moments that shaped the club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from United Unheard
In 2001, Manchester United were linked with the signing of West Ham star Paolo Di Canio. The Hammers were open to it. The player wasn't. Why? Well here it is from the horse's mouth, where he gives an impassioned defence of his decision.
In 1990, Alex Ferguson was under such pressure that it was speculated he may be sacked if the team lost in the FA Cup to Nottingham Forest. They won, of course. But the team remained in poor form in the league, and, for a spell, the topic of relegation was one the club had to seriously confront.
It is not very often that we get to hear the voices of the coaches from yesteryear. The club have got better at it - for example, we have heard plenty from Eric Harrison, Tony Whelan, Paul McGuinness and Rene Meulensteen. But go back a bit further and it's difficult to get content of some of the coaches we know the names of. This episode corrects some of that, and brings a couple of interviews from Tommy Cavanagh and Mick Brown, assistants to Tommy Docherty and Ron Atkinson respectively. Sammy McIlroy, who worked under both with differing relationships, listens back with Wayne Barton.
You may be familiar with the story of George Best leaving the 1999 Champions League final early. This episode digs into some older interviews and reveals that perhaps the reason for that was that the legendary former player believed he was a bad luck omen.
There was a moment in time when David Beckham was accessible; where he was just like everyone else. The events of the World Cup in 1998 changed the trajectory of his life and career, a career that had been snowballing as it was since he scored from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996. This episode looks at that moment in time; before Beckham became the billionaire owner of a football club in America, when he was just excited to have bought a house in Manchester.