Hundreds of football fans flooded the Alhambra Theatre in Dunfermline to listen to Sir Alex Ferguson talk about the highs and lows of his career.
He was in town to host a gala evening in aid of the Mary Leishman Foundation, a charity set up by friend Jim Leishman in memory of his wife Mary to provide funding for worthwhile causes and help develop potential.
As soon as he appeared on stage Sir Alex received a warm welcome by way of a standing ovation from fans from Fife and beyond who were lucky enough to obtain tickets to the sell-out event.
The manager, who will this year celebrate his 25th anniversary as manager of Manchester United, delighted the audience with tales from his days at Dunfermline in the 1960s and his many managerial triumphs from his time at Aberdeen to the present day.
Sir Alex, who will turn 70 on New Year’s Eve, was reunited with some of those who knew him best during his time as a player in the legendary Dunfermline teams of the 1960s.
Describing his time at Dunfermline as “his best period as a player” he said, “It was a team of great character and spirit that I never reached anywhere else.”
Thirteen former team-mates, including Dan McLinden, Jim Herriot, Alex Smith and former captain Roy Barry, paid tribute to the man who scored 91 goals for the Pars, including seven in Europe, and who today has 12 English Premiership titles under his belt.
Despite Sir Alex’s successes, it is clear that to his former Fife team-mates he will always just be their “old pal”.’Oor pal, Fergie’Sir Alex endured ribbing for much of the night from his old friends and host Bill Leckie but enjoyed the Fife banter, good-naturedly joining in from time to time.
Herriot said, “Once he got into that box he had a one-track mind to score and he got a bit huffy if anyone else did!”
Sir Alex retorted, “Having a trade union background, I was quite decisive, young and headstrong.”
Roy Barry added, “He might be a big star and all that but to us he’s just oor pal, Fergie, who snores like a dog!”
He was playfully described as “an annoying player who liked to argue a lot with his elbows”.
Lifelong friend Jim Grieve added, “He is a smashing guy, still the same Govan boy I’ve known for the past 40 years.”
As well as his time with the Pars, Sir Alex managed East Stirlingshire and St Mirren and was also briefly manager of the Scotland national team before taking the helm of Manchester United in 1986.
He is now the longest-serving manager in the Old Trafford club’s history after overtaking Sir Matt Busby’s record on December 19.
Born in Govan, Sir Alex’s playing career began as an amateur with Queen’s Park, where he made his debut as a striker aged 16.’Legend of world football’He became a full-time professional in 1964 when he was signed to Dunfermline where, along with Joe McBride of Celtic, he became the top goalscorer in the Scottish league with 31 goals.
He then joined Rangers for the then record fee of £65,000.
In later years he played for Falkirk, with whom he was promoted to player-coach, then moved to Ayr United, where he finished his playing career in 1974.
Later in the evening Sir Alex paid tribute to Willie Cunningham for giving him his “first big break” and to former Dunfermline manager Jock Stein, saying he was a man who “gave young boys a chance” and instilled great spirit in them.
He said he is a firm believer in keeping conversations with players to the locker room.
Sir Alex said, “I learnt early on don’t criticise your players publicly.
“If you do you’re falling out with their mum, their dad, their whole family and that’s a lot of enemies to make.”
Alhambra manager Simon Fletcher told The Courier, “Sir Alex is as big a name as has ever graced the Alhambra stage, and I’m sure that football fans young and old were enthralled to hear the great man speak about his fantastic career.”
Foundation president William Braisby said, “It is fantastic that one of the legends of world football has made an appearance on the Alhambra stage.”