Well, what can I say. How can I sum up today? I think that I wrote yesterday that I was planning to go to the Cliff. And, go to the Cliff I did. Mind you, I took a bit of time getting there. I got off the Buzy Bee in Ashton Village to change my money at the Bank. I caught another one and caught the train at Sale Station. Because I was going the The Cliff, I got off at Old Trafford.
I caught the 54 round through Ordsall and Pendleton, that oh so familiar route, and getting off on Cromwell Road Bridge. I toddled down Lower Broughton Road, with that oh so familiar feeling of excitement mixed with nerves, plus the feeling that I'm completely daft, and it's about time I grew out of it, yet knowing that the place has so much magnetism that it will be an awful long time before I do grow out of it.
When I got there I had a good look wound: it didn't take long to realise that the lads might well be at Littleton Road. I checked with Billy W, he said yes they were; they'd be back at about twelve. that wasn't long to go, so I sat on the wall and waited, and sure enough, soon they arrived, all of them in about five cars. when I first see them, I just feast my eyes and calm my nerves. I was able to say hello to Gary Walsh, but decided to leave the rest until they came out. One young lad having been standing by the door went running over to his mates exclaiming "I've spoken to Jesper Olsen." I joined the crowd outside the door. Brian McClair was the first player out. He seemed to get away very quickly - I do hope it's because he had another engagement rather than the fact that he's just eager to get away. He looked very delicious and trendy - his shoes were the give-away: lovely black suede nicely pointed shoes, and snow-washed jeans. He seemed quiet, but he might have been in a hurry, or he might be unused to the Cliff ritual. I'll give him until Christmas until I judge him.
Paul McGrath was the next one out. He is so lovely he is. he is just absolutely really friendly and whenever he sees me, he always asks me how I am. He is definitely, as well as being the best player at Manchester United, the most friendly, and judging from what I've gathered on brief meetings, the Manchester United player with the most pleasant personality.
I can't remember the order in which the lads came out after that, so I will go through them in alphabetical order I've omitted a few players who were only really fringe players and never properly made it
Arthur Albiston came out very early and didn't seem prepared to hang around. Much as I admire Arthur as a player and much as I respect the fact that he's been at United half his life. I wonder why he always seems so irritated at the fans. I wonder if he's always been like that , or has fifteen years of seeing fans, undoubtedly every day, rather made him sick of us all.
Viv Anderson didn't seem keen on hanging around either, in fact he was rushing out so quickly that I had to take a few rapid steps back to take his photograph.
Clayton Blackmore came out very late, indeed it was after two o'clock - I waited that long especially for him. He was almost in his car by the time I grabbed him. I can't for the life of me remember what he was wearing, but he looked absolutely gorgeous, really tanned. I managed to get a kiss out of him.
I missed Peter Davenport because I was too busy with Brian McClair. I'm not sure if I'm annoyed or not. Peter, I have found, is a really good laugh, but perhaps if he was in a hurry he might not have had time for the jokes.
Mike Duxbury is not the most sweet-tempered person, but I managed to get a photo. To be honest, I can't think of anything to say to him, cos he's a boring sod.
Colin Gibson didn't appear to be there, mind you I saw him last week in Altrincham. I had just come out of M&S wearing my Reds on Tour t-shirt when I saw a man smiling at me. I looked a bit closer - it was Colin Gibson. that was the second time I've seen him in almost the same spot - when I was in Upper Sixth I once saw him going into Mothercare with wife and children.
Billy Garton came out at the same time as Clayton. I chased him to his car, a red Cabriolet, because I thought he was going to drive off before I could grab him. I took his photo.
Graeme Hogg was there, looking absolutely lovely. He's not perfectly good looking, in the way that Clayt is, but he's highly attractive. He was looking very tanned, and as (nearly) always he was dressed smartly yet casually. He had a deep turquoise top tucked into his jeans. He always dresses in a way that makes me think he is pernickity I told him he had better not be going to City because I know a lot of people would be upset. He seemed very dismissive of that; then somebody asked him whether it was true he had failed a medical for City. He said it was crap. To be honest, I think out of all the United players, he's the one I'd most like to get to know - I get a feeling that he's quite deep.
Kevin Moran is a nice bloke, the oldest player at the club. I think if I could think of anything to say I could have a really decent chat with him, but I couldn't think of anything to say to him. Besides that, he came out reasonably early, when there were still quite a lot of people about, so I couldn't really detain him to talk about nothing.
Remi Moses came out pretty late. I got quite a lot of words out of him. I said it was great to see him back in the team; he said it was about time too. I asked him how it was going; he said it was going great. Although he said a fair amount, it was still more than easy to see that he's still fundamentally very shy. Mind you, it's nice to see such a skilled player who's far from being big-headed.
Jesper Olsen seems to be getting more accustomed to the habits of The Cliff. His first season he was dreadful - I called him Elusive Olsen, but now, he's prepared to walk a few yards into the group of assembled fans and even exchanged a few words.
Bryan Robson came out pretty late. Not as late as Clayt, but still late. Prior to him emerging from the building, he had walked up and down the stairs a few times in just his shirt and underpants. Well, me and these girls, Michelle, five days older than me, and her fourteen year old sister Debbie from Benchill and Debbie's friend Lindsey from Brooklands, well we were going wild just seeing him. Then he came out, and he was in a really good mood. Debbie asked him to sign his autograph once to Debbie and once to nobody. So he said, "That's a funny name" really witty like. As I say, he just seemed to be in a good mood; he waved to us as he left, mind you, there was only me and these three girls, plus one bloke and one lad.
Gordon Strachan only paused long enough for me to take a photo. Shame really, because he's a nice bloke. Perhaps he was in a hurry. He can be a good laugh, too. I tell you he's one of the best buys that Ron Atkinson made - three years ago I predicted he'll be one of the favourites of the fans - and that was after only one game. After three years, I don't argue with that - he's an ace player.
I had a bit of a chat with Gary Walsh. He seems a good sight more confident than when I last met him. I was telling him that he was the first Manchester United player to be younger than me, and he was trying to make out he was twenty one going on twenty two. He's got a really pleasant. He's bloody tall - I had to crane my neck to talk to him. Mind you he's only 6'1½" according tot he Handbook - perhaps he seemed taller because he was in footy boots.
Norman Whiteside was obviously in a silly mood, although he didn't seem to want to linger. However, I asked him if I could take a photo and he pulled a really silly smile, more of a grin really. What I noticed both this time and the two times I was there at Easter that Norm no longer seems to mind the . When I went in 84/5 he seemed to object to people adoring him, but he's grown up a bit since then.
All in all it was a very good day. I had a really exciting and enjoyable.
I returned to Old Trafford and caught a train into town. I bought a dressing gown from M&S. If it lasts as long as my old one, I will be well pleased it lasted until 1995, when I decided to replace it on moving house
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