So, I was chatting with Sir Alex this week.....

[BigAl76]

Met him at the Tebay services on the M6 on our way back from the lakes. We were stood together queuing for coffees.
Told him I was a Middlesbrough fan and he was happy talking football with me for 2-3 minutes. He said we are playing some fantastic football under Carrick, and is clearly showing an interest in the club. With the Carrick connection obviously.

He said Carrick will be a "top, top" manager and that he really hopes we get promotion. I asked him if he talks with Carrick and he smiled slightly and said "yea, from time to time".

I always thought he would be something of a miserable and unapproachable guy but it was quite the opposite. His passion for football was clear.
Sincere apologies for the selfie. Posted for proof.

 

[Uwefuchs]

Brilliant!

 

[Jedi boro]

People often forget that he came up the hard way in management the Scottish lower leagues to Aberdeen and then to Man U so he’s always had that grounding.

Carrick himself said he spoke with Fergie before taking the job.

Thanks for posting.

 

[Teesste]

Thats brilliant!

A true legend of the game as has been proved by Man Utd's relative struggles since he stepped back.

I'm sure he is a great mentor for Carrick and we can only stand to gain from having him as a sounding board.

 

[coluka]

Thats great BigAl76, thanks for sharing, great investigative work on meeting the legendary former Man Utd manager

Cutting to the chase though, did you ask him if he has ever had a parmo?

 

[TheYorkshireTerrier]

Class! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Nero]

Brilliant. It doesn’t surprise me that the man is decent and good to talk to. He has never forgotten his heritage and where he comes from.

The best manager ever in club football in my opinion. A total legend of the game in Britain. I for one actually liked his Manchester United teams.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

What's the crack with parking at the ground on matchdays, can you just park up or do you have to pay? Wondering if I should have a drive down to the club shop on my lunch break.

I'm not sure Sir Alex would be that informed about matchday parking at The Riverside to be honest, although I may be wrong.

 

[TheYorkshireTerrier]

I'm not sure Sir Alex would be that informed about matchday parking at The Riverside to be honest, although I may be wrong.

Haha! Had the wrong thread open... oops.

 

[BigAl76]

Thats great BigAl76, thanks for sharing, great investigative work on meeting the legendary former Man Utd manager

Cutting to the chase though, did you ask him if he has ever had a parmo?

He said that he had actually. But he had it battered and deep fried.

 

[Frozen Horse]

Great story,

I think I'd be stood there in the queue, looking at him out of the corner of my eye, trying to decide if it was him or not without actually looking at him.
And then, I'd be worried about getting the hairdryer the minute I opened my mouth...

 

[xxlshirts_fit_all]

We passed him in his car once, I’m sure it was a rolls Royce with pvt no plate and we all give him the big finger (car full of young lads going weekend leave) and passed him a few times.. I was a daft young lad like the rest but now look back on that n think how stupid we were..

I guess behaviour like that would put any celebrity off talking to the Joe Public..

Good to see we didn’t though eh

 

[Steer]

I never liked him and never liked Man Utd, but by goodness I would have loved him to mange our club!
Legend.

 

[Diego]

Brilliant that! Sir Alex wants the Boro to go up.

 

[Quicksilvera]

I bet sir Alex was stood waiting for coffee in his signed 29 Akpom shirt. He’s obviously a fan.

 

[Humpty]

Met him at the Tebay services on the M6 on our way back from the lakes. We were stood together queuing for coffees.
Told him I was a Middlesbrough fan and he was happy talking football with me for 2-3 minutes. He said we are playing some fantastic football under Carrick, and is clearly showing an interest in the club. With the Carrick connection obviously.

He said Carrick will be a "top, top" manager and that he really hopes we get promotion. I asked him if he talks with Carrick and he smiled slightly and said "yea, from time to time".

I always thought he would be something of a miserable and unapproachable guy but it was quite the opposite. His passion for football was clear.
Sincere apologies for the selfie. Posted for proof.

View attachment 56386

How did you start conversation if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Rofesleg]

I would have loved him to mange our club!
Legend.

We've had a few managers trying to do that in the last decade.

 

[alanmoodysdog]

I was in a Thai eatery in Ambelside for lunch October 2022 and I was convinced Jeff Winter was also in with a elderly couple .... after a few glances decided maybe it wasnt him so never found out .... if hes reading this was it you

 

[NorthumberlandBoro]

Nice post, he is a living legend.

 

[BigAl76]

How did you start conversation if you don't mind me asking?

I was talking to his driver first of all. I said to him "I bet no one ever wants to chat with you do they". We had a laugh about that and a brief chat.
Sir Alex was chatting to some woman about how much she loves man Utd and that she sits in 'His stand' every home game.

I decided the gushing hero praising approach was not really my style. When he made eye contact with me (We were literally stood next to each other), I fist bumped him (which he fortunately indulged me with), and I opened with "Sir Alex, it's an honour. I'm a Middlesbrough fan, not Man Utd".
I would have looked a bit of a wolly if he just ignored me but luckily it seemed to pique his interest. He must get bit sick of man u fans swarming him. Probably a nice change for him to have an intelligent conversation about a truly great football club. UTB.