Fergie on the phone? You’re having a laugh!
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THERE aren’t many people who would tell Sir Alex Ferguson to b****r off when he is asking to speak to someone.
But in 1983 that’s exactly what Alistair Paterson did when he was working at Dounreay, believing it was a prank call from one of his colleagues.
However, Sir Alex, who announced his retirement this week, was looking to speak to plant engineer Donnie Munro to finalise arrangements for his visit to the Rosebank Hotel in Wick.
Mr Munro (77), a former chairman of the Caithness Aberdeen FC supporters’ club, had arranged the event with the former Dons boss and assistant Teddy Scott to bring up the European Cup Winners’ Cup after the Pittodrie side beat Real Madrid 2-1 in Gothenburg.
But when Sir Alex tried to contact the chairman he got an abrupt response from Mr Paterson.
"I had asked Sir Alex to contact me at Dounreay to clarify arrangements for the social evening," he said.
"When Alistair answered the call he was convinced that it was a colleague on the shop floor playing a prank so told him to b****r off.
"He came through to tell me what had happened and I told him that it was the real Alex Ferguson. I phoned him back to apologise but he just laughed it off and took it in good humour."
On Wednesday Sir Alex announced his retirement after 39 years in football, including 26 years with Manchester United at Old Trafford and before that eight years at Pittodrie. The manager was heading to Caithness as part of a goodwill gesture from the club after the branch had been struggling to secure tickets for league games.
Mr Munro, of Corner Crescent, Wick, said the club never had a problem securing tickets after the visit from Sir Alex, who he described as the greatest manager of all time.
"I thought there would never be a better manager than Matt Busby but I think Sir Alex has surpassed his achievements.
"As well as being one of the greatest managers of all time, you couldn’t meet a finer gentleman."
During his visit to Caithness in 1983, he also scouted for future talent at East End Boys’ Football Club who were playing a friendly match at Harmsworth Park. Wanting to get a better view of the game, he was invited into the front living room of caretaker Dom Mulraine (79), whose house on South Road overlooked the pitch.
Three decades on, the day is still remembered by the former caretaker.
"I remember he travelled up with his assistant, Teddy Scott, to watch the game but could not really get a good opinion from where he was standing," he said.
"Somebody asked him if he wanted to watch the game from our living room and we were happy to invite him in.
"He was very polite towards me and my wife Margaret and, ever since that day, I have supported him at every club he was at. In my opinion he is the greatest football manager there has ever been, there will never be another one like him."
