Exactly two decades ago a Manchester United fan, by the name of Michael Lavender, became footballing folklore after playing his part in Manchester United’s impressive history – and he has the letter from Sir Alex to prove it!
The day was the 2nd May, 1993. There were just two games of the 92/93 Premier League left and the race for the title was about to be determined.
However, unlike this year’s title, the scene of victory was not the theatre of dreams but Mottram Hall, a golf resort just south of Manchester, in Cheshire.
Mottram Hall is one of the most captivating settings for a hotel imaginable. The exquisite 18th century Georgian construction is set amidst the stunning 270-acre estate, and is surrounded by a impressive expanse of trees and water.
Sir Alex was desperate to win his first English league title and Manchester United’s first for 26 years. United played Blackburn the following day, so to escape the pressure he had gone to play golf rather than watch Aston Villa, their only remaining rival, play Oldham live on the television.
As Fergie described it, he was on the green of the penultimate hole when a car screeched to a halt close by and he could hear a man running on a gravel path. “A man I didn’t know came over the hill with a huge smile on his face and said ‘Excuse me Mr Ferguson, you are the champions. Oldham have won at Villa.”
Michael Lavender was that man and he would become one of the most famous ‘strangers’ in football.
During the next twenty years of United’s dominance, his story has often been referred to by the media when they recollect the first time that Sir Alex won the title was ‘won on the golf course’.
Lavender has also been described in a number of publications, including United’s official illustrated history and the legendary Scot’s autobiography.
Lavender’s name was never known, however Sir Alex never forgot him. Which is why, in 2007, Michael got in touch in 2007 to unveil his identity as the “man he didn’t know” on that historic day, the legendary manager sent him a personal letter of thanks in reply.
The two loops that make up Mottram Hall’s Championship course are a credit to their designer, the revered Dave Thomas.
The letter reads “Many thanks for your letter and indeed you are obviously that famous stranger that made my day! As I never saw you again, you are part of the folklore of that great day.”
Lavender explained clearly how the events unfolded that fateful day: “I’d finished my round and came into the bar to have a beer. The Villa game was on a TV in there and the commentator said something like ‘Alex Ferguson does not even know he has just won his first title’.
“The guy sitting next to me was one of the junior professionals at the club and he said ‘yeah, because he’s out here playing golf’.
“So I asked him what time Ferguson had started his round and made a mental note because I was then leaving. Mottram Hall has got this long driveway in and out, as I was driving out; I thought to myself that he might be around there somewhere.
“I looked up to the 17th green and saw him. So I stopped the car and climbed up to the raised green and, apparently in a very polite manner, told him the good news.
“First of all, he did a double take because he wanted to make sure I wasn’t taking the mickey. As soon as he was satisfied with that, he just went absolutely crazy. He was so happy, he started shouting and dancing around with his playing partner, who I later found out, was his son Mark.
“I just thought well, this is his moment, not mine, so I left them to it. The rest is history.”
Since his first title win in 1993, Ferguson has seen his side seal titles while watching snooker (1994) or at the gym (1997) as well as on the pitch.
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