Sir Alex Ferguson's first act as Manchester United manager was to sack the team's bus driver from the dugout after a 2-0 defeat to Oxford United. The legendary boss was appointed in November 1986 and his debut ended with goals from John Aldridge and Neil Slatter at the Manor Ground.
Ferguson recalled the shock of seeing driver Derek 'Sooty' Sutton in the technical area. "I had done my team-talk and was going into the dugout when I saw the bus driver sitting there," Ferguson said. "He was even giving the tea out at half-time." The new manager moved quickly to stop the practice, which had been allowed by former Oxford United manager Ron Atkinson.
Sutton, who worked for the coach firm transporting United, had enjoyed a long-standing privilege. He had sat on the bench for the 1985 FA Cup final and held passes to walk around Old Trafford. He claimed Ferguson never confronted him directly. "Ferguson never told me to my face that he didn’t want me in the dressing room," Sutton said.
That loss to Oxford United proved a minor footnote in a historic career. Ferguson steered United away from relegation that season and went on to win 13 league titles, including the first Premier League in 1993, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues.
The story emerges as the modern Oxford United side builds its own momentum. Their form over the last five matches reads three wins, one draw and one defeat, a run detailed in the club's stats page.
Next up is a trip to face Notts County, who are 20th, on October 10, a fixture listed on our fixtures page. The squad, currently led by top scorer Gatlin O'Donkor with three goals, will look to continue their positive start. Oxford's promotion push is a key narrative this season, contrasting sharply with the club's role in that famous Ferguson story nearly four decades ago.
Background and full detail: oxfordmail.co.uk
