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MUFC.SIMPLENET. COM:  DAILY NEWS
Date: Sun Aug 16 GMT+00:00 1998
Mail: barry@www.red11.org

Daily RED Trivia  Sunday 16th August:

1975: Tommy Jackson made his United debut at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
     A creative midfielder, Jackson joined United from Nottingham Forest and
     played 23 times between 1975-76. He won 35 caps for Northern Ireland, and
     won a League Championship medal with Everton in 1970. Jackson moved
     to Waterford in 1978.

1980: United beat Middlesbrough 3-0 at Old Trafford in a Division 1 game
      watched by 54,394. Ashley Grimes, Lou Macari and Mickey Thomas got
      the goals. Team was: Bailey, Nicholl, Albiston, McIlroy, Moran, Buchan, Coppell,
      J.Greenhoff, Jordan (Grimes), Macari, Thomas.

PRE SEASON - FIRST TEAM RESULTS
July 25  Birmingham City  (A)     result: L 3-4
     27  Valerengen (A) (Oslo)    result: D 2-2
     31  Brondby (A) (Copenhagen) result: W 6-0
Aug   4  Brann Bergen (A)         result: W 4-0
      9  Arsenal (N)              result: L 0-3
     12  H Widzew Lodz CL         result: W 2-0

Coming Matches Index: http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm
Tue 18/8 H Eric Cantona XI (H) - Munich testimonial
Sat 22/8 A West Ham PL

Note from the editor: I am off to the munich Testimonial today,
so Bill McArthur will be looking after the daily digest.
I will be back Thursday with a report!

This Issue:
1. CarlingNet Report
2. TeamTALK Report
3. Beckham SIGNS New Contract! (Mirror)
4. Beck's £6m United deal
5. Cantona Started A Revolution 
6. MUTV (Mirror)
7. Ray Woods' Widow Lashes Out At United (D.Mail)

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++


Check out our new REDitorial by Alex Paylor! url: http://www.red11.org/mufc/devilsadvocate/

Date:  Sun, 16 Aug 1998 01:46:41 +0800
Subject:  CarlingNet Report

Man United v Leicester 15/08/98 3.00

Man United              (0) 2 Leicester               (1) 2 FT
Sheringham 79                 Heskey 7
Beckham 90                    Cottee 76

David Beckham scored a free-kick special three minutes into stoppage time of
this FA Carling Premiership opener to rescue Manchester United as they
grabbed a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.

The former champions were heading for defeat against Leicester when they
trailed 2-0 with only 12 minutes remaining.

But substitute Teddy Sheringham pulled one back with a glancing header from
Beckham's shot before the controversial England star scored a glorious
equaliser with a sweetly-struck 25-yard free-kick which gave Pegguy Arphexad
no chance.

It was a tremendous finale for the England midfielder, who has just signed a
new five-year contract at Old Trafford.

He was booed and cheered simultaneously every time he touched the ball, but
he ensured he had the final word with that terrific strike.

United's defending was shocking at times and after six minutes the visitors,
who won here 1-0 in January, took the lead through Emile Heskey.

Muzzy Izzet was allowed to run along the deadball line before pulling the
ball back for Heskey to poke it home from close range off the underside of
the bar.

Leicester almost had a second when former Red Robbie Savage's curled cross
came off Jaap Stam and went over the bar after Tony Cottee had missed it.

United's defence was in disarray and the Foxes carved out another chance,
this time down the left on 16 minutes, but Cottee carelessly shot over from
Steve Guppy's cross.

Then Izzet pounced on a misplaced pass, charged into the box and crossed
towards Heskey only for Denis Irwin to head clear.

United finally managed to fashion an opening after 27 minutes when Andy Cole
nodded the ball down on the edge of the area for Paul Scholes to miskick.

Beckham brought a diving save from Kasey Keller with a long-range drive.

Irwin then flashed a drive wide from just outside the box before a Giggs
cross was just centimetres too high for Cole's head.

Keller finally had something to do and he saved one point-blank effort from
Roy Keane before he held another shot straight at him from Ronny Johnsen.

Stam, who had been given the run around by Cottee in the first half, was
replaced by Henning Berg.

Cottee should have doubled Leicester's lead when he shot straight at
Schmeichel from close range and the reaction of his manager Martin O'Neill
made it clear that he should have done better.

Leicester were forced to reorganise at the back on the hour when Keller was
injured challenging Cole and had to be replaced by Arphexad.

On 75 minutes Leicester doubled their advantage when Cottee, who scored the
only goal here in January, popped up unmarked in the middle of the United
defence to head home Savage's right-wing cross.

United tried to fight back and Arphexad pushed Cole's shot into the side
netting after the striker had rounded the goalkeeper.

In the 78th minute United clawed themselves back into the match when
Sheringham, who had only replaced Gary Neville a minute earlier, got his
head to Beckham's shot.

In a frantic finale, Leicester could have had a third only for Schmeichel to
deny Heskey with a point-blank save.

But in the end United were not to be denied as Beckham produced another
piece of magic for his scrapbook.

Man United: Schmeichel, G. Neville (Sheringham, 77), Irwin, Johnsen, Stam
(Berg, 45), Beckham, Butt, Cole, Giggs, Keane, Scholes.

Subs not used: May, P. Neville, Culkin.

Booked: Sheringham.

Leicester: Keller (Arphexad, 61), Savage, Guppy, Sinclair, Elliott (Taggart,
89), Walsh, Izzet, Lennon, Zagorakis, Cottee (Wilson, 83), Heskey.

Subs not used: Kaamark, Parker.

Booked: Lennon, Guppy, Zagorakis.

Attendance: 55,052.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
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Date:         Sun, 16 Aug 1998 01:42:15 +0800
Subject:  TeamTALK Report

United kept with the same side that started the Charity Shield defeat
against Arsenal. Roy Keane made his first league start for nearly 11 months
with Peter Schmeichel relinquishing the captaincy to the Irishman.

Leicester gave Frank Sinclair his debut in a back three alongside Matt
Elliott and Steve Walsh.

Leicester came out attacking United and should have gone ahead after just
three minutes when Emile Heskey found himsef unmarked and should have done
much better.

Leicester continued to dominate the game and deservedly took the lead after
just six minutes. A good move down the right hand side saw Steve Guppy get
to the byline and his cross eventually found Heskey who miscued his shot but
saw his effort go in off the cross bar to the delight of the visiting fans.

City should have gone further ahead moments later when Savage found Tony
Cottee totally unmarked in the box and Jaap Stam recovered well to clear for
a corner.

Leicester were surprisingly controlling the midfield with Neil Lennon highly
influential and Guppy and Savage causing problems down the flanks.

United gradually came more into the game and chances for Giggs and Beckham
almost saw them getting back on level terms.

Shortly before half-time Roy Keane should have marked his comeback with a
goal following good work from Ronny Johnsen. The defender went down the
left, his cross found Andy Cole who laid the ball back for Keane but the
United skipper fired straight at Kasey Keller.

H-T 0-1

United brough Henning Berg on for the second half in place of record signing
Jaap Stam.

Good work down the left hand side saw Andy Cole get a good header in, but
Keller saved well.

Moments later Leicester could have doubled their lead when Savage again
caused problems for the United defence. With the goal at his mercy he opted
for squaring the ball for Cottee when a shot seemed the better option.
Schmeichel did well to read the cross and clear the danger.

Leicester received a blow in the 65th minute when Kasey Keller was forced
off the field with a thigh injury, following a collision in the City area.
Peggy Arphexad came on and immediately had to face a free-kick in a
dangerous area following a needless foul by Steve Guppy.

Leicester all but sealed the points in the 76th minute through Tony Cottee.
With the United defence all over the place Izzet played the ball wide for
Savage whose first time cross found Cottee unmarked in the area and the
striker made no mistake with a simple header.

United immediately brought on Teddy Sheringham and the England striker gave
the Old Trafford crowd hope when he pulled a goal back. Neil Lennon was
caught in midfield and after Cole chased down a back pass, the ball came to
Beckham whose shot was deflected home by Sheringham.

Matt Elliott was forced off the field with a cut head in the dying minutes,
Gerry Taggart coming on in his place.

David Beckham amazingly grabbed a last minute leveller with a tremendous
free-kick past Arphexad, to the delight of the home fans.
Check out our new REDitorial by Alex Paylor! url: http://www.red11.org/mufc/devilsadvocate/


Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 19:30:39 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Beckham SIGNS New Contract! (Mirror)

BECKHAM'S £7M TO STAY

DAVID Beckham yesterday pledged his future to Manchester United by signing a
new five-year contract.
The deal, worth around £7million, means Beckham is the last of the Old
Trafford superstars to sign long-term.

His extended contract takes him to the year 2003, when Beckham will be 28.

His signature ends wild speculation that he would go abroad to escape fans
furious about his World Cup sending-off.

There would have been no shortage of takers, with Italian giants Roma
desperate for him and Barcelona reported to have faxed a £15million bid.

But Beckham was always going to sign a new five-year deal, as exclusively
revealed in Mirror Sport three months ago. His heart belongs to United
despite the temptation to quit England for a new life with his Posh Spice
future wife Victoria.

He says: "I am delighted to commit myself to United on a long contract.

"This is where I grew up and where I want to stay. This is a great start to
a brand new season for me.

"This is a very special club with some very special players." Beckham now
joins an elite band committed to United for what could prove to be the rest
of their playing lives.

Ryan Giggs, Andy Cole, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Gary
and Phil Neville and now Jaap Stam have all signed between five- and
seven-year deals in the summer.

The glittering collection is now complete and boss Alex Ferguson says: "I am
really pleased. This obviously confirms United's intention to have all their
major players signed on long-term deals.

"It speaks very highly for our players' commitment to this club and United's
commitment to them and their futures."

Beckham can expect to run the gauntlet of abuse from some Leicester fans at
Old Trafford today, warns his friend Robbie Savage.

Beckham was booed every time he touched the ball during Sunday's Charity
Shield against Arsenal and Leicester midfielder Savage claims such treatment
is totally unjustified.

But the Wales international, who played alongside Beckham in United's youth
team, added: "I know that all the pubs around Leicester were full during the
World Cup and that some of the fans blame David for England going out. I
think that is a bit harsh and in my opinion I don't think he would have been
sent off for that in the Premiership.

"I think it's wrong for people to have a go because, despite the
sending-off, he is someone who has given his all for England.

"He's a great lad and I got on really well with him when I was at United and
it would be great if the fans did not give him stick - but I think some of
them will."

Savage intends to speak to Beckham before the kick-off to offer his support
to the under-fire star.

Martin O'Neill's side have become something of a bogey team for United and
in their five meetings over the past two years, the Reds have won just once.

Ferguson feels that is a testimony to Leicester's hard work and
organisation.

"Since they have come into the Premier Division they have done quite well
against all the teams," the United boss said.

"They play for each other and they put in a real team effort, which is the
sign of a good football team."
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Date:         Sat, 15 Aug 1998 18:12:26 +0200
Subject:      Beck's £6m United deal

Beck's £6m United deal
              Matt Lawton 

              David Beckham has ended fears
              that he may flee English football
              by signing a new five-year, £6
              million contract with Manchester
              United. 

              The 23-year-old midfielder began
              negotiating a new deal at the end
              of last season. But talk of a
              possible move to Italy started after
              Beckham was sent off during
              England's World Cup clash with
              Argentina in St Etienne.

              Such was the reaction of some
              fans who blamed him for
              England's exit from the tournament that even Beckham's father
              Ted warned he may have to leave United. 

              But Beckham has shown the character to rise above that and
              the abuse he can expect at away grounds this season. At
              Wembley on Sunday the booing and jeering by Arsenal fans
              was relatively tame, but there are concerns he will experience
              far worse at West Ham next weekend. 

              Beckham said last night: "I'm delighted to commit myself to the
              club long-term. This is where I grew up and where I want to
              stay. It's a great start to the new season for me because it's a
              special club with some very special players." 
Check out our new REDitorial by Alex Paylor! url: http://www.red11.org/mufc/devilsadvocate/


Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 19:30:35 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Cantona Started A Revolution 

CANTONA WAS DRIVING FORCE IN THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

FOR six years, the Premiership title has had a consistently French flavour -
and for that we can thank the pioneering influence of Eric Cantona.

Until he set foot on English soil, the impact France had made on football in
this country had been virtually non-existent.

But ever since he carried the torch for Leeds and then at Manchester United,
a small piece of the championship has belonged to France, a trend we
continued at Arsenal last season under Arsene Wenger.

And I can envisage this season's main contenders carrying the tricolour once
more.

When Cantona first came to this country, there was an uneasy relationship
between the English and the French.

But what he achieved at Manchester United was not only greatness in a modern
context, he also changed the mentality of English supporters towards the
French.

Before Cantona arrived at Leeds, most people over here seemed to think the
French were not strong enough, mentally and physically, to be taken
seriously at football. We were not regarded as winners. Not any longer,
though.

Since Cantona disappeared into the sunset with five championship medals, it
has become fashionable for the Premiership's big clubs to go shopping in
France.

And in 20 or 30 years, I would not be surprised if he was regarded in the
history books as the man who led French football's great cross-Channel
crusade. He raised the French flag over Old Trafford like those American
astronauts planted the Stars and Stripes on the moon.

What I resented, as I watched Cantona reach for the stars at United, was the
way his talent was never given such recognition in France.

I think it is sad that he had to go abroad for his own countrymen to realise
what a special talent he had. To an extent, I can relate to that.

I feel more appreciated at Arsenal than I did in French football, and
indifference to star quality is still a big problem in France. It doesn't
seem to matter whether you are good or bad, gifted or notorious - if you
stay somewhere for a long time in France, people consider you as part of the
furniture. They take you for granted.

But when I look at Tony Adams, David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn and
Steve Bould - all of whom have been at Highbury for years - they have
respect. Eric Cantona had to come to England to be respected.

I don't know whether the current trend for signing French players and
coaches is just a passing vogue, but I'm sure it's a sign that we are no
longer regarded as losers.

When you have won the Premiership, the FA Cup, the World Cup and the Charity
Shield inside three months, it is almost difficult to remember what losing
feels like - which is unhealthy.

By next May I would not be surprised if there was once again a French
flavour behind the winning combination.

Chelsea have signed Marcel Desailly to partner Frank Leboeuf in defence, and
they have landed one of the outstanding performers at the World Cup.

But I think Marcel will be a little surprised by the degree of fight and
power on the pitch.

If, for any reason, Arsenal don't retain the title, I hope Chelsea keep the
title in London.

It's harder for clubs in the capital to win the Premier League because we
have to play so many derbies.

Newcastle are another team to invest in one of my World Cup- winning
colleagues - striker Stephane Guivarc'h. As the man who wore our No.9 shirt,
he was under intolerable pressure to shoulder our scoring burden, even
though the 16 goals we hit were shared evenly around the team.

And Guivarc'h was given a hard time for missing three chances in the World
Cup final, although nobody gave him any credit for getting on the end of
them.

You don't score 42 goals in 18 months, as he did in French football, or
collect a World Cup winner's medal if you can't play, and I think he could
form one of the Premiership's most dangerous partnerships with Alan Shearer.

Liverpool have made the other significant signing from France this summer by
appointing Gerard Houllier as their joint manager.

I do not know much about Roy Evans' personality, but Houllier - who was my
French national coach five years ago - is the same kind of guy as Arsene
Wenger.

He is honest, loves his football and will not tolerate players who don't
give 100 per cent.

At Lens, he built a big club from modest foundations; at Liverpool, he could
restore a famous club to greatness.

Of the other French players on parade in the Premiership from today, I must
say I feel sorry for Tottenham's David Ginola that he was not involved with
the World Cup squad.

But I was sorry for my Highbury team-mate Nicolas Anelka, too.

Arsene Wenger believes that he is already the most powerful striker in
Europe, with the possible exception of Ronaldo.

Some of the things he does in training take your breath away. Look at the
way he took his goal against United in the Charity Shield and I'm sure you
will agree that French influence on the title is not exhausted yet by any
means.
Check out our new REDitorial by Alex Paylor! url: http://www.red11.org/mufc/devilsadvocate/


Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 19:30:30 +0200 (CEST)
Subject:  MUTV (Mirror)

YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO PUT YOUR WALLET AWAY. BUT...

HOW nice of Alex Ferguson to invite us into the Manchester United family via
MUTV, the club's very own television channel.

Or at least it would be if it were true. Sadly the digital TV venture has
nothing to do with family matters at Old Trafford, but everything to do with
exploiting yours. The invitation is not to see but to spend. In United's
case £4.99 a month. You can't grumble at that can you? A little over a pound
a week to see him indoors and his glorious dynasty. Marvellous value
wouldn't you say?

No, not really. Quite apart from the lack of live football coverage on
offer - Sky have that in the bag for a further three years - it is the
principle that offends.

The same one which asks families that can ill afford it to shell out every
season for little Johnny to have the latest replica shirt. And don't imagine
that £4.99 will include the cost of watching a live game when it eventually
becomes available. For that the poor fan will be asked to stump up more.

It is market forces claim the clubs. We do not make people buy our
merchandise but should they wish to, we give them the opportunity. It is the
same with the TV business. Already Manchester United and Spurs have taken TV
moguls Greg Dyke and Sam Chisholm on board.

The clubs will argue that if people do not want to subscribe, they do not
have to.

Try saying no to a child who knows nothing of market forces but everything
about his heroes. Children do not respond to reason but emotion. It is
precisely the emotional attachment to their heroes that clubs seek exploit.

United are not alone in their latest initiative. Most if not all Premiership
clubs will be on line when the digital TV explosion begins to revolutionise
our viewing habits in the autumn.

Digital technology simply means more channels. By Christmas there could be
30 digital TV channels available from terrestrial broadcasters and hundreds
more on satellite.

The commercial opportunities are obvious. Sky's current deal is worth £670
million over five years with the top clubs netting about £8 million each
last year.

Digital TV offers the prospect of doubling that, with fans ultimately able
to select for a fee a Premiership match of their choice. This is why
Manchester United have given us MUTV. Not to treat the fans to tit-bits from
the United family table but to establish a medium for delivering matches
live for cash.

The upshot of all this will be the further erosion of the traditional
relationship between supporter and club, clearly at an all-time low.

According to analysts Mintel, 40% of fans believe clubs are ripping off
supporters. The clubs of course do not care. Blinded as they are by greed,
they cannot see the long-term consequences.

When the corporate classes currently knocking down the doors of Premiership
clubs get fed up or are no longer prepared to pay the going rate for a box
or season ticket, the traditional fan may have been lost for good.

Market forces are all right when the product is selling but they have a
chilling way of biting back when the urge for profit is not matched by the
desire to pay.

You can not bull the market, Margaret Thatcher once said. For market read
fans. United and the rest be warned.
Check out our new REDitorial by Alex Paylor! url: http://www.red11.org/mufc/devilsadvocate/


Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 19:30:22 +0200 (CEST)
Subject:  Ray Woods' Widow Lashes Out At United (D.Mail)

Manchester United 'treated us like vermin'
By Nigel Clarke
Friday, August 14, 1998

For just over 40 years, Elizabeth Wood has lived a life that has been ripped
apart by mental torment and tragedy.

Even now, as she sits in her modest ground-floor flat in West London, she
can still see in her mind the apocalypse that was the Munich Air Crash. She
can hear the screams of the dying and the terribly injured.

It has eaten away at her good humour and remarkable resilience, affecting
her health so badly that she needs the support of a day-to-day carer. But it
has also given her an awesome inner strength to seek justice for those she
feels were betrayed.

Hers is a compelling need to bring Manchester United, one of the giants of
English football, to its knees in supplication. She believes the club has
failed in its duty to the bereaved.

Elizabeth is the former wife of Ray Wood, the goalkeeper severely injured in
the disaster that claimed eight of the Busby Babes in a death toll of 21.

She is now divorced, but for three-and-a-half years she has campaigned
tirelessly to prompt the club to raise money for the families whose lives
were torn asunder.

You might think that next Tuesday will be her red letter day, because then
she will witness the harvest of her labours, with United holding a
testimonial at Old Trafford. Sadly, she does not see it this way.

For United are still prevaricating on whether they should underwrite the
expenses for the special game, in which Eric Cantona plans to make a
farewell appearance.

So far the club are refusing to contribute to the costs of the two teams, so
the fund will have to meet expenses from ground receipts received from what
will be a sell-out attendance.

'We just want the club to give the game some dignity,' explains Elizabeth.
'Offer some recognition to those who died, who gave their lives for
Manchester United, and yet gave birth to a legend.

'It is unheard of for anyone to take out one penny from a testimonial match.
That's why it hurts so much.'

Elizabeth is unsure whether she will be going to Old Trafford. United have
sent her train tickets for herself and her carer but as yet she doesn't know
whether she will be sitting in the directors' box with all the 'grandees' or
if she will be staying in a different hotel from them.

'Where they decide to put me will decide if I attend or not,' she smiles.
'But why shouldn't I go? I am every bit as good as them and if it wasn't for
me getting involved, this game would never have got off the ground.'

She has no axe to grind with manager Alex Ferguson and admires what he does
and what he stands for. But she is perplexed that a national institution
like United - it allegedly raked in close to £90million last year- should be
so reluctant to give financial assistance to the fallen heroes and their
families.

Now, the dependents claim that the club, as a public company, should make up
for the policy of its predecessors. So far, it appears, it is only prepared
to donate profits from the sale of food and drink.

Elizabeth adds: 'What the plc is doing is immoral, leaving us as just the
rubbish, simple vermin. And as for Eric Cantona it was his decision to
retire.

'Suddenly the game has become the Cantona road show, while the survivors of
the crash are like dancing bears at a circus.'

Any money raised for dependents of the disaster victims will come
principally from the pockets of the supporters and Elizabeth adds: 'I don't
want to forget but at the same time I don't want to be bitter. If United
were a small club perhaps I could understand it more, but they are preaching
double standards, and it's a total injustice.

'I will always be proud to be associated with the Busby Babes, they made
Manchester United the club they are today. They began the whole grand
story.'

Elizabeth, 63, an avid reader, art critic, and writer, has Rudyard Kipling's
poem If on the wall of her cluttered study, which is crammed with beautiful
pictures and photographs of the Babes.

There are also line drawings of two daughters. They provide the link that
inexorably binds her to Ray. But even the memory of this association is
tainted by tragedy. A son, conceived in the Munich hotel in which she stayed
while spending weeks watching over her husband's recovery, was stillborn.
'The doctors said my nervous system couldn't cope,' she explains.

Nevertheless, Elizabeth Wood is a woman who copes very well with crisis. She
suffers from spondolitis (curvature of the spine) and osteo-arthritis, yet
she still finds time to care for others (she is wearing a black ribbon to
commemorate the approaching anniversary of Princess Diana's death).

With her disability precluding her from any form of work other than
attempting to wring justice from United, she finds herself overdrawn at the
bank and being pressed for repayment.

She explains: 'I dropped a line to Martin Edwards of United, asking him if
it was possible to have a couple of thousand in advance to meet my
commitments. He said it was not club policy.'

Everything about her struggle in life has its roots in Munich. Her husband's
injuries, including a massive blow to the head, sent him into such mood
swings he would lash out in frustration.

She adds: 'Then he walked out on us and disappeared for four years. Even
now, 21 years on, my blood still runs cold when I think of the financial
implications. I had to work like a dog to continue my children's education.
Ray wouldn't consider counselling and he would just suddenly scream out,
venting his anger on his nearest and dearest. Why didn't I walk out? Someone
had to look after him.

'But it destroyed my life, too. My faith saw me through, plus the fact that
I believed that you have to make the best of any marriage.

'You never get over a tragedy and Munich to me is as clear and imprinted in
my mind as if it had happened yesterday.

'It's not just me that has been affected. Other players' families have been
torn apart, yet all these years and not a penny from United to help ease the
suffering.

'Now it appears all expenses for this game have to come from the fund, even
the policing. It would have been a gesture if the club had offered to put
their hands in their pockets as a show of appreciation.

'But they believe they have no financial or moral obligation for the Munich
disaster. I would not agree. Everyone connected with the game receives
enormous salaries, even complete strangers whose lives have not been damaged
by Munich.

'They still have their careers and loved ones. Any of these people could
surely contribute to the fund and, with the millions in football today,
hardly notice it. But the ones who have suffered for over 40 years have not
got anything.

'I saw those terrible scenes in the hospital after the crash. I stayed by
Ray's bed for eight weeks. I was there when Duncan Edwards, a beautiful boy
who at home kept his money in a tin biscuit box, died.

'I was there, too, when the nursing staff had to open a hole in Sir Matt
Busby's back to draw the fluid off his lungs. I heard his terrible
screaming.

'Ray would ask me every day who was the next to have died. I have never seen
such suffering, it was awful. That's why I suppose I am so fired up for
justice.

'The then chairman Louis Edwards came out to see us after three or four
days. I remember he took myself and some of the other wives out one evening,
to a nightclub of all places. There was a stripper there doing her stuff,
and he pinged the elastic on her suspenders.

'The airline flew us out and gave us daily expenses. Even my local priest
offered financial help - but there was nothing from United. Somehow I feel I
have never been alone in what I have been attempting to achieve for the
survivors and their families.'

She adds: 'Something keeps pushing me on, I won't stop and I can't. I
couldn't bear to live with the thought that I knew so much of what went on
but never opened my mouth.

'I am a Leo by birth sign and I'm roaring my head off because I want justice
for all of us who have suffered for so long.

'Ray has another woman now but we are still in contact. He's a nice man
really, but everything began to go wrong after Munich. It was like throwing
a pebble in the water, the ripples just spread and spread.

'But I never found anyone to equal him. And we still have a bond of
affection. The two girls are besotted with him.

'I always suggest you should look at life though the eyes of a child, that's
why I still believe if something is worthwhile, it's never to late to do
something about it.

United have handled things so badly that some of the survivors and their
families want nothing to do with Tuesday's match. I began to realise that
shortly after the memorial service in February, but by then the campaign was
up and running.

'I'm not sure that Ray wants me at the match but I feel I have every right
to attend. If I have offended anyone with my ampaign then I can only
apologise.

'But more than anything I am concerned about getting the right kind of
compensation those families deserve. And as much as possible, so they
receive what they should have got years ago. Forty years is a long time to
wait. I'm right, aren't I?'
Check out our new REDitorial by Alex Paylor! url: http://www.red11.org/mufc/devilsadvocate/


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