UNITED’S FIRST SUB FITZPATRICK DIES

JOHN FITZPATRICK, who died yesterday at the age of 74, will go down in history as the first substitute used in a League match by Manchester United. In fact, only six of Fitzpatrick’s 147 appearances for United in the 1960s and early 1970s came off the bench. Aberdeen-born Fitzpatrick (right) was an uncompromising player who was equally comfortable in defence e or midfield. He came through the club’s youth system with his close friend George Best and they won the FA Youth Cup together in 1964. He went into the record books the next season when he replaced Denis Law in i a 5-1 defeat by Tottenham at White Hart Lane. The first of his 10 goals for United was also against Spurs at Old Trafford three years later. Fitzpatrick played twice in the successful 1968 European Cup-winning campaign — against Sarajevo and a fine display in freezing conditions away to Polish club Gornik Zabrze in the quarter-finals. He became a regular in 1970-71 after replacing Shay Brennan at full back, but was forced into early retirement at the age of 26 due to a knee injury. Fitzpatrick returned to Scotlan Scotland and became a wine merchant. But he wa was diagnosed with Al Alzheimer’s, joining a gr growing number of United players from th that era to suffer with de dementia. No Nobby Stiles and Tony Dun Dunne passed away this year, w while Sir Bobby Charlton’s lt ’ family confirmed his diagnosis last month. United offered their condolences to Fitzpatrick’s family yesterday and his team-mate Alex Stepney paid tribute on social media. ‘John was a fantastic man and a terrific footballer,’ wrote the former United goalkeeper. ‘RIP John, one of the good guys, all my love to family.’