Beardsmore forever etched in United folklore with goal that sank arch-rivals Liverpool

TO CEMENT your place in Manchester United folklore usually takes longer than seven minutes.

But that’s all winger Russell Beardsmore needed to grab a slice of Old Trafford history, masterminding a famous 3-1 win against Liverpool on New Year’s Day in 1989.

Those were the early years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign, when sustained success was just a pipe dream for United’s army of longsuffering fans.

During those barren years Ferguson’s vision never wavered. But he needed to buy himself time, and as an injury crisis gripped his squad during the 1988-89 season he turned to a crop of youngsters – known forever as Fergie’s Fledglings.

Challenge

Wigan-born apprentice Beardsmore was a Fledglings founder member, with the Class of ’92 just a twinkle in Fergie’s eye.

Together with winger Lee Sharpe, striker Mark Robins and 1990 FA Cup Final hero Lee Martin, Beardsmore rose to the challenge to create a shaft of light at Old Trafford.

And it never shone brighter for him than that day 31 years ago.

Beardsmore recalls: “I’d made my debut earlier that season against West Ham, but by the time the Liverpool game came around I had only played six games.

“It was just luck I played because there was an injury crisis. Gordan Strachan had pulled a hamstring, and other injuries meant Sharpey and Lee also played.

“The boss thought we were good enough, so it was sink or swim. Liverpool were champions and going for the title again, so they were big favourites.

“In those days Fergie was terrifying for a young lad like me. He would joke and be a prankster in the week but on match days he was tense and incredibly focused.

“Before the game he drummed it into me and right-back Mal Donaghy to make sure we showed John Barnes inside on his right foot if he attacked our box. “After 70 minutes it was still 0-0 when Barnes picked up the ball. Mal and I showed him on to his right foot but he picked out the top bin with a curling finish past Jim Leighton.” But the next seven minutes saw United storm back for a win that rocked Kenny Dalglish and his champions. First, Beardsmore jinked past three defenders, crossing for Brian Mcclair to score with a volley.

Then Mark Hughes fired past keeper Mike Hooper to put United ahead, before Beardsmore volleyed home the clincher in front of a rapturous Stretford End. “It was a whirlwind, the game turned on its head in those seven minutes.

The noise was deafening,” said Beardsmore.

“We were all ecstatic but there was no celebration. We jumped straight on the team coach because we were playing at Middlesbrough the next day.

“I’d run so hard I could hardly get out of bed next morning. I played an hour but we lost 1-0, so the euphoria of the Liverpool win had completely gone.”

Beardsmore played 73 games under Ferguson but never managed to carve out the United career enjoyed by many of the stars of that day like Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Hughes and Mcclair.

He says: “That summer after representing England Under-21s I went on holiday to France.

“I remember getting a paper and seeing a picture of Neil Webb, Danny Wallace and Mike Phelan all smiling having just signed for United. Then Paul Ince signed a couple of months later.

Emerging

“Just when you think you’re doing well they make four big midfield signings. Ryan Giggs was emerging too and Andrei Kanchelskis joined a couple of years later, but I loved my time there.”

After leaving in 1993 Beardsmore played more than 200 games for Bournemouth before a back injury ended his career at 29.

Now he works for United’s Foundation and as a match-day hospitality ambassador.

“They were great days,” he said. “I still bump into Sir Alex at Old Trafford and he sometimes sends a message to see him in his office.

“Even now at 51 I’m worried I’ve done something wrong! He loves to chat with his former players, and not just the Beckhams either – we’re all his lads still.”