Fergie fever as 10,000 queue for hero
HE may have fallen out with some of his biggest stars but Sir Alex Ferguson went into extra time to keep thousands of fans happy yesterday.
Manchester United’s legendary ex- manager had been scheduled to spend two hours signing copies of his new autobiography at a Tesco Extra store just half a mile from the club’s ground, Old Trafford.
But as Fergie fever erupted, 71- year- old Sir Alex ended up staying for more than six hours.
Up to 10,000 loyal supporters queued to meet their hero. Hundreds had camped outside the store overnight.
Some overseas Man United fans had flown in from as far afield as the Far East.
Others headed straight to the store after the team’s Champions League home win against Spain’s Real Sociedad on Wednesday night.
Fergie’s book My Autobiography lifts the lid on his behind- the- scenes feuds with top players including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Roy Keane.
The fiery Scotsman tells how he unleashed his ferocious “hairdryer” tirades in the dressing room to keep his stars in line. But now Ferguson has shown a more kind- hearted
Booked... Sir Alex at the signing event yesterday side – by saving one woman from having to queue for 35 hours to meet him.
Sharon Warwick, 41, began camping outside the store at midnight on Tuesday.
But after hearing about Sharon’s devotion to the cause, Ferguson turned up at 6.30pm on Wednesday so she could return home early to Colwyn Bay, north Wales.
Sharon wanted the signed copy for her mother Susan Threlfall, described as Fergie’s number one fan.
Sharon said Fergie’s retirement earlier this year was “like a bereavement” for her mother, adding: “It’s a huge loss to her.”
Nicola Fay, 38, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, who was near the front of the queue, said: “The book is for a friend of mine who lives in Thailand and is a big Man United fan too. I’m queuing for him.
“I got here at 7.30pm and the place was already buzzing. I bought a quilt from Tesco and even managed to get a few hours sleep.”
Another fan, Mark Wood, 34, of Audenshaw, Greater Manchester, said his five- hour wait for Fergie was “worth every minute”. He added: “We had a nice little chat. I said to him, ‘ You’ve been told a thousand times, but thanks for everything you have done’. He said, ‘ It’s a pleasure’.”
The event was Ferguson’s sole UK book signing. Tesco book buyer Hazel Powell said: “The turnout has been fantastic. It’s the biggest crowd we’ve ever had for a book signing.
“There has been a lot of excitement. The book is being talked about by football fans across the world.” Sharon Warwick, left, was first in the queue, above. She had been prepared to wait for 35 hours, but was spared when Fergie took pity on her