I OWE MY CAREER TO HUDDERSFIELD
United legend Law is back where it all began
DENIS LAW gripped the cuff of his shirt, raising it towards the heavens in a trademark goal celebration to close the curtain on a fabulous Manchester United era.
It was October 1971 and a 3-0 win at Huddersfield, where it had all started for the ‘Lawman’, had seen George Best, Bobby Charlton and Law all score. It was the last time Old Trafford’s ‘Holy Trinity’ would all feature on the same scoresheet.
Today Law (right, as a kid) will be Huddersfield Town’s guest of honour as David Wagner’s side face United, one of the rewards for the Yorkshire club’s shock promotion back to the big time.
Law, now 77, is taken aback by the coincidence as the past comes face to face with the present.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? The last time Best, Law, Charlton all scored in a game. Oh dear. That is amazing considering my links with Huddersfield and the fact I’ll be there on Saturday,” the Scot said.
What United fans would give now for another glimpse of some of the exhilarating football served up when Law and his co-tormentors were in their pomp.
“I was very lucky I played with some great players,” he went on.
“When you have players like George Best, Bobby Charlton and Pat Crerand, it helps.”
The attacking ethos was drummed into a 16-year-old homesick boy from Aberdeen by Bill Shankly, who moved up from being Andy Beattie’s No.2 to become Huddersfield manager, Law having been lured south 12 months earlier.
“Bill Shankly and Matt Busby shared the same beliefs – as did Alex Ferguson,” said Law. “They wanted to entertain the people. Their mandate was the right one. If the opposition score four goals that’s okay – as long as we score five.”
Times have changed, concedes Law, who isn’t a regular visitor to Premier League grounds these days.
Asked about United under Jose Mourinho he said: “He’s got the results they require. He has a terrific record. He does it his way and that’s why United got him.
“In today’s football there seems to be an obsession with statistics, passing accuracy and all that. I get frustrated at times when they keep passing the ball backwards and sideways.”
United’s 1-0 Champions League win at Benfica on Wednesday night conjures up images of George Best arriving at Manchester Airport complete with sombrero after being christened ‘El Beatle’ following his mesmerising performance in United’s 5-1 European Cup victory in the Stadium Of Light back in 1966.
“How we miss George. Not only was he a great player but he was a great friend of mine, someone I miss to this day,” Law said. “You’ve got Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi but you’ve also got George Best. Me? I was a hanger-on!” Take a glimpse of a 13-minute montage on YouTube of Law’s prowess, not only as a prolific goalscorer but also a mercurial footballer, and you will dispute that claim.
Now Law (below, scoring in his pomp against Crystal Palace) can’t wait to renew old acquaintances and make new ones, including Huddersfield boss Wagner.
“I owe my career to Huddersfield,” he added. “When I came down from Aberdeen as a boy of 15 I had never heard of Huddersfield. “Every time I went home to Aberdeen I would say I wasn’t going back. Don’t forget it wasn’t easy to travel between the two places. It was something like 11 hours on the train, which also involved a couple of changes.”
One planned return involved an operation to repair his right eye.
Law explained: “I had a squint in my right eye from the age of five. When I played football I had to close the eye otherwise you’d have people shouting things at you like ‘you cock-eyed so and so.’ Playing with glasses wasn’t recommended when you were heading the ball.
“I always felt embarrassed with the squint so it was better to close it. But thankfully I was able to have an operation.
“A week later after the bandages were taken off I was told it had been a success.
“My life was changed completely. After 10 years of abuse from other schoolkids it was just wonderful to be normal.”
Not that many opposition defenders would agree with the normal bit as Law ran them ragged.