Gordon McQueen - The Manchester United Giant

The enmity between Manchester United and Leeds United may very well originate from the War of the Roses, but in soccer terms the Roses rivalry started back in the swinging sixties 1960 when Leeds United were led by Don Revie and Manchester United by Sir Matt Busby.

Kilbirnie born Gordon McQueen began his soccer career at St. Mirren who signed him as a 18 year old. Impressed by the hard working youngster, Leeds United manager Don Revie eventually lured him to the high flying Yorkshire club for ?30,000 in 1973. The Scottish stopper quickly managed to establish himself in the first team at Elland Road and he was a regular member of the vastly talented Leeds United side that went on to win the League Championship in 1974. However, following Revie's departure to manage the England team, Leeds were declining and hatred between the Elland Road players started to bubble over.

Brought to Manchester Utd by new manager Dave Sexton for ?495,000 in February 1978, the Scotland international became one of the first well known Leeds United players to sign for the Lancashire club. At Old Trafford, Gordon McQueen linked up with former Elland Road team mate Joe Jordan who had made the switch from Leeds United to Manchester United only a few weeks before. Evidently, Leeds United selling two of their biggest stars to old rivals Manchester United did not go down well with the Elland Road faithful. Incurring the wrath of the Leeds supporters, the two players were targeted with booing every time they were appearing against their old club.

While at Old Trafford, Gordon McQueen helped Manchester Utd win the FA Cup final in 1983 after a replay against Brighton and Hove Albion. A rough and rugged player, McQueen went on to make a total of 184 first class appearances for the Reds. The blond giant stayed at United until 1985 when he finally announced his retirement from the game because of persistent injuries.

Eventually going into soccer management, he took over the helm at Scottish club Airdrieoninans in 1987. Known for his brilliance in the air, Gordon McQueen won 30 full caps for his native country after making his first appearance for Scotland against Belgium in 1974.

"But Manchester United are Manchester United. They are the bigger of the two clubs, and always will be. Even going from a place like Leeds, with all their household names, you noticed a huge difference. Manchester United weren't the best, but they were the biggest." Gordon McQueen quote.

United Blog Articles is a website dedicated to Manchester United Football Club. Soccer is undoubtedly the most accepted sport in the world. And it is most likely no more than fair to say that the Man Utd is the most popular club world wide. Read supplementary articles on Gordon McQueen at UnitedBlogArticles.com

Teddy Sheringham - Manchester United Legend

Teddy Sheringham is thought by many to be one of Manchester United's best signings after arriving at the club in 1997. United legend Eric Cantona had just left the Reds after his shock decision to retire from football, and at 31 years of age, Sheringham certainly had a tough act to follow.

Unfortunately Sheringham didn't make the best of starts for Manchester United, following his ?3.5 million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur, it was Spurs that he faced as he made his debut for the Reds. Constantly jeered throughout the game by the White Hart Lane crowd, Sheringham took a penalty, a role he had assumed from Cantona, but he missed the spot kick, much to the delight of the home fans, although United went onto to win the game with two late goals.

During his first year at the club, the 1997-98 season finished without a trophy for United, although Sheringham scored 14 goals during the season.

At the beginning of the 1998-99 season there was much speculation that Sheringham would leave the club after United signed Dwight Yorke from Aston Villa. Although he remained at the club, his first team opportunities were limited, although he did make enough appearances to secure a league title winners medal as the Reds secured the Premier League title, Sheringham scored 5 goals despite his limited appearances.

After a mediocre season, no-one could have anticipated the impact Sheringham would make as United went onto to clinch an amazing treble. After beating Arsenal to the League title by a single point, United faced Newcastle in the FA Cup Final and although initially starting on the substitutes bench, Sheringham was called to replace the injured Roy Keane after just eight minutes. Within 90 seconds of coming onto the pitch he scored United's first goal and they eventually won the game 2-0 to secure their second trophy of the season.

Sheringham again started on the bench for the Champions League Final against Bayern Munich, after trailing for much of the game 1-0, he scored a crucial equaliser one minute into injury time at the end of the game, United went onto to win 2-1 in one of the most memorable nights in their history. As the Reds secured an amazing treble, Sheringham had secured his first winners medals of his career.

Along with strikers Ole Solskjaer, Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, during the 1999-2000 season Manchester United had the most formidable strike force in the country, as they went onto to win the Premier league by 18 points and scored 97 goals during the process.

The 2000-01 season Sheringham scored 15 goals in 29 league games, as United secured their third consecutive Premier league title, even at the age of 35 his impressive form continued consistently throughout the season and he was rewarded with the Player of the year award.

The signing of Ruud Van Nistelrooy signalled the end of Teddy Sheringham's Manchester United career and he returned to Tottenham on a free transfer, after 104 appearances and scoring 31 goals for the Reds, he had become a true United legend.

Steve Goodwin is an expert author, football fan and retailer of Manchester United football merchandise which are available from the man united shop all items are available to ship worldwide.