August 16 - Irwin Injured In His Own Testimonial

FOR all the superstars of Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering United team of the 1990s, one of the quieter members of the squad was just as important to the club’s success as Cantona, Beckham and Giggs.

It was on this day in 2000 that full-back Denis Irwin was rewarded for his service to Manchester United with a testimonial match against local rivals Man City.

Perhaps City boss Joe Royle forgot to tell his charges that the game was only a friendly, as a rather robust challenge from City’s George Weah led to Irwin having to be stretchered off from his own match.

Happy at either left back or right back, Irwin began his career at Leeds but was released at the age of 20. Joe Royle was managing Oldham at the time and took Irwin to Boundary Park, before Alex Ferguson paid £650,000 for his services.

In a trophy packed stay at Old Trafford Irwin won seven championship medals, three FA Cups, one League Cup, the Champions League and the Cup Winners Cup in 529 United appearances.

Luckily the injury he picked up from his testimonial was not enough to keep a good man down, and he went on to play for two more seasons for United, before a last hurrah at Wolves, who he helped gain promotion to the Premiership in 2003.

If you have five minutes, and more importantly the inclination, there is a rather long tribute to him below:

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