Sir Alex Ferguson missed train to Man Utd match because he was watching horseracing – then FINED his staff week’s wages
SIR ALEX FERGUSON missed his train while watching the horse races and rode out with his own staff.
The Manchester United coaching legend was famous for having ‘Fergie Time’ but it seemed he didn’t keep track when he missed the train to an away game.
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Fergie’s former right-hand man Rene Meulensteen recalled the Scot’s Howler in his new book Sir Alex and I.
He said: “When we traveled away to Premier League games, we would always set off the day before in the afternoon, having trained in the morning.”
“We used to board the train in Wilmslow, where we had two first-class cars to ourselves. I always shared a table with the boss who sat across from me and Simon Wells who sat next to me.”
“That day, however, we were to depart from Macclesfield station. Normally the boss and I would share a ride, but not this time.
“While I was waiting at the station I didn’t see him anywhere, so I figured he had jumped up somewhere else. When I got on the train, only Simon was sitting in his seat. ,Where is the boss?’ I asked. ,No idea.'”
And nobody had any idea where Sir Alex was until they got a call from the man himself.
But even though the incident was entirely his fault, he still ended up having to fine the staff a week’s wages.
Rene explained: “Then Albert, the equipment man’s phone rang. It was the boss! ‘Albert, where the hell are you?!’ “We’re on our way to London, boss, where are you?” he yelled over the phone.
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“‘I missed the bloody train in the car park at Macclesfield Station!’
“I was watching the horse race on my phone and forgot what time it was!” We were all in high spirits, but the boss was less amused, as we later found out over dinner.
“‘They’ll all be fined a week’s wages.’ So we all assumed that the horse hadn’t won either. But we all laughed a lot about it.”
Ferguson spent 27 years at the helm of Manchester United, including six with Rene at his side.
Together, the two won four Premier League trophies and one Champions League title.
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