‘He’ll regret it’: The day Alex Ferguson quit Aberdeen for Manchester United

The story of Ferguson’s defection to the English First Division on 6 November 1986 was broken by BBC Scotland football broadcaster Roddy Forsyth.

He had been tasked by his editor to head to Aberdeen to find out more about rumours that the Dons boss was in talks with Manchester United.

The flight he boarded in Glasgow was filled with journalists – but most were heading north to cover the Chinook helicopter disaster in Shetland in which 43 people died.

Once in Aberdeen, Forsyth eventually tracked Ferguson and the United chairman Martin Edwards down in an airport hotel.

He had called by chance asking to “speak to a Mr Edwards from Manchester”.

The receptionist told him he was seated in the restaurant area.

“I heard some voices and made my way to them,” Forsyth said.

“There was Martin Edwards and Alex Ferguson, and I said ‘are you the new manager of Manchester United?’ and he said ‘yes’.

“They had a bottle of champagne which they were drinking and Fergie poured me a little champagne in a wine glass, and I toasted him as the new manager.”

After a brief conversation, Forsyth got in touch with his newsroom confirming the story.