MANCHESTER UNITED – SIGNED PROGRAMME. Sir Alex Ferguson & 12 Manchester United Players. Manchester United v Coventry City, 29 April 1989.

Manchester United Football Club, United Review, Season 1988–89, Vol. 50, No. 25. Official match programme for Manchester United v Coventry City, Old Trafford, Saturday 29 April 1989, 60p. Illustrated throughout in colour and monochrome. Very fine condition.

An exceptional association copy, signed by manager Sir Alex Ferguson and twelve Manchester United players of the period: Bryan Robson, Paul McGrath, Jim Leighton, Lee Sharpe, Lee Martin, Viv Anderson, Mike Duxbury, Brian McClair, Billy Garton, Mal Donaghy, Ralph Milne and Mark Robins. The signatures are boldly executed in blue ink across the rear Sharp advertisement, providing an unusually concentrated collection of autographs from Ferguson’s early years at Old Trafford.

A particularly appealing piece of pre-Premier League Manchester United memorabilia, dating from a pivotal period in the club’s modern history. Ferguson was still building the side that would shortly deliver his first major trophy at United, the 1990 F.A. Cup, and ultimately inaugurate the club’s extraordinary era of dominance. The presence of captain Bryan Robson, together with McGrath, McClair, Anderson, Leighton, Sharpe and the young Mark Robins, whose famous 1990 F.A. Cup goal against Nottingham Forest would become closely associated with the turning point in Ferguson’s United career, makes this a highly desirable multi-signed contemporary programme.

[WR sport]