Lee Sharpe

[rondwisan]

Mark Graham was recently given the opportunity to interview, Ex Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe before a recent Guest Speaker Dinner speech in our local area of Whitehaven, Cumbria.

The event was held at local football team, Whitehaven Amateurs ground & club house to raise funds for Cancer Research.

The event was a success & raised in excess of £1,500 pounds.
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[Interview] Lee Sharpe
mufcinfo.com, Mark Graham - Aug 2009

http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/articles/article_images/lee_sharpe_interview/editor_lee_sharpe.jpg

Transferred from Torquay United in 1988 for £185,000, how did the transfer come about?
An old Man U scout who is retired now had spotted me playing on the left of attack for Torquay & alerted United.

You made your United debut against West Ham United on the 24th September 1988 at Old Trafford, what can you remember about the atmosphere & overall feel of making your debut.
I actually played before that game I think against against Newcastle United in a Centenary Cup match, I had played nearly two hours of football prior to that."

I was warned by the manager about a player called Mark Ward who was a real tough character who was on my side of the field, I also remember it being very hot & the atmosphere was impressive especially with the with the old style terracing back then.

Can you remember the scorers?
"Id say....Brian McClair?"

No it was his partner
"Mark Hughes"

The other scorer's a bit more difficult, it was Peter Davenport.

Your first senior goal for the Reds came after battering Millwall 5-1 in September 1989 at Old Trafford, what can you remember about your goal?
It was a right foot shot, which had ricocheted into my path

1991 saw you win your 1st Trophy with Manchester United after a 2-1 victory of Barcelona in Rotterdam, you played the game on the left of attack, what do you remember?
It was one of those old style European nights, with red flares & smoke, massive flags & two thirds of the Stadium were Man U fans.

Were you nervous?, do players actually still get nerves even though they put themselves through the same scenario time & again?
Yeah. I was nervous. It really depends on the type of person you are to be honest, you'll find the likes of Steve Bruce, Robbo and that sort of player don't get nervous, but I remember Gazza (Paul Gascoigne) he used to.

Who was the greatest player that you ever played along side of?
It would have to be Bryan Robson, he could tackle, score, pass, play box to box, and with me being a Aston Villa fan (great season last season by the way) I didn't really appreciate what he could do as my hero's were Villa orientated, but when I joined United and saw what he was all about, I then had no doubts, a fantastic player.

Who was the greatest player that you ever played against?
Gazza (Paul Gascoigne).

What would be a true reflection of the famous SAF turning up on your doorstep saga?
It wasn't even a party, we were actually getting ready to go out for the night & by chance one of Giggsy's mates went to answer the door with hte only two bottle of beer in the whole house. When the manager then saw an apprentice wandering in the background with his shirt off & the beer bottles, the apprentice he was actually looking for an ironing board, the manager then cleared the house & gave us all a telling off, a telling off which continued in the office and training & for a few days after that.

http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/articles/article_images/lee_sharpe_interview/lee_sharpe_elvis.jpg

Where did the idea come from for your goal celebrations?
It was just spontaneous, with the Arsenal hat trick & scoring at Goodison happening only a few days later. I remember the Goodison pitch being really dry & Paul Ince telling me to watch I don't injure myself sliding on my knees.

I'll put you on the spot now, how many games & goals do you think you played & scored for United?
260 something games

We have you down as 263, that's including Charity Shield matches, which apparently the FA count as a competitive match now.

What about the goals then?
35?

nearly its thirty six

Of the thirty six, What goal is your personal favourite?
The back heel against Barcelona.

mine to
Yeah.. it think as well with the importance of Man U not being beaten at home in Europe for 40 years.

I heard a story once that a female fan used to send you chocolate bars in the post as fan mail?
yes....It wasn't just chocolate, there were other things

What like, was it down to the heart throb status sort of thing?
I think so, she used to send dog chews for my two dogs

Dog chews?, what sort of dogs did you have?
I had two Bull Dogs, called them Bonnie & Clyde.

http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/articles/article_images/lee_sharpe_interview/lee_sharpe_masters.jpg

What is Lee Sharpe doing at the moment?
I'm actually playing football tomorrow (Saturday) in Manchester in the Masters Football.

Good luck with that, any team mates we might know?
There's Keith Gillespie, keeper Fraser Digby, he was a United apprentice, played at Swindon, Giuliano Maiorana, do you remember Giuliano?

Yeah, I remember, didn't see him play but I was searching our archives @ MUFCINFO to determine what nationality he was for a project I was doing, an Englishman contrary to his name.
I actually played a match in Cambridge not so long a go for Charity for Giuliano after his father had passed away, There's also Andrei Kanchelskis & Clayton Blackmore.

Good luck with that then, you partake in a bit of golf with Gary Pallister don't you?
I play a bit with Pally.

Who's the better player
Clayton Blackmore's the best

What's your handicap?
mine, its about 6, Clayton's is about 3.

What's Mr Pallisters then?
12, but he's getting better.


source :
http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/articles/article_pages/lee_sharpe_interview.shtml

[Red Army]

inget Lee Sharpe, jadinya inget almarhumah Sylvia yg cinta United gara2 liat kegantengannya Sharpe...hehehe

[rondwisan]

27/03/2011 21:44 - ManUtd.com, Tony Bugby, Steve Bibby
Red memories: Lee Sharpe


The ex-winger recalls his United career from his arrival in 1988 to his exit in 1996...

My transfer: One of United’s former scouts was living in retirement in Torquay and came to some of our games. He alerted Alex Ferguson who, along with assistant manager Archie Knox , came to watch one of our matches on a Friday night [the story goes they attended in disguise to avoid being detected]. After the match they took our manager Cyril Knowles out for a drive and refused to leave the town until they had met me, which happened the next morning. [Lee signed for the club from Torquay United in June 1988, aged 17.]

I had two United debuts. The first could be loosely described as an unofficial game, as we played Newcastle at Old Trafford in the semi-finals of the Mercantile Centenary Credit Trophy [21 September 1988], a competition to mark the Football League’s 100th anniversary. The game went to extra time before we won 2-0. Three days later, I made my league debut in a 2-0 victory against West Ham, also at Old Trafford, so I had a lot of football that week.

My favourite game has to be the Rumbelows Cup [now Carling Cup] fourth-round tie at Arsenal [28 November 1990]. We won 6-2 and I scored my one and only hat-trick for United – that was a special night.

My favourite goal was a backheel against Barcelona in the Champions League in the 1994/95 season. We were 2-1 down and the goal ensured it finished 2-2 and United’s record [at that time] of having never lost at home in Europe was maintained. Paul Ince won the ball and played it to the right where Roy Keane’s low cross took a deflection. The ball was going behind me and, as a defender slid in, I managed to backheel it and it nestled in the bottom corner of the net.

Toughest opponent: There were a couple of full-backs who I always had difficulty against. They were Nottingham Forest’s Gary Charles and David Bardsley of QPR. Both were quick and always made life hard for me.

The team I wanted to beat most would have to be our two biggest rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool. As a kid I was an Aston Villa fan so they were the team I least wanted to beat but, amazingly, I nearly always scored against them.

The best player I played with was without doubt Bryan Robson, who was an unbelievable captain, leader and person, as well as being the complete all-round player. If I was ever in trouble, you could guarantee he would never be more than three yards away to help out. He could create goals, score and was the boss on the pitch, controlling everything.

My best friend at United was initially Ryan Giggs, and latterly Roy Keane, Gary Pallister and Dion Dublin. We were always a close-knit group and a lot of the players would socialise, going out for meals with wives and girlfriends.

My best United memory was winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991, beating Barcelona in Rotterdam. The competition was my first taste of European football, as English clubs had only just been let back in after the Heysel disaster. The stadium was three-quarters full of our fans and the atmosphere was electric.

I left United when I realised the time had come to move on. I was left out for the last league game of the 1995/96 season at Middlesbrough, where I wasn’t even on the bench. We had clinched the title and one week later completed the Double, but I felt a million miles away from the celebrations.

What I learned at United: I spent eight years at Old Trafford, a big part of my career, and that time was a massive learning curve about football and life. I also found out about success and failure through highs like the club winning a first title for 26 years, the 1994 Double and a European trophy, but also lows through injury and not playing.

What United means to me: Though I was brought up a Villa fan, United’s result is the one I look for first. At Old Trafford I became part of the furniture and family. It was a good club to play for and everybody was great, from the backroom team to the restaurant staff.

What I do these days: I do lots of TV punditry in England, the Middle East and Far East. I also do after-dinner speaking, have a few other business interests and I have my own charity, the Lee Sharpe Foundation. We raise money for underprivileged kids in South Africa and also for children suffering from cancer and diabetes in Manchester. It’s a diverse mix that keeps me busy. I’m enjoying life.

Lee Sharpe
Birthdate: 27 May 1971
Birthplace: Halesowen, West Midlands

United career: 1988-1996
Debut: United 2 West Ham 0, League, Old Trafford, 24 September 1988
Appearances: 263, Goals: 36

"My favourite goal was a backheel against Barcelona in 1994. Paul Ince won the ball and played it to the right where Roy Keane’s low cross took a deflection. The ball was going behind me and, as a defender slid in, I managed to backheel it into the bottom corner."