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Sir Alex goes back to Govan roots

02/02/2010

Legendary manager visits old school and backs community enterprise
Adam Forrest

The world’s most famous football manager returned to his roots yesterday to back community projects and developments at his old school in Govan.

Sir Alex Ferguson spent the day in the Glasgow area where he spent his formative years, and was happy to reminisce about his first football team after being shown a black and white photograph of himself wearing the number 10 shirt of Govan High.

“I have really fond memories of my school days,” the Manchester United boss said. “I still keep in touch with people from the school and meet up with them whenever I can. For me, it's important not to lose contact with people I grew up with.”

Sir Alex, who could still recall his teenage team mates, cup wins and scorelines against rivals like Calder High and St. Ninians, described his own academic performance at the school as “disappointing”, admitting he was already entirely focused on football. “I was intelligent enough…I just didn’t have the drive to want to do really well in education.”

The former Aberdeen manager, who grew up in a tenement in Govan Rd, hailed the progress at his old school, which now boasts a hairdressing salon, a swimming pool and a full-size dance studio, and is celebrating its centenary. “The place is in good hands,” he told pupils. “We didn’t have much association with teachers. Today they’re given encouragement to express their personalities, which is very important.

On a whistlestop tour, Sir Alex also visited Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency’s Orkney Street Enterprise Centre and Govan’s Preschal Trust, a community centre which helps young people with drug and alcohol problems, and backed their efforts to build new £1.5m headquarters on the site.

Chatting with some of the Preschal Trust’s regular visitors and chomping on a roll and sausage, Sir Alex praised founder May Nicholson, saying: “She started this project off her own determination and through her own experiences. You see the work that they are doing and I think that it's fantastic.”

 

 


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