Sammy McIlroy is fondly known as ‘The Last Busby Babe’.
Legendary Manchester United boss Sir Matt Busby had no hesitation snapping up the teenager on a professional deal at 17. And McIlroy repaid Busby – and five other United managers – with a string of stellar performances during a glittering 13-year career at Old Trafford.
“It’s a great honour for me to be Sir Matt’s last ever signing,” admitted McIlroy, who played 419 times for United and scored 71 goals. “Sir Matt was a magnificent man, very special. He wanted to meet my mum and dad when I signed for the club, and he knew everybody at United by their first names, even all the apprentices, groundsman and kit men. He was unbelievable.
“Sir Alex Ferguson was the same, he knew everyone inside out. That’s a special quality. When I was 16 Sir Matt took me away with the first team to play in a friendly game against Bohemians in Dublin.
“There were 30,000 people watching the match, the support from north and south to watch United was unbelievable. I came on as a second-half sub in that game and scored, but the game didn’t finish because the crowd ran on to the pitch trying to get the shirts off our backs.
“But it was an amazing experience, travelling with the likes of Bestie, Denis, Bobby Charlton, Tony Dunne, all these greats. What Sir Matt was really renowned for – and I didn’t realise it at the time – was that age was never a problem.
“He made you feel a part of such an incredible club and I’ll forever be grateful for that. You never think you’ll play for Man United for 13 years. I had an unbelievable career.”
**This interview was done in conjunction with Pitch Publishing. The Last Busby Babe, The Autobiography of Sammy McIlroy, MBE, with Wayne Barton, out on 28th March from Pitch Publishing
