Pranav Nair
Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson had a run-in with the law during his playing days
According to the Daily Record, Sir Alex Ferguson was arrested and sent to jail during his days as a player for a drunken brawl.
The incident occurred in the early 1960s when Ferguson was a player at St. Johnstone. The incident appears to have stemmed from his frustration at not being a regular in the first XI.
“One night I went out and I got drunk and I ended up in a fight and ended up in jail.”
The 79-year-old was fined £3 for the assault after appearing in court and was branded as a rotten egg by his well-wishers. It also strained relations with his father and the pair did not talk for two years.
“For two years between 1961 and 1963 we didn’t talk.”
Thankfully a well taken hat-trick at the Ibrox healed the wounds and the duo salvaged their relationship. It was a turning point for the Scot who went on to enjoy a successful career as a player before embarking on a legendary one as a manager.
The incident was revealed in the new documentary ‘Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In’. He goes on to call the period as one of the biggest regrets of his life.
“My career was going down the pan and I went off the rails a bit.”
The road to retribution!
Ferguson eventually left St Johnstone and joined Dunfermline Athletic in 1964. He enjoyed a fruitful spell and even won the Scottish First Division top scorer award for the 1965/66 campaign.
He would later go on to play for Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United. While he may not have gotten into trouble since the fighting spirit shone bright. It was clear during his days as a player and also from the sidelines as a manager.
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Ferguson was at United for 26 years and created a dynasty of unparalleled success. He won 38 trophies, including two Champions League titles, 13 Premier League titles and five FA Cups.
