What's your favourite moment from Never Give In?
Manchester United fans around the world are devouring a new film about Sir Alex Ferguson, which was released internationally on Saturday via Amazon Prime Video.
‘Never Give In’ is a brutally honest and utterly glorious documentary about our former manager’s life so far, shining a light on his upbringing in Govan, playing career in Scotland, iconic managerial career and the brain haemorrhage that threatened his life back in 2018.
Here, in a celebration of the film, members of our editorial team and United supporters discuss their favourite moments...
IN DEFENCE OF LADY CATHY
Mark Froggatt, Senior Digital Editor
I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know a great deal about Sir Alex’s playing career before watching this film and was therefore fascinated by the section on his time at Rangers, the club he grew up supporting as a child. He lived in the shadow of Ibrox and representing them was his dream, yet the boss recalls a very specific regret from the day he finally signed on the dotted line.
“One of the directors asked me about Cathy. He says, ‘I have to ask you a question about your wife. I believe she is Catholic, were you married in a chapel?’. I said, ‘No we got married in the registry office,’ and he says, ‘Oh, that’s OK’. I should have told him to f*** off! I let myself down there and I let my wife down – that was the most important thing – because she was a devout Catholic.”
While I obviously don’t promote the bad language, this rare slip of the tongue on camera highlights the anger that Sir Alex still feels towards the situation and, above all, his dedication to Lady Cathy. His appreciation for her is a recurring theme throughout the film and shows a different side to the public persona.
Here, in a celebration of the film, members of our editorial team and United supporters discuss their favourite moments...
IN DEFENCE OF LADY CATHY
Mark Froggatt, Senior Digital Editor
I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know a great deal about Sir Alex’s playing career before watching this film and was therefore fascinated by the section on his time at Rangers, the club he grew up supporting as a child. He lived in the shadow of Ibrox and representing them was his dream, yet the boss recalls a very specific regret from the day he finally signed on the dotted line.
“One of the directors asked me about Cathy. He says, ‘I have to ask you a question about your wife. I believe she is Catholic, were you married in a chapel?’. I said, ‘No we got married in the registry office,’ and he says, ‘Oh, that’s OK’. I should have told him to f*** off! I let myself down there and I let my wife down – that was the most important thing – because she was a devout Catholic.”
While I obviously don’t promote the bad language, this rare slip of the tongue on camera highlights the anger that Sir Alex still feels towards the situation and, above all, his dedication to Lady Cathy. His appreciation for her is a recurring theme throughout the film and shows a different side to the public persona.
THE DAY HE RETURNED
Gemma Thompson, Senior Content Manager
I’m not a cryer, but I fully expected to be emotional during this quite phenomenal new film about Sir Alex’s life, and it’s fair to say I lasted about two minutes before the tears came. It’s not because it’s a sad account about the boss, it’s more because it reiterates again what utterly joyous, beyond-our-wildest-dreams times he delivered to our great club. And, of course, watching and hearing more about the day he defied doctors’ predictions to survive a brain haemorrhage completes the picture of what an incredible human being he is.
The standout moments of the film for me come towards the climax of it. It’s a film you simply don’t want to end, but fittingly it finishes up on two very emotional moments. I love how the footage from the Nou Camp on that famous night in ‘99 is fully focused on Sir Alex's reactions on the touchline for both goals and the final whistle.
And the day he returned to Old Trafford after his illness will always live long in my memory. I was working in the Directors’ Box that day and seeing him again, laughing and joking in there, was the best feeling. He was definitely nervous, as he mentions in the film, but the noise, relief and excitement as Old Trafford rose as one to welcome him home was a goosebumps moment I’ll never forget. As is always the case with the Boss, it’s simply a privilege to be in his company no matter what. Go watch the film, it’s superb… and have a tissue at the ready.
Gemma Thompson, Senior Content Manager
I’m not a cryer, but I fully expected to be emotional during this quite phenomenal new film about Sir Alex’s life, and it’s fair to say I lasted about two minutes before the tears came. It’s not because it’s a sad account about the boss, it’s more because it reiterates again what utterly joyous, beyond-our-wildest-dreams times he delivered to our great club. And, of course, watching and hearing more about the day he defied doctors’ predictions to survive a brain haemorrhage completes the picture of what an incredible human being he is.
The standout moments of the film for me come towards the climax of it. It’s a film you simply don’t want to end, but fittingly it finishes up on two very emotional moments. I love how the footage from the Nou Camp on that famous night in ‘99 is fully focused on Sir Alex's reactions on the touchline for both goals and the final whistle.
And the day he returned to Old Trafford after his illness will always live long in my memory. I was working in the Directors’ Box that day and seeing him again, laughing and joking in there, was the best feeling. He was definitely nervous, as he mentions in the film, but the noise, relief and excitement as Old Trafford rose as one to welcome him home was a goosebumps moment I’ll never forget. As is always the case with the Boss, it’s simply a privilege to be in his company no matter what. Go watch the film, it’s superb… and have a tissue at the ready.
WATCHING DREAMS COMING TRUE
Joe Ganley, Club Reporter
Do you really need to watch another United-related film that climaxes with the Nou Camp in ‘99? Of course you do, you silly sausage – nothing better has ever happened, in the history of the world. However, Never Give In reveals its real X-factor in the first half, when the boss opens up on his foundational days in the Govan shipyards, at Rangers, at Aberdeen.
That said, inevitably it was Barcelona that had my hairs standing on end, my eyes welling up, the butterflies whirling around my stomach. Watching Sir Alex's body language throughout those final minutes of the match, as his willingness to gamble allowed Bayern an endless raft of chances to finish us off, made the miracle fresh again. You saw the weight of the world on his shoulders; his helplessness. He'd played his cards – sending Sheringham and Solskjaer on, throwing every player forward. Now all he could do was wait. He received the most brilliant reward for his bravery and daring, but in those moments before our goals, he looked profoundly human: nervous, vulnerable, afraid. Watching that, and then all his dreams coming true, is humbling.
There’s no attention-seeking or running onto the pitch; just a man sharing the greatest moment of his life with his colleagues, his players – there's a great hug with Roy Keane and Paul Scholes – and then, finally, his family. It was a reminder that one man made this unbelievable event happen, and he was more like us than we realise.
Joe Ganley, Club Reporter
Do you really need to watch another United-related film that climaxes with the Nou Camp in ‘99? Of course you do, you silly sausage – nothing better has ever happened, in the history of the world. However, Never Give In reveals its real X-factor in the first half, when the boss opens up on his foundational days in the Govan shipyards, at Rangers, at Aberdeen.
That said, inevitably it was Barcelona that had my hairs standing on end, my eyes welling up, the butterflies whirling around my stomach. Watching Sir Alex's body language throughout those final minutes of the match, as his willingness to gamble allowed Bayern an endless raft of chances to finish us off, made the miracle fresh again. You saw the weight of the world on his shoulders; his helplessness. He'd played his cards – sending Sheringham and Solskjaer on, throwing every player forward. Now all he could do was wait. He received the most brilliant reward for his bravery and daring, but in those moments before our goals, he looked profoundly human: nervous, vulnerable, afraid. Watching that, and then all his dreams coming true, is humbling.
There’s no attention-seeking or running onto the pitch; just a man sharing the greatest moment of his life with his colleagues, his players – there's a great hug with Roy Keane and Paul Scholes – and then, finally, his family. It was a reminder that one man made this unbelievable event happen, and he was more like us than we realise.
When Sir Alex sat down with Cristopher Eccleston Video
When Sir Alex sat down with Cristopher Eccleston
FULL INTERVIEW: Treat yourself by watching all 42 minutes of our fascinating chat with Sir Alex in May…
YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS
Here’s what United fans on Facebook are saying…
Nicky Davies: “When I realised a lot of his drive came from a devotion to Cathy. There was more behind his great leadership than great leadership.”
Sarah Hufton: “I loved the bit when he spoke of his rift with his father and then said they were pals again, he spoke of the regret, and his face beamed when he said that. I think he realises the importance of both his mother and his father in his life.”
Adam Roberts: “The footage in the dugout from the Nou Camp in 1999 was amazing. It is rarely seen footage of Ferguson from that night that was brilliant to see.”
Here’s what United fans on Facebook are saying…
Nicky Davies: “When I realised a lot of his drive came from a devotion to Cathy. There was more behind his great leadership than great leadership.”
Sarah Hufton: “I loved the bit when he spoke of his rift with his father and then said they were pals again, he spoke of the regret, and his face beamed when he said that. I think he realises the importance of both his mother and his father in his life.”
Adam Roberts: “The footage in the dugout from the Nou Camp in 1999 was amazing. It is rarely seen footage of Ferguson from that night that was brilliant to see.”
Inside the world premiere of 'Never Give In'
ArticleThe new documentary about Sir Alex is an honest, emotional and inspiring account of his life, reports Mark Froggatt.
Reginald Adjei: “When Eric Cantona talked about being understood by Alex Ferguson and allowed to freely express himself without fear of being judged. We need such people in our lives to get the best out of us regardless of how we may not conform to societal norms.”
Ross O'Donnell: “That he was days away from walking away from football and going to Canada. Turned up for a game he wasn’t pushed on playing, scores a hat-trick against Rangers and the rest is history.”
Ross Heaney: “When he was raging, even though Aberdeen won the cup!”
Philip Hoey: “Him telling the story about how scoring three goals against his favourite Scottish football team lead to his father speaking to him again. That and when he told everyone else in the changing room that Cantona’s white suit was fashionable and everyone should copy him!”
Ross O'Donnell: “That he was days away from walking away from football and going to Canada. Turned up for a game he wasn’t pushed on playing, scores a hat-trick against Rangers and the rest is history.”
Ross Heaney: “When he was raging, even though Aberdeen won the cup!”
Philip Hoey: “Him telling the story about how scoring three goals against his favourite Scottish football team lead to his father speaking to him again. That and when he told everyone else in the changing room that Cantona’s white suit was fashionable and everyone should copy him!”
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