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On Days Like These: The Lost Memoir of a Goalkeeper

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In December 1989, Alex Ferguson needed an experienced backup to his out-of-form number one, Jim Leighton.

The son of the late Coventry, Luton, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Blackpool and West Ham keeper had his football dream crushed by injury just days before his dad suddenly died in 2001. It isn't just a touching tribute: it also offers a rich portrait of the near-unrecognisable world of English football on the precipice of the Premier League - and the vast riches that would change it forever. I was the year below that amazing 1999 FA Youth Cup winning team – my team-mates were people like Jermain Defoe, Leon Britton, Adam Newton, Izzy Iriekpen, and Glen Johnson, who was the year below, lived in our family home for a year – dad was a huge influence on him,’ Sealey explained.

Les Sealey played for Manchester United, West Ham, Aston Villa and Leyton Orient amongst other clubs.

He probably never thought he would have had that opportunity because he’d fallen out with the manager at Luton and hadn’t played for the previous year. He only played twice, once as a sub in the FA Cup quarter-final after big Pete got sent off and then in the League Cup Final, a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa. And Sealey, without doubt, paved the way for another obsessive, loud, obnoxious personality to take over from him – Peter Schmeichel really was just a much better version of Les in reality. Kenny Wharton’s sat on the ball in his own half — and they’re all looking down the other end for Les. At half-time, United are 4–0 up against Sheffield Wednesday [On March 16, 1994] and as we go down the tunnel, the manager says to me: “I’m going to put you on for the second half.

He was a bit different, really – quieter than people will presume, especially if they saw him shouting on the pitch. It wasn’t hereditary, there was no illness, he’d had checks the previous year for insurance, it was a fluke. A London east end boy born into poverty, he was an unique character and a very talented goalkeeper, who coached at West Ham after his playing career was over. I’m sure the process has been very emotional for the Sealey family but it is a lovely tribute to Les.

The goalkeeper Les Sealey was only ever a loanee at Manchester United, but he played a fundamental part in the history of the club and the first trophies there for Sir Alex Ferguson, which secured his survival as manager.

Joe's father, Les, had been Manchester United's goalkeeper but had died of a heart attack in 2001 at the age of 43.

Sealey was dubbed ‘Mr Angry’ for his tendency to fly into a rage for little reason, often at team-mates. Leslie Jesse Sealey (29 September 1957 – 19 August 2001) was an English professional footballer and coach. The next destination was Villa Park – he was Aston Villa’s number one for the start of the 91/92 season but soon lost his place to Nigel Spink. I think he was maybe a bit famous playing for Luton, but after he’d joined United I'd be walking down the street or going to school and everyone knew who my dad was.Marcus Rashford has 'taken responsibility' for missing Man United training just hours after being spotted in. My earliest memories of Sealey were probably exactly as people would remember him – football wasn’t massively televised at this point, so I would have seen some highlights, footage from Saves Galore and what I read in the press. Back in European Cup – now Champions League – for first time since 1968, United go out on away goals against Galatasaray in 1993. Sealey’s way of dealing with his pain was to try and hide it and act like the man of the house for his mother and 16-year-old brother.

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