It’s almost a year now since this column fulfilled a near life-long sporting ambition with a trip to Chicago to see the Bears host the Green Bay Packers at the iconic Soldier Field.

Ryan Giggs produced the defining moment of Manchester United’s greatest season, 15 years later he finds himself tasked with lifting the Red Devils from their lowest ebb for a generation.

Fans and officials of Bohemians took swift action today to clean and cover-up graffiti painted on the Liam Whelan memorial bridge near Cabra in Dublin.

I was five when I ended a brief dalliance with Bobby Robson’s Ipswich Town, swayed by the history of the Busby Babes, Munich, the Fifth Beatle and The King.

The sensation was strange at first. Unfamiliar.

Venerable US television broadcaster Charlie Rose snagged an hour-long interview with retired Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson which aired late Tuesday evening on his long-running nightly PBS show.

Not even Jose Mourinho could deny the scale of the task, the amount on the line.

There’s a story around Arsenal that, when one of the old foreign players was first told of the demanding Christmas fixture list, he genuinely thought it was a wind-up.

We’ve had the Busby Babes, Coad’s Colts and Fergie’s Fledglings so is it time now to start talking of Rodgers’ Toddlers?

I have seldom felt as excited coming away from an Ireland match as I did the evening of April 22, 1998.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg has opened up about the 1958 crash, writes David Young

ARSENE WENGER accused Clive Allen of wanting to be in the headlines after the Arsenal boss and the Tottenham coach were involved in a furious argument after Tottenham won the north London derby at White Hart Lane yesterday.

Blue chip Barca and United only boast blue collar records in the competition, writes Miguel Delaney

HOW quickly some timely victories can change the big picture — especially when time is running out.

Rio Ferdinand is confident the hurt of losing a 34-year unbeaten home record against Manchester City last year will ensure United do not slip up again in tomorrow’s derby clash.

The Examiner’s football correspondent Liam Mackey likes a good argument when he hears it, and he’s got strong views of his own. Every Tuesday, he will be acting as referee on your opinions on the Premiership. Let him know what you think and he’ll argue the toss with you. We’ll be offering a free sports prize to the star contribution each week.

Manchester United 1 Manchester City 2

Danny Welbeck is set to become the latest heir apparent to the Busby Babes with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson set to thrust him in to the first team tomorrow.

SURVIVORS of the Munich air disaster gathered yesterday to pay tribute to their fallen colleagues as Manchester United marked the 50th anniversary of the tragedy.

The Manchester United family today gathered to pay tribute to the fallen Busby Babes 50 years after the tragedy which claimed their lives.

David Meek was the Manchester United correspondent for the Manchester Evening News from 1958 to 1995. He describes how the story of Munich came through to change a city forever.

England coach Fabio Capello has promised the Italian authorities his full cooperation during their tax investigation.

Alex Ferguson tonight reiterated his desire to deliver Champions League glory to Manchester United and insisted the club’s record of two European Cups is “ridiculous”.

SO THERE is to be no historic all-English Champions League final.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill is delighted to have the chance to welcome David Beckham back to Old Trafford.

MANCHESTER UNITED will mark the completion of an 8,000-seat extension at Old Trafford, taking the capacity to 76,000, with a friendly against UEFA Cup holders Seville on Saturday, August 12.

PARTLY out of choice and partly because his hand was forced by a combination of injuries and retirements, there is certainly a fresh green look to Steve Staunton's first Republic of Ireland squad, announced in Dublin on Thursday morning.

Football legend George Best’s European Player of the Year trophy sold at auction today for more than £150,000 (€211,000).

BURGLARS have raided Sir Bob