Rebel welcome awaits departing soccer legend

A Cork-based friend of Alex Ferguson has revealed he will be making attempts to encourage him to visit the city.

Thu, 09 May, 2013 - 01:00

Denis Hurley

Tailor Dave O’Connor, managing director of Suits Distributors, prev-iously outfitted Ferguson as well as presenting him with a hurley when visiting United’s training ground.

O’Connor is hopeful of inviting Ferguson to an event in Cork when he next meets him.

“I’d love to bring him to Cork. There’s a big connection between Manchester United and Cork, through Roy Keane, Denis Irwin, and Brian Carey, who’s a godfather to a daughter of Darren, Alex’s son, they’re very close.

“There’s a big dinner on Jul 5 in Manchester for his friends, and I’m bringing a young lad named Thomas over with me. He was sick in Marymount Hospice and Sir Alex sent him a lovely letter.

“I told him that when he got better I’d bring him over so we’re going to that, and if I could get a few words with Sir Alex to invite him over it’d be great.”

O’Connor also retains huge admiration for his conduct outside the game.

“He’d have time for everybody, anything I ever asked him to do for me he always did it,” he said.

“I got a jersey for the COPE Foundation, it’s up framed on the wall for people to see when they come in the door in St Paul’s in Montenotte.

“He rang the Vita Cortex workers when they were having the sit-in and he has sent letters to people who were suffering, he’s very human behind it all.

“For a person that’s so big all over the world, he’s very normal, there are no airs or graces about him. He gave a lecture in Harvard recently and he said that the best two words you can say to anybody are ‘well done’, and it’s very true.”