‘I was 17 when I signed for Man Utd – Sir Alex even met me at the station’

Sir Alex Ferguson went to the train station to welcome one of his teenage Manchester United signings – but he wasn't always so friendly.

Lee Sharpe made his debut for United at the age of just 17 following a high-profile move from Torquay United, before which he was charmed by the legendary Scot who sanctioned a £200,000 deal.

Sharpe remained at the club for seven seasons winning three Premier League titles but didn't always see eye-to-eye with the boss despite a positive start.

Speaking on the Undr the Cosh podcast, Sharpe said: "He was really good with my mum and dad, he was really friendly. It was just with me… he wasn't friendly."

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He added: "I was 16 when I first went up and he met me off the train. At (Manchester) Piccadilly Station, he didn't send a driver with a name placard it was him at the bottom of the platform.

"He took me around Old Trafford and introduced me to all the restaurant staff and the secretarial staff as the new signing and I've come for £200,000 as a 16-year-old kid from Torquay and I was getting paraded around the ground as if I was a £5million signing. He does make it feel like a family club."

Sharpe, now 52, scored 21 league goals for the club before joining Leeds United, going on to retire in 2004 with eight England caps to his name.

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Although he may not have reached his potential on the wing, Sharpe was immensely popular and even had his own fan club.

Sharpe, the PFA Young Player of the Year in 1991, became such a superstar that fan mail was being sent to his Cheshire home from all over the world.

He and his mother began an official club which shipped merchandise back out to fans.

"I can't understand why [he's so popular]," she joked in an unearthed clip from an interview showcasing the fan club back in 1992.

Sharpe, who has not taken to regular punditry in the UK, has enjoyed golf in retirement and even competed professionally.

He has also appeared on reality TV including Celebrity Wrestling, Celebrity Love Island and even Dancing on Ice.

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