“There are definitely some advantages to having played the game back in the 1950s and 1960s,” smiled the genial owner of David Herd Motors. “One of those is that hardly anybody recognises me outside of this building. My football career ended a long time ago.”
Overhearing the conversation, one of Herd’s mechanics laughed, telling me that during lunchtime kickabouts at the back of the premises in Lostock Road, Herd still took football deadly seriously, despite retiring in 1971. “You don’t score over 100 goals for Arsenal and United for nothing,” said the mechanic. The modest Herd appeared slightly embarrassed by the compliment.