Three decades ago, David Beckham was ushered onto the field for the final 18 minutes of a dimly lit, low-key League Cup second round, first leg at Brighton & Hove Albion. The wiry 17-year-old, who was still nursing a sore head after accidentally cracking it on the roof of the United dugout moments earlier, duly watched on as the third-tier Seasiders scored within 30 seconds of his introduction.
United drew 1-1 against their unfancied opponents and, to a man, also drew a scolding from their manager afterwards. Though he performed capably throughout his brief cameo in front of just 16,649 spectators at the Goldstone Ground, it would appear that the evening set a false tone for what Beckham would go on to achieve.