It feels these days as though modern football throws up far fewer stories to warm the heart than any other era.
Yet, bizarrely given the historically poor domestic season Manchester United have had this term, one of the best comeback stories of the last 12 months has been busily brewing away.
It's actually quite difficult to imagine what Harry Maguire has been through over the last few years at Old Trafford. Stripped unceremoniously of the captaincy, thrust to the gutters in the court of public opinion, mercilessly mocked and berated for things far beyond his control, such as the transfer fee paid for his services.