The Manchester United team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992. The team consists of Kevin Pilkington, John O’Kane, George Switzer, Chris Casper, Gary Neville (captain), David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Simon Davies, Colin McKee, Ryan Giggs, Ben Thornley, Robbie Savage and Keith Gillespie (top row, extreme right)
The Manchester United team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992. The team consists of Kevin Pilkington, John O’Kane, George Switzer, Chris Casper, Gary Neville (captain), David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Simon Davies, Colin McKee, Ryan Giggs, Ben Thornley, Robbie Savage and Keith Gillespie (top row, extreme right)
Time flies almost as quickly as Keith Gillespie racing past defenders in his pomp. It’s 30 years since the Northern Ireland hero won the FA Youth Cup with Manchester United’s famous Class of '92.
He smiles at the memory of playing alongside David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt in that side and recalls how as teenagers they signed their first professional deals for £230 per week without even looking at the figures on the contract.
It’s a different world now. Gillespie sees that more than most working alongside friend and partner Brian Adair in their OneTwo football agency.
Three decades ago, all 17-year-old Gillespie wanted to do was play. In United’s FA Youth Cup final success in 1992 the Bangor boy came off the bench in the second leg against Crystal Palace as the Red Devils swept to a 6-3 aggregate triumph, sealing a first success in the competition since the days of George Best.
The United class of 2022 are in the FA Youth Cup final tonight, with most in the Old Trafford crowd of over 60,000 hoping to toast some joy in a season when the senior team have delivered little but anguish for the fans. In United’s way are Nottingham Forest, who overcame Chelsea in the semi-finals with Northern Ireland duo Jamie McDonnell and Dale Taylor playing influential roles.
Keith Gillespie aiming for low score at the William Dunlop Golf Classic at Galgorm Golf Club
Gillespie says it will be a special evening for all concerned, remembering with genuine affection his own experiences winning the trophy in 1992 and losing out to Leeds in the 1993 decider when Paul Scholes was a star turn for United.
“In 1992 that was our first year as apprentices, so to win a trophy and the biggest one we could win was incredible for us all,” says the former Newcastle and Blackburn ace.
“At that time everyone was talking about us and about how good we were, so to back it up and win the FA Youth Cup was massive.
“It was great to be part of that team. We had players like Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Chris Casper, John O’Kane, Ben Thornley and myself.
“It was a fantastic side. Robbie Savage was also involved. With youth teams you can be lucky to get one or two going on to play in the Premier League but from that side lots of us did it. We are 30 years on from the class of '92 and people still talk about that team, which is fantastic.”
On the superstar players, Gillespie says: “Giggsy was a year older than us and already playing first team football. You could tell he was going to be mega.
“I don’t think anyone could have foreseen that Becks was going to be the global superstar he turned out to be though even back then there was no doubt he was going to make a career in the game. Becks always put the work in. That was evident from day one.
“He was great at free-kicks and that’s because he practiced them all the time and wanted to be the best he could be, which is a lesson for all young players.
“Scholesy didn’t play in 1992. He was just a little bit smaller and hadn’t grown like the others, but he was a big player for the youth team the following year and what a wonderful footballer he went on to become.
“Gary Neville was always very vocal and extremely dedicated. Having longevity at a single club is impressive but for Giggsy, Scholesy and Gary to have the longevity they had at arguably the biggest club in the world, who were constantly successful, is incredible.”
While Giggs, Scholes and Neville stayed at Old Trafford for their entire careers and Beckham was there for over a decade, Gillespie, just two years after his first team debut, left for Newcastle in 1995 as part of the high profile transfer that took Andy Cole in the other direction. He has no regrets.
“It was my decision to move because I could have said no,” states Gillespie, who won 86 caps and was adored by the Green and White Army.
“If I had said no, the deal was off, so I was a key factor in making it happen. Within six months Alex Ferguson wanted to bring me back but I enjoyed my time at Newcastle and it was probably where I had my best period in football.”
Asked what he views as the biggest difference in the game from 1992 to 2022, he replies: “When you look at us signing professional contracts in 1992, none of us had agents.
“The deal was put down in front of us and we just signed it. We didn’t go ‘that’s not enough’. We weren’t even looking at figures. We ended up on £230 a week and trusted Sir Alex Ferguson and felt he would do right by us. We knew if we were successful money would come down the line.
“Nowadays young players get offered stupid money early on and they haven’t even made a first team appearance. I think where is the incentive and is the hunger there?”
It’s fascinating that Gillespie, in conjunction with Banbridge businessman Adair, is now involved in a respected football agency trying to help young footballers.
Adair says: “We started off as business partners and have become like brothers. Keith is a humble and genuine guy and we said from the outset if this was going to work we would both be committed which has been the case.
“With the career that Keith has had it’s great to showcase that knowhow and experience to young players and it enhances what we are doing. It works because of our relationship and the trust that we have in each other and our clients see that.”
Gillespie adds: “I understand the role agents can play having been a footballer. All agents don’t necessarily have a good name but we like to think we are in the percentage that does things the right way.”
As well as working with talented youngsters like Celtic’s Ben Wylie and more experienced campaigners such as ex-Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone, Gillespie and Adair broker deals behind the scenes involving Premier League, Scottish Premiership, La Liga and Ligue 1 clubs, developing partnerships with top agents across Europe in the process.
“It is a different side to the game for me. It’s hard work but I have learnt a great deal and it is enjoyable, especially when we help players and clubs,” says Gillespie.
Enjoyable is not a word that comes to mind for the ex-United winger when asked about the current crop at Old Trafford.
“It’s unbelievable how bad it has got this season,” he says.
“Obviously the confidence is low but what amazes me when I watch them playing is that the basics aren’t there. Passing a ball 10 yards seems like a challenge to the players. Manchester City and Liverpool are on a different level and right now United look completely lost.
“Losing 4-0 to Brighton at the weekend was embarrassing, adding to other matches they have lost heavily this season.
“Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea are the only players who can hold their heads up. Ronaldo is 37, playing in a really poor side and still scoring goals. He’s phenomenal.
“I hope he stays but otherwise the quality is just not there and it will need a huge clear-out and the new manager Erik ten Hag to bring in his own players to try and turn things around.”
