Interview & article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.
MUFCINFO.COM

PLAYER INTERVIEW - DAVID MAY

Your Editor @ mufcinfo.com was recently given the opportunity to interview, Ex Manchester United defender David May

Hi David & Thanks for taking the time to talk to mufcinfo.com, where are you actually from in Oldham?

Im from Boundry Park, but also I spent a lot of time in Middleton in Manchester.

And how did you get into professional football?

As a Blackburn schoolboy really, I went for a trial at 13 under age!!!, the Chief Scout when I was there with my Dad, thought & expected me to be older, I can actually still remember my 1st game when it began to get serious, we played Scousers, a team called Formby, I scored in the game with a header.

Have you always played as a defender?

I have yes.

Transferred from Blackburn Rovers in 1994 for £1.4m, how did the transfer come about?

Mark Robins was involved actually, his Dad & my Dad were both Policemen & Mark had informed me that Les Kershaw (Uniteds Chief Scout) had been watching me, I didn't really believe him, but he insisted anyway. 

Back then in 1994 I was playing for Blackburn and was on £500 quid a week and they (Blackburn ) had had many occasions to speak to me about anew contract.

Taking into consideration the wages that Alan Shearer, David Batty & others were making, I thought that my contract which seemingly fell on deaf ears was nothing major, but United came calling and I truly felt that Blackburn didn't want me & Manchester United did, so i made up my mind to go to United.

You made your United debut in the Charity Shield against your old team Blackburn Rovers on Sunday 14th August 1994 @ Wembley, what can you remember about the atmosphere & overall feel of making your debut.

It was strange, only 6 weeks earlier I was playing football for Blackburn being cheered at Ewood Park, then in the space of only a month plus, I was then booed by Blackburn fans.

I supposed a little like Carlos Tevez, but not as bad
As I said earlier, they (Blackburn) had numerous occasions to make me an offer of a new contract but didn't, I eventually spoke about my contract to Ray Hartford in a bar, belonging to Jack Walker.

In a bar?, about a contract? doesn't seem too professional

Ray had said "wait till the offer comes in from United" and ill speak to Jack, Jack soon got the message and was contacting my Dad, trying to get my Dad to change my mind, but I'd made my mind up and wanted to go to United, they showed alot more of an interest.

You made your league debut Saturday 20th August 1994 at Old Trafford, what can you remember about playing at Old Trafford for United for the 1st time.

I was used to playing at Ewood Park & had played at Old Trafford before in front of what was 55K then crowd, but it still had the big game feel.

Were you nervous?, do players actually still get nerves even though they put themselves through the same scenario time & again?

You get a little apprehensive of what's coming, and your mind can be focused on just making sure that the basics are done right.

So Two games in & two clean sheets, can you remember the scorers of the 1st two games?

Yeah, Eric (Cantona) with a penalty & Incey with an overhead kick.

And the other league game?

QPR I think, Hughes & McClair?

Your first season at United went a bit pear shaped after Blackburn won the title, we lost a FA Cup Final & we were knocked out of Europe in the group stages, did you get any stick from any of your old Blackburn chums?

yeah, I was out with a hernia problem & had an operation, Steve Bruce was struggling with a hamstring for the final at the time, but in the papers & media, Jack Walker had a real go through the media saying "nobody does better when they leave this club" and as I was the only one who had left Blackburn, it was obviously directed at me.

Your first senior goal for the Reds came in a 2nd legged 2-0 League cup win against Port Vale on Wednesday 5th October 1994 at Old Trafford, what can you remember about your goal?

It was a header from a corner, I'm sure it was Beckham's corner.

1995 was better for you but you started the season injured didn't you? what was up?

the hernia operation, kept me out a while.

In the whole of your career, who was the greatest player that you ever played along side of?

It was Gary Pallister & Brucey at United, but what really influence my career & helped me out was Kevin Moran while at Blackburn.

Put me right when i got things wrong & gave me praise & encouragement when you needed it.

Who was the greatest player that you ever played against?

Shearer.

Yes, he was a hell of a player, I'd liked to have seen him play for United

If he did I don't think Blackburn or Arsenal would have had as many Premiership titles as they have & we (Manchester United) would have dominated in Europe aswell.

On April 13 1996. United lost to Southampton in the famous grey kit saga, you came on as a sub, any memories'?

When your in a close small Stadium like the Dell was, yes it does confuse a bit, the Southampton colours in the background made it difficult, I remember the gaffer going going nuts at the kit man Norman (Davies).

I'll put you on the spot now, how many games & goals do you think you played & scored for United?

Not sure.

118 games & 8 goals

85 league

9 league cup

6 FA cup

3 Charity Shields

15 European Cup

Of the 8, What goal is your personal favourite?

Remind me again

6 league goals were Crystal Palace, Sheffield Wednesday in 94/95, Middlesbrough in 95/96, Southampton, Chelsea & Middlesbrough in 1996/97.

1 league cup goal, Port Vale & finally the 1 European Cup goal v FC Porto

Most of the goals, something significant happened, Eric was sent off against Palace when I scored, I went off with a back injury against Sheffield Wednesday.

I was 66-1 to score 1st at the Riverside & some of my mates had put the bet on that, but overall it has to be the goal against Boro when we won the title & the Porto goal i enjoyed aswell.

I remember a picture with you and Gary Pallister of you running with your arms out stretched.

(see above)

Is it true David Batty once phoned you up and shouted Scum down the phone at you wrt your Blackburn transfer?

laughs: yes, Its true

Worst United Moment

the injuries & when it came to leaving, its always hard.

Best United moment

You'll be surprised to learn it wasn't the Treble which was incredible, but for me it was the 1st time I won the League, it was my 1st major trophy.

And What is David May doing at the moment, I read once you dabbled in the wine trade?

No I'm not into that anymore, I stopped all that because of people you cant trust.

A quite rare left handed golfer what's your golf handicap, Lee Sharpe when i interview him told me his is 6?

mines 9

Any other Reds you play with??

Yeah we do a Ex United players golf day occasionally, there quite a few of the old boys play, Alex Stepney, Pat Crerand, Jesper Olsen, Andy Cole, Lee Martin, Clayton Blackmore

I've heard Clayton's quite a golfer, Lee Sharpe told me that Clayton's handicap was 3

Yeah, that's right, Arthur (Albiston) he's not bad either.

Anything else worth mentioning?

I'm also trying to arrange & sort out regular evenings for United fans to meet players.

I've called it "United Nights", I love meeting up with the fans, chatting about old times and I don’t think we have enough evenings to get together, so I am organising a regular Supporter’s Club evening in Manchester.

The event itinerary is still in its infancy and is yet to be finalised but the main idea of the night will be

Hosted at a venue in Manchester City Centre (possibly Walkabout on Quay Street), there will be food in the form of a buffet & there will be 3 or 4 ex-United players present during the event.

We'll do a Q and A with the players, Sing some classic United Songs, perhaps with Pete Boyle, host an Auction and Raffle & put up some Big Screen showing some classic United moments.

We'll do a Pictures and Autographs & session with all the ex players present & any other suggestions you might have I could try to arrange.

Mark Graham was talking to David May.

For more information please contact David on unitednights@hotmail.com

click on the Icon below to go straight to David May's Facebook page

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