"Man Utd was wrong to let go" – read the elegant handwritten letter sent by Harrison | Football | sport

Harrison, who died Thursday at the age of 81, was the youth coach at Old Trafford, led by Sir Alex Ferguson.

He has developed some of the greatest players in United, including Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David Beckham.

Harrison led Manchester United to the victories of the FA Youth Cup in 1992 and 1995 and was awarded an MBE two years ago for services rendered to football.

Alan McLoughlin was one of the players never to have arrived at Old Trafford.

McLoughlin then had a successful professional career, making more than 100 appearances for Swindon and more than 300 for Portsmouth.

But having worked under Harrison and appearing more than 40 times on the Red Devils reserve, the coach remembered McLoughlin.

And the 51-year-old released an image of the elegant handwritten letter that Harrison sent in 1991, five years after McLoughlin's release.

It read as follows:

Dear Alan,

Just to say that I am delighted with your return to a Premier League club. I monitor your progress with great interest and pleasure. I talk a lot to the apprentices of you and David Platt, and now Andy Hill is back in a Premier League club. Your guys showed a lot of character in overcoming a big setback and you proved that Manchester United was wrong to let go.

Keep working hard, Alan, you can be very proud of yourself.

Regards,

Eric Harrison

After Harrison's death, many former stars quickly paid tribute to their legendary coach.

Beckham was one and he wrote: "He always and always looked with us every time we play, I always hear him tell me NO MORE HOLLYWOOD PASSES.

"I still see him while we were playing on The Cliff's training ground, looking at us with a proud smile or a loud punch on the window, knowing at any moment that he would be on the verge of to advise me. polite way to stop playing these pbades.

"More importantly, he made us understand how to work hard and respect each other, not just on the ground. We will never forget the life lessons he gave us.

"Eric we love you and you owe everything. Gary, Phil, Ryan, Paul, Nicky and David. "