Going Beck in time: David hits town with Fergie Fledglings

Posted Wednesday, July 10, 2013 by The Sun

Going Beck in time: David hits town with Fergie Fledglings
Old boys' bash ... Fergie's Fledglings are pensioned off

MANCHESTER United’s legendary class of ’92 have reunited to paint the town red in an end-of-career reunion.

David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes all met up for dinner at Manchester’s Artisan restaurant on Monday.

The six Old Trafford stars' gathering came 22 years to the day after they signed their professional contracts in 1991.

All but one of the six legends has now hung up their boots – with 39-year-old Giggs alone in preparing for a new season at the Theatre of Dreams.

So, perhaps that's why the group - known affectionately as Fergie's Fledglings - were snapped taking a stroll past the government pensions office.

Going Beck in time: David hits town with Fergie Fledglings
Champions ... the six youngsters celebrate Premier League triumph

They would have had plenty to catch up on as they made their way round Manchester before arriving at the swanky, new Artisan restaurant at 9.30pm on Monday evening.

Flabbergasted punters gawped as Golden Balls and company made their way to a secluded corner of the diner – with many standing to catch a glimpse.

Some even took videos as word spread of the group’s arrival at the venue in the Spinningfields city centre area.

At the end of the last campaign Phil Neville, 36, Beckham and Scholes, 38, all joined 38-year-olds Butt and Gary Neville to finish up their playing days.

Fittingly mentor Sir Alex Ferguson also announced his retirement from management to make way for Everton boss David Moyes.

Becks' fashion ... old pals out for a stroll

Phil Neville has joined coach Butt and player-coach Giggs on the Red Devils’ staff while Scholes turned down an offer from David Moyes.

The new boss is keen to keep a link to the club’s illustrious past which is in large part due to the old boys' influence.

The group were labelled Fergie’s Fledglings after all emerging within a couple of seasons as young players to help ensure two decades of dominance for the Manchester outfit.

Each player signed professional terms at just 14 with Manchester United before breaking into the first team at a young age.

Late night ... Butt and Giggs leave restaurant

Beckham, Butt, Giggs and Gary Neville all played in the 1992 FA Youth Cup final to help steer United to victory over Crystal Palace.

And in the 1995-96 season Fergie used his ‘fledglings’ to great effect as he replaced a number of older players to clinch the FA Cup and league double with the squad’s average age at just 24.

That was despite an opening day 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa when pundit Alan Hansen famously commented on Match of the Day: “You’ll never win anything with kids”.

Going Beck in time: David hits town with Fergie Fledglings
Happy days ... stars enjoy a catch-up

The young outfit overturned a 12-point deficit to Newcastle at Christmas to claim the Premier League while an Eric Cantona strike was the difference against Liverpool in the FA Cup final.

Many of the stars became regulars for club and country while their outstanding success climaxed with the Treble in 1999.

Beckham became England’s most capped outfield player, breaking Bobby Moore’s record, and the six youth teamers have so far represented Manchester United in 3,428 games.

But if they can't all find work - at least they should have their sizeable pensions to fall back on.