Gary PALLISTER

Gary Pallister joined Manchester United from Middlesborough in August 1989 for a then record £2.3 million. Despite an indifferent debut against Norwich City in a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford, Pallister soon forged a formidable partnership with Steve Bruce at the heart of the United defence. Excellent in the air and quick on the ground, Gary was the perfect foil for the more physical Bruce with his assured displays of calm yet dominant defending. His first goal came in his twelfth appearance, the decisive strike in a 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on 12th November 1989. Though the side performed poorly in the league, there was success in the FA Cup. Victory came in a 1-0 replay against Crystal Palace after the first game had finished 3-3.

Another year of league disappointment and cup success followed in 1990/91. Pallister played in all but four of United's games that season and, having picked up a League Cup runners-up medal after a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, he played in the European Cup Winners' Cup Final against Barcelona, which United won 2-1. Gary was again almost ever-present over the subsequent season missing only two matches. A much improved league campaign began with a twelve game unbeaten run, eight of them victories. After the good start, the side were challenging for honours on two fronts. Pallister collected his third winner's medal, in the League Cup Final, giving another commanding performance alongside Bruce in a 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest. United lead the league to Easter, however, three defeats on the trot with four games to go meant the team missed out to Leeds United. Pallister's performances were roundly acknowledged and the disappointment of the title near miss was sweetened as he was voted PFA Player of the Year. (Steve Drabble).

Over the next three seasons of Gary Pallister's United career, the club played on 172 occasions as they chased honours on all fronts. Gary played in 169 of those. During the 1992/93 season Pallister played in every match as the team faltered in three different cup competitions, however, their league campaign was again impressive. Having come so close the previous season, the arrival of Eric Cantona, amongst other things, ensured there would be no repeat. United clinched the title when their nearest challengers Aston Villa failed to beat Oldham Athletic with several weeks to go. United had ended their 26-year wait and received the trophy after their final home match, against Blackburn Rovers. In a carnival atmosphere United lead 2-1 with minutes remaining when they were awarded a free-kick at the edge of the Blackburn penalty area attacking the Stretford End.

Out of the regular members of the side, Pallister was the only one without a goal for the season. Egged on by his teammates and fans alike, Gary stepped up and swept a low right foot shot into the far corner of the Rovers' goal. Old Trafford erupted. With the burden of not winning the league now history, United picked up where they left off the previous season and the title was all but won by Christmas. They reached both domestic cup finals. Defeated by Aston Villa 3-1 in the League Cup Final, they returned to Wembley six weeks later to beat Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup Final and in doing so achieved the first double in the club's history. The following season was nearly a repeat, however, failure to beat West Ham on the final day of the season and defeat to Everton in the FA Cup Final a week later saw Pallister experience his first year at the club without winning a trophy. (Steve Drabble)

 With the introduction of a whole new batch of youngsters to the first team, at start of the 1995/96 season, Pallister was very much a senior member. Having lost on the opening day of the season United went on a ten game unbeaten run, winning eight of them in the process. However, as the year ended, Pallister suffered his first and, as it transpired, longest spell out of the side through injury. He played on occasion and started four matches in February in which United won all four, conceding only one goal. He fully returned in mid April and played in the final three league games, as United kept three clean sheets and collected nine points. Pallister played 21 times in the league during the season, with United losing only 2 games in that period. In the 17 games they played without him, the team lost 4 times. In his absence, his colleagues had reached the FA Cup Final where United met Liverpool. Pallister played and another clean sheet ensued as United won 1-0, securing their second 'double' in three years. The following season saw United lead pretty much from start to finish.

Niggling injuries caused Pallister to miss the occasional match and he missed nearly all November for the same reason. He played in nearly all key fixtures, including the Champions League Semi-Final against Borussia Dortmund that they lost 2-0 on aggregate. 1997/98 proved to be Gary's last campaign in United's colours. Again, injury affected the season as Pallister was out for March, during which time the team were knocked out of the Champions League Quarter-Finals by Monaco. He returned to the side and played his final game at home to Leeds United in a 3-0 win before moving back to Middlesborough in the summer of 1998 for £2.5 million. Gary Pallister played a huge part in the United success story of the 1990s and left Old Trafford as one of the most decorated players in the club's history. (Steve Drabble)