'He'll regret it' - the day Ferguson quit Aberdeen for Man Utd

The story of Ferguson's defection to the English First Division on 6 November 1986 was broken by BBC Scotland football broadcaster Roddy Forsyth.

He had been tasked by his editor to head to Aberdeen to find out more about rumours that the Dons boss was in talks with Manchester United.

The flight he boarded in Glasgow was filled with journalists - but most were heading north to cover the Chinook helicopter disaster in Shetland in which 43 people died.

Once in Aberdeen, Forsyth eventually tracked Ferguson and the United chairman Martin Edwards down in an airport hotel.

He had called by chance asking to "speak to a Mr Edwards from Manchester".