Russell Beardsmore

Beardsmore began his senior career with Manchester United, after playing for Atherton Collieries as a schoolboy. He made his debut in September 1988 against West Ham United and was one of the first wave of 'Fergie's Fledglings'. In only his second league start on New Year's Day 1989, he inspired Manchester United to a 3–1 home win over Liverpool at Old Trafford in the league, setting up goals for Brian McClair and Mark Hughes before scoring the third himself. He became a regular in the team for the rest of the 1988–89 season, with former midfield regular Gordon Strachan being sold to Leeds United in March. Beardsmore played a total of 30 times for United in that campaign, scoring twice. Beardsmore faced fresh competition for midfield places in the 1989–90 season following the arrivals of Neil Webb, Mike Phelan, Paul Ince and Danny Wallace, but still managed 25 appearances in all competitions (15 as a substitute) and scored twice, his chances of first team football being helped by long-term injuries in midfield to Neil Webb and Bryan Robson. However, both Webb and Robson had returned to full fitness by the end of the campaign, and Beardsmore missed out on a place in United's triumph in the FA Cup.

He played 15 times in the 1990–91 season, and by the end of the season competition for places in midfield and on the wing had become fiercer still, with the signing of Andrei Kanchelskis and the breakthrough of Ryan Giggs. Beardsmore would play just three times for United in…

Manchester United

FA Charity Shield: 1990 European Cup Winners' Cup: 1990–91 European Super Cup: 1991 Bournemouth

Football League Trophy runner-up: 1997–98