Not far from the Wallace Monument and a cross-court pass away from a giant Andy Murray photograph (very important information right thur), Ferguson was in Stirling University to receive the latest honour in a football career that began as a 16-year-old striker with Queen's Park in 1957, and as a manager down the road at East Stirlingshire in 1974, three years before Villas-Boas was born (more very important info, ty daily mail).
Ferguson has now an honorary doctorate to go with the knighthood, OBE, CBE and freedom of the cities of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Manchester. There are a few winners' medals in there as well.
But, as he told the Stirling graduates of 2011: 'It's still a great honour to be appreciated. I've had many honours but I still appreciate it. You have now a foundation - it's not a passport to success but it's an endorsement.'
He recalled two teachers from his Glasgow schooldays who inspired him. One left him the school belt when she died, which told a story, while the other is clearly responsible for some of that famous Ferguson relentlessness. He remembered being shouted at by a sports teacher who was 'an absolute winner, beyond the pale'. It could be said the message sunk in.
Half a century and more on, Ferguson, 69, was repeating it on the converted tennis courts where Murray practised and where his mother Judy still coaches. uh i know it's ~Wimbledon fever~ and all that but do we really need to hear about murray in every single article, daily mail?
If 'hard work' was one of the messages Ferguson gave to his young audience here, the other was drilled into him at Govan High School: 'Never give in' - or 'nivir gi' in'. That's how it sounded and it sounded like he meant it.
The students were also left in no doubt as to the importance of 'humility', as personified, he said, by two other Manchester United knights, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Bobby Charlton, and of 'enthusiasm - don't underestimate enthusiasm' as defined by Sir Bobby Robson (Robson played a vital part in giving the teenage Villas- Boas an opportunity, so there is shared admiration). Ferguson also expressed gratitude for the 'luck' he has had and wished three pregnant graduates all of it. It was a speech to send them on their way.
When it was done Ferguson posed in his silver gown and was besieged by autograph hunters. He signed and smiled, signed and smiled. It was a warm day and a warm occasion. The university chancellor, James Naughtie, of Radio 4's Today programme, was beaming. As an Aberdeen fan Naughtie was in Gothenburg on the night in May 1983 when Ferguson's Aberdeen beat Real Madrid to win the Cup-winners' Cup.
this terribly written article comes courtesy of the daily fail
www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/artic