John Aston Jr.

simplyared

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That night will go down as the most memorable night in the history of the club. I was there, 16 yrs old with my mates, train from Manchester Picadilly to Wembley Central Station. Coppers lining the way from the station to the iconic arena just to keep us all in check. Something you had to accept as so were the times then. However there wasn't going to be any vandalism or aggrivation that night. We were all there to soak up the atmosphere of that hot summer night, mix with the Benfica fans before the game and then witness a football match that had just about everything. Yes Johnny Aston shone that evening. Going on previous performances I didn't even want him anywhere near the starting line-up, but he surprised everyone that evening and he chose to do it on the biggest stage of all. It was a one off but fantastic even so. Fairy tale!
 

MikeeMike

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He was pretty rubbish tbh. I've never known a utd player who got so much stick from the crowd as he did. They used to boo him when he got the ball. Many fans seriously believed he was in the team due to his old fella being on the coaching staff. With all that said that unforgetable evening in the spring of 68 (I was there btw) he surprised us all and put in an incredible performance. However to give him motm was over the top. Bestie was the best player on the field that night.
Not old enough to have understood at the time (2yrs) but watched the whole match a few times. Commentator mentions he was getting stick from supporters for some time in previous matches. He was pretty much key to all attacking moves down that flank.
How good was that wembley pitch !!!
Stepney with no gloves !!!
 

MikeeMike

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That night will go down as the most memorable night in the history of the club. I was there, 16 yrs old with my mates, train from Manchester Picadilly to Wembley Central Station. Coppers lining the way from the station to the iconic arena just to keep us all in check. Something you had to accept as so were the times then. However there wasn't going to be any vandalism or aggrivation that night. We were all there to soak up the atmosphere of that hot summer night, mix with the Benfica fans before the game and then witness a football match that had just about everything. Yes Johnny Aston shone that evening. Going on previous performances I didn't even want him anywhere near the starting line-up, but he surprised everyone that evening and he chose to do it on the biggest stage of all. It was a one off but fantastic even so. Fairy tale!
Respect Sir !!Out of interest , how much was ticket, travel, program etc.
 

Red00012

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Well pardon fecking me whilst half asleep trying to think of a player for comparison, and who a Manchester United fan may have been aware of

In that clip He reminds me of young rashford bursting on the scene kicking the ball past the defender and running after it :wenger:
 

Denis' cuff

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It was pretty tense for 90 minutes. I don’t recall Bestie or any of them having a good game. Benfica kept kicking Bestie off the ball especially in the first half. They were still seething from the El Beatle game. Bobby scored the flick header but Stepney kept us in the game with a save from Eusebio. It was extra time that seemed to fire us into a higher gear. Aston found more freedom on the wing and Bestie ran around their goalie.
Agree with all this.

Two weird things happened: The occasion got to our players, unbelievably, apart from Aston and secondly, Charlton scoring a header. You’d have been laughed at if you suggested either before the game.

Must give it another watch. Bought the vid but only ever seen it once since seeing it live. Still got the ticket stub and programme. Also an Evening Standard special edition sold outside the ground.

On another note, of course Best would occasionally lose the ball. You simply can’t beat every man every time and this wasn’t one of his better games. I think he just knew he had it in himself to turn the game, as he proved here. It’s what made him special. Soon after this, he was single handedly carrying the team of Sartori, James, Edwards, Gowling No wonder he went on the piss. Louis Edwards refused to sign players like England, Shilton, Ball, Todd etc whilst he and Busby were feathering their nests. Crerand, Foulkes, Stiles, Charlton, Law we’re never replaced until several managers copped the flak for the club’s failing before finally benefitting from the Doc’s shrewd stewardship. Sounds familiar, if not quite the same?
 
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EireRed_GS

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Watched the final back again there few weeks ago. He def stood out & was man of the match. So much energy. Sadler had a decent game too.
 

Uniquim

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His dad John Aston Sr also came through the academy, as one of the original babes. His father was the head of the club's youth set-up when his son was coming through. He had a trial at United at 15, but Busby told John Sr that he would pass on Junior. John Sr then set up a trial at Everton, and Everton offered him a contract. John Sr told Busby that John Jr was about to sign for Everton. Busby had said 'you what, how old is he?' and then after hearing he was 15, he replied 'Oh I thought he was 18. You better get him down here,' and that's how he got his contract at United.

Aston Sr was the seventh youth-team player to debut for the club. Aston Jr was No 71. He had travelled with the squad three or four times before his debut, as Denis Law had a bit of a nibbling injury, but had been okay to play after all. Once he finally got his debut in 1965, he didn't know until the pre-match meal, which at the time was steak. I believe it's mostly pasta these days.
 

Mr. MUJAC

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Walter Crickmer started it all...
I vaguely remember watching it with my Dad and what seemed like half the street when I was 5 but up until a few years ago when MUTV showed the whole match i'd only ever seen extended highlights, but i'd seen him 'live' several times years later when he was playing for Luton Town against United.

No i'd say a shorter quicker version of Lee Sharpe
Spot on.
 

Mr. MUJAC

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Walter Crickmer started it all...
His dad John Aston Sr also came through the academy, as one of the original babes. His father was the head of the club's youth set-up when his son was coming through. He had a trial at United at 15, but Busby told John Sr that he would pass on Junior. John Sr then set up a trial at Everton, and Everton offered him a contract. John Sr told Busby that John Jr was about to sign for Everton. Busby had said 'you what, how old is he?' and then after hearing he was 15, he replied 'Oh I thought he was 18. You better get him down here,' and that's how he got his contract at United.

Aston Sr was the seventh youth-team player to debut for the club. Aston Jr was No 71. He had travelled with the squad three or four times before his debut, as Denis Law had a bit of a nibbling injury, but had been okay to play after all. Once he finally got his debut in 1965, he didn't know until the pre-match meal, which at the time was steak. I believe it's mostly pasta these days.
Two good stories about young John.

A few points of clarification about his dad John Aston. He was actually was the 9th youth graduate through our system rather than 7th and wasn't a Busby Babe as he had played in the first team before Busby arrived. He was one of the original 'MUJAC's' which was the youth system that Walter Crickmer devised in the late 1930's. He continued the youth policy throughout the Second World War so that when Busby took over in 1945 he inherited a cracking team. The 'Babes' were the lads that came through in the early 1950's and were all teenagers. Busby (and Murphy/Whalley) didn't really develop the team in the 1940's.
 

SirAnderson

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After reading through this thread, I'd really be up to an anonymous poll of the average age of our posters. Lots of senior people in here. Also lots of 12 year olds also. :nervous:
 

Uniquim

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Two good stories about young John.

A few points of clarification about his dad John Aston. He was actually was the 9th youth graduate through our system rather than 7th and wasn't a Busby Babe as he had played in the first team before Busby arrived. He was one of the original 'MUJAC's' which was the youth system that Walter Crickmer devised in the late 1930's. He continued the youth policy throughout the Second World War so that when Busby took over in 1945 he inherited a cracking team. The 'Babes' were the lads that came through in the early 1950's and were all teenagers. Busby (and Murphy/Whalley) didn't really develop the team in the 1940's.
Thank you for the corrections.

The stories are from an interview with John Jr used in that article Laurie Whitwell wrote for The Athletic, on the 4000-game youth sequence, which they also interviewed you for.

I think Laurie have gotten the numbers mixed, because him being the seventh youth graduate is in the article. Calling him one of the original babes was my own mistake.

Btw, I'm not sure if I ever got around to saying so, but I really enjoyed your book. I learned a lot. Especially about the youth history before the war. Louis Rocca i.e. was someone I'd not heard about at all prior to reading the book.
 

Mr. MUJAC

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Walter Crickmer started it all...
Thank you for the corrections.

The stories are from an interview with John Jr used in that article Laurie Whitwell wrote for The Athletic, on the 4000-game youth sequence, which they also interviewed you for.

I think Laurie have gotten the numbers mixed, because him being the seventh youth graduate is in the article. Calling him one of the original babes was my own mistake.

Btw, I'm not sure if I ever got around to saying so, but I really enjoyed your book. I learned a lot. Especially about the youth history before the war. Louis Rocca i.e. was someone I'd not heard about at all prior to reading the book.
No problem. Really pleased you like the book. I'm still researching the war years and hoping to write an e-book about how the youth policy was continued during that period. Thanks for the message.