“I have noted your remarks regarding the young boy, and if he would like to come over for two weeks, then we can look after him, and watch him.”

So wrote Alex Ferguson, one of the most revered - and feared - managers in the English game. The letter was dated January, 1988, the “young boy” in question was Shaun Goater, who for some reason appeared to be called Shawn for most of his time at Old Trafford, and it was the beginning of what would turn out to be a long journey for a talented kid from North Village that only ended this weekend.

It had all begun some months before in the days when top English clubs picked their tours based on reasons other than potential shirt sales and opening up new markets - teams like United would never come to Bermuda now when they could go to Thailand or America.

But in the late ‘80s, things were different and a United team packed with stars headed to the Island for a game against the national team and a chance for some ‘let your hair down' relaxation time.

In order to help pick a Bermuda squad for that game, an Under 19 side took on an Under 23 side and a few of the United guys just happened to be watching on the sidelines.

Goater, then a North Village player, came on as sub and so began a chain of events that would see him make his way to England.

“Pretty much as soon as he came on, he went on this incredible run,” recalled Mark Trott, former national coach and current BFA executive member who was then working in sports tourism at the Department of Tourism and had been partly responsible for helping to bring United over.

“When he was in Bermuda, Shaun showed a different side to his game and he was very skilful and always taking on people. He went round about three or four guys and Jesper Olsen turned to Gordon Strachan and said ‘look at this guy, he's pretty good'.”

Goater went on to grab a couple of goals and although he didn't play in the full international against United, his talents had been spotted, the wheels were in motion and Trott decided not to let the matter lie.

United, by this time, had left but Trott decided to pursue it.

“I chatted to some people and we all thought that Shaun had what it took to make the grade,” he continued, clutching copies of those 18-year-old letters as well as some old programmes, which United would later send him on a regular basis.

“There were some other players around at the time, possibly even better than Shaun, but he had a certain attitude and we all knew he was desperate to become a professional footballer.

“I'm not sure what made me write that letter, it was just something that came to me one day and I thought, why not?

“And I can tell you now that I am glad I did.”

Ferguson's initial response was an apology for a delay in replying and an explanation that United's presence in two cup competitions in the coming January weeks would make it difficult to accommodate him.

But the letter ended with the positive news of a two-week invitational for trials in March when the weather had improved.

In February a follow up letter came from Joe Brown, the club's youth development officer, inviting Goater from March 14 to March 28, but he would have to pay his airfare himself - something former BFA president Charlie Marshall's company stumped up the bill for.

“The accommodation for Mr. Goater will be paid for by ourselves,” read the letter.

“And Mr. Goater will be with one of our landladies and I can assure you that he will be very well taken care of.”

And so the journey began for a player who would later repay Manchester United's kindness by scoring twice against them for arch-rivals City in one of his most memorable performances.