Mickey Thomas writes EXCLUSIVELY for Red Passion

I'm still in a nostalgic mood - so here's more reminiscences about my time at OT. Manchester was an hour away from Wrexham by road, but light years away in terms of soccer glamour. I was lucky that the man who bought me - the manager who wanted me so much - was a quiet, sensitive man who tried to understand me. Dave Sexton was a fine tactician, but also a nice bloke. Of course he was not the most charismatic of individuals but he tried to get to the bottom of my disturbed soul; and because of that I respect him - definitely my favourite club manager.

Sexton was a kind, honest and likeable person - yes, very unusual for a football boss. Looking back, I was fortunate that my three years at Old Trafford coincided with his reign at United. He always went out of his way to help me and empathise with me. I remember missing a crucial penalty in one match. Not only that, but it was in front of the Stretford End - it would have been wouldn't it? - and by the end of the game I had 50,000+ rabid fans on my back. I couldn't hack it - that 'p' word 'pressure' again - and I just went AWOL (again). After a few days 'missing' I turned up at Old Trafford, dreading my first encounters with the players and, even more, with the management. I've never been the luckiest person in the world and when I drew up in the OT car park the first car I saw was the gaffer's. He wound his window down and just told me to forget the penalty trauma; he basically said that I was the only guy who had the guts to take the spot-kick, and that he admired and respected me all the more for that. That's the kind of boss I needed - he was gentle, demure and understanding. My sensitive soul could not have coped with a strict disciplinarian. In the end I felt sorry for Sexton. I obviously rated him more than the United Board did. He got the bullet. And when he went, the magic of Man United, for me, disappeared as well.

I'd soon be on my way as well. I had got on well with Dave, and I was grateful to him later in my career when he recommended me to Howard Wilkinson at Leeds. Wilko was interested in signing me and phoned Sexton to discover what he thought. The message he got was: he might have a few problems off the pitch, but you'll never have any trouble with him on it. That was nice to hear. On reflection, Sexton's spell as United boss was unspectacular and unsuccessful - comprising top-flight finishes of 8th, 3rd and 6th - but in my first season we did make it to Wembley. Today, when I look back on a crazy, colourful career, people ask me if I have any regrets. At such times, it's always my mate Dick who chips in and announces that any guy who played 51 times for his country, and also played in an FA Cup final, cannot even think about having regrets. He's right of course.

Cheers