Harrison, left, was the youth coach at United in the early 1990s who helped to launch the careers of players such as (from left) Giggs, Nicky Butt, Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Scholes, and Terry Cooke

As he stood in the hallway, bearing gifts — a carrot cake that he had baked with his kids, plus a bottle of whisky — David Beckham was abruptly told to take off his shoes. He smiled nervously and did as he was told.

Even now, a quarter of a century later, Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and the rest of Manchester United’s fabled Class of ’92 find themselves in thrall to Eric Harrison. His voice, faltering now, still makes them stand to attention. Back in their youth-team days, they feared him. From there grew respect and later, as his teaching sustained them through their glorious careers, reverence.

Now, though, there is pity, there is dismay and there is deep, deep affection for