Come on in and join the club! Get our daily Manchester United email newsletter Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The football hooligan banned from ­matches for three years for squaring up to Rio Ferdinand worked as a gardener... for Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton.

He confirmed yesterday he had employed Manchester City fan ­Matthew Stott, 21 – and even praised his attitude.

Sir Bobby, 75, said: “He was a very nice lad. I don’t know what happened at the match.”

Stott, of Knutsford, Cheshire, drank eight pints before running on to the pitch at the Etihad Stadium when Robin van Persie scored a late winner for the Reds in a derby last month.

He said his “world fell apart” with the goal and believed the Dutchman was taunting him.

Stott was fined £145 for running onto the pitch and threatening behaviour.