ERIC HARRISON

Guest speaker at the HABFC Dinner Evening on Friday 16th April 2010 @ The Locker Room

Eric Harrison was born in the small West Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge in 1938, some years later he fulfilled his ambition of becoming a professional footballer at his local club Halifax Town.

His professional career in the lower leagues firstly with Halifax Town, Hartlepool United under the legendary Brian Clough, Barrow, Southport and Scarborough lasted 17 years and encompassed more than 550 league and cup games.

On His retirement from playing he joined Everton as youth coach and in his nine years at Goodison Park rose to become first team coach. In 1981 Ron Atkinson the newly installed Manchester United manager brought Eric to Old Trafford as youth team manager, a post in which he had an immediate impact uncovering and nurturing the talent of Mark Hughes and Norman Whiteside amongst many others.

When Ron Atkinson was replaced with Alex Ferguson in 1986 a youth structure under Eric's guidance was created which culminated in the “class of 92” a group of young players including Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville who were to become the nucleus of the Manchester United side which has been so successful in English and European football.

After finishing his 17 year spell at Manchester United Eric took the assistant managers job with Mark Hughes and the Welsh national side and is now the head coach for the Davis Beckham soccer academy and Head coach for McDonalds soccer schools.