'For a manager who was to win the Champions League, eight Premiership titles and five FA Cups, as well as gaining a knighthood, a 2-0 league defeat at Oxford United's Manor Ground on a rainy afternoon in November 1986 hardly seemed an auspicious start to Alex Ferguson's Manchester United reign.
It was a gloomy welcome in every sense for Ferguson, who had previously been in charge of Scotland and had taken Aberdeen to success in the European Cup-Winners' Cup.
Ferguson was warned on the eve of the game that he faced the same financial constraints that had been placed on Atkinson, who had spent an astronomical £7 million on players during his five-year reign. Martin Edwards, the United chairman, then made a statement that sounds remarkable today when 40-man squads are the norm. "We have a big staff of 20 players, which is already too many," Edwards said.
The game was memorable only for the way Oxford took the visitors apart. Oxford's way of heralding Ferguson's appointment was to introduce the day's guest of honour – speedway legend Hans Nielsen, the world champion and Oxford Cheetahs rider, who performed a `wheelie' on the pitch before the start.
Once installed in the dugout, Ferguson spent most of the game trying to peer beyond cameras. I remember him being surrounded, not just before the game but during it, by lenses, but somehow he retained his dignity. Just how would he react now to having 20 cameras thrust in his face for 90 minutes?'
And as for the team on the day, the Telegraph does a 'where are they now?'
CHRIS TURNER: Manager with Leyton Orient, Hartlepool and Sheffield Wednesday, until September 2004, when he was sacked amid poor results and internal upheaval.
MIKE DUXBURY: After 14 years at Old Trafford he moved on to Blackburn, Bradford and Hong Kong. Still represents United in five-a-side tournaments. Worked as a sports teacher in Bolton. Now runs an academy for United in Hong Kong.
GRAEME HOGG: After leaving United, played for Portsmouth, Hearts and Notts County. Returned to his native Scotland when he retired as a player and is no longer involved in football.
KEVIN MORAN: Works as an agent and also as football pundit on radio and television. Has been chairman of Legends, the association of former United players.
ARTHUR ALBISTON: Turns out for Manchester United in veteran five-a-side tournaments and does regular radio work in the North-West.
PAUL McGRATH: After retiring in 1997, he was appointed to help player development at Waterford United and became involved in Frank Stapleton's football school but is struggling with off-field problems.
REMI MOSES: Lives in Manchester where he has property investments. Has coached Manchester Warriors under-20s inline skating team.
CLAYTON BLACKMORE: Still plays for Bangor City, aged 40. Wales under-21 assistant manager to Glyn Hodges. Does television work, notably for MUTV.
PETER BARNES: One of the few to play for both Manchester clubs. In demand on the after-dinner circuit and on radio, covering Manchester City.
FRANK STAPLETON: Managed New England Revolution and Bradford City. Has a football school in his native Republic of Ireland. Last year he was enlisted by Bolton to coach their strikers part-time but now works regularly for radio and television.
PETER DAVENPORT: After a brief spell in charge of Macclesfield, he became manager of Bangor City in the League of Wales.
JESPER OLSEN: Moved to Melbourne to start the Australian end of the ProActive agency. The Dane is involved with coaching in schools.