NEVILLE TO JOIN ELITE BAND

Last updated : 17 March 2006 By Editor

This from the MEN.

Alex Stepney feels Gary Neville will become part of a dying breed when he joins Manchester United's illustrious 500 club next week.

Providing Neville comes through this weekend's trip to West Brom unscathed, the Red Devils skipper will become only the eighth player in the club's history to reach the landmark.

The 31-year-old will be joining an exclusive band which also includes Sir Bobby Charlton, Bill Foulkes, Tony Dunne, Joe Spence, Denis Irwin, Ryan Giggs and Stepney himself.

All eight will be honoured in a new '500 Club' suite that United have incorporated into their new £43million quadrant expansion.

With Paul Scholes also closing in on the figure, it will not be long before a ninth framed photograph will be required on the walls of the suite, which will be officially opened in August.

But Stepney is not convinced there will be a need for many more, either at United or anywhere else, in future years given the way the game has changed.

"Someone like Gary is a dying breed," said Stepney, the only goalkeeper in United's list, who made 539 appearances in a 12-year stint at Old Trafford from 1966.

"In my day, you could win a league title with 14 players, which could never happen now.

With almost one-third of the new expansion project handed over to `executive' supporters, United have decided to maintain the club theme throughout the new expansion.

Aside from the 500 club, there will also be other dedicated suites such as The 100 Club, featuring players who have scored more than 100 first-team goals for United.

As even chief executive David Gill would acknowledge, filling all the lounges depends, to a large extent, on United continuing to push for honours.

Former Red Devils skippers Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce appear to be scrapping for one Premiership place between them and with United due to face West Brom this weekend and Birmingham eight days later, Sir Alex Ferguson knows he will have a major say in who ends up taking the plunge back into the Football League.

"I am dreading it," said Ferguson. "I don't want anything to happen to either Bryan or Steve.

"It would be better if we were playing them in the last two games, then it might have all been sorted. But all we can do is concentrate on ourselves and get on with our own job."

Aside from the 500 club, there will also be other dedicated suites to:

- The 100 Club - featuring players who have scored more than 100 first-team goals for United.

- The Academy - recognising United's long tradition for producing home-grown talent.

- The Captain's Lounge.

- The Knight's Lounge - dedicated to United's three knights, Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton.

- The 1968 and 1999 suites - commemorating the club's twin European Cup triumphs.

- Evolution - which will chart the development of Old Trafford.

- The Kit Room - which will look at how United's kits have changed down the years.

- The Gallery - the most prestigious of the restaurants, which will showcase original art.