Snooker -legend Ken Doherty had a embarrassing awkward conversation with the iconic manager of Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson after winning the world championship.
Doherty, 55, won his only world title in 1997 by beating Stephen Hendry at the Crucible and became the toast of Ireland when he returned home for an open-top bus parade in Dublin.
The Darlin 'of the Triumph of Dublin also attracted many other valued figures and was therefore invited to show his trophy in another memorable occasion.
Crafty Ken received an unexpected phone call from Snooker fan Ferguson, 83, who offered him the opportunity to present his title in Old Trafford during the last match of the Premier League season 1996-97.
However, the telephone conversation went completely to the south, because the Irishman suspected that it was a joke of one of his friends and dropped an F-bomb to one of the greatest managers of all time.
Doherty said to The Daily Star: “I received a phone call a week later. I didn't recognize the number, the voice went [does an impression of Ferguson]”Kenny, do you feel like parading that trophy around Old Trafford?”
“I said he had to finish f ***! I thought it was one of my friends who made me up.”
Ferguson, who is known for non -suffering fools, gave a strict reaction that forced the snooker great to support and apologize.
Doherty continued: “He said again:” Kenny, it's Alex Ferguson here, I'm not going to ask you a second time. “
“So I had to apologize. Not many people said that to him and have gone away with it! But he saw the funny side. He loves Snooker.”
Fortunately, the old Trafford -visit went much better than the phone call when Doherty showed his trophy to a radiant man Utd -who celebrated their own Premier League triumph.
And the Snooker -large received the star treatment from Ferguson, who introduced him to Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
Doherty added: “He [Ferguson] showed me around the place. It was the last game of the season and they picked up the Premiership trophy.
“Walking on the field with the trophy, my legs were like jelly. I met all the players.
“Cantona came to me, shook my hand and said:” Congratulations Mr Doherty, welcome to Old Trafford. “
“Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Keane, they couldn't wait to view the trophy and view the names on it. It was great.”