Billy recalls parking his truck at Auckland Domain before running to join a training session "then I'd run back to the truck to carry on the day's work."įrom the banks of the River Irwell to the shores of Sicily.
The two would fit in training whenever work allowed. Billy was a tireless, tough defender, a fearless header of the ball and keen on a bit of “interaction” with opposing players. Mark had been named New Zealand Footballer of the Year in 1965 and played First Class cricket for Auckland. They’d just won the First Division championship (now the Premier league), two of their team were World Cup winners and in the following years, this tough professional team would dominate the European competitions.īy contrast, back then Mark Burgess was a young employee at a trading company and Billy Hunter had just started his own trucking business. The Red Devils, as they’re known, were probably the best football team in the world back then. In 1967, their David and Goliath moment occurred when their amateur Auckland XI took the field against First Division champions Man United - at a rugby league ground. It’s been 50 years since Kiwi footballers Mark Burgess and Billy Hunter played against probably the best Manchester United team of all time.īut when they turn up at RNZ’s Auckland studios, both men look fit enough for another 90 minutes and are full of memories. "For the first 10 minutes out there I was so nervous I couldn't breathe." Man u nited, We’re the boys in red and we're on our way to Wem bley! Wem bley, Wem bley, We're the famous Man united and we're going to Wem bley, Wem bley, Wem bley, We're the famous Man united and we're going to Wem bley In Seventy-Seven it was Docherty Atkinson will make it Eighty-Three And everyone will no just who we are, They'll be singing que sera sera U nited. Glory glory Man united, Glory glory Man united, Glory glory Man united, As the reds go marching on on on! Just like the busby babes in days gone by, We’ll keep the red flags flying high, Your gonna see us all from far and wide, Your gonna hear the masses sing with pride.
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