Chapter Twelve: Legacy in the Stands
Old Trafford – Evening Before the Season Opener
The stadium was quiet.
No chants, no drums. Just the hum of floodlights overhead and the far-off clang of a turnstile being tested.
Mason sat alone, mid-row in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand. Jacket zipped to his throat, arms folded tight.Watching the pitch like it might tell him something.
Sir Alex Ferguson arrived without fanfare, as if summoned by instinct.
"You made a mess of preseason," Fergie said as he eased down beside him. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Three systems. A few heavy legs. Letting Roma score three on their own pitch."
Mason didn't look at him. "You watched that one?"
"Watched all of them. I might be retired, son, but I've still got my habits."
Mason gave a dry smile. "No points to drop in preseason. Just lessons."
"Aye. And bruises. You'll wear them when the real thing starts."
They both stared out at the pitch. The grass was cut low, perfect, the corner flags still stiff in the wind.
"You ever sit up here the night before?" Mason asked.
Fergie nodded slowly. "Every year. Every season. Right up until my last. No matter the trophies, no matter the team sheet... the night before's always the same."
"Quiet?"
"No. Loud. In your head. You question everything. Not because you're unsure—but because this place matters that much."
Silence settled again. Mason exhaled through his nose, gaze fixed, jaw tight.
"You've stirred the dressing room," Fergie said. "I walked through yesterday. The air's different. Serious. Focused. That's not bad."
Mason finally looked at him.
"But it's not belief."
Fergie shrugged. "That comes after their first real loss. Or their first impossible win. They'll follow you when you suffer with them. Not before."
He stood up, old knees creaking just slightly. Rested a hand on Mason's shoulder.
"You don't need to prove anything to me."
"I'm not trying to."
"Good. Then don't ever start."
He began walking toward the exit, then paused and turned back.
"Tomorrow—it won't feel like your club yet. Let it feel like theirs first. Then earn it."
"You watching from the box?" Mason asked.
Fergie smiled.
"No. Up here. Where the ghosts sit."
And he was gone.
Mason looked back at the pitch one more time.
Tomorrow, it begins.
Sky Sports Live – Pre-Match Coverage
Premier League 2013/14: Manchester United vs Fulham
Broadcast from outside Old Trafford – buzzing crowds, bright banners, and the Premier League anthem humming under the surface.
David Jones (host):"Welcome to Old Trafford on a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon, and to the beginning of the post-Ferguson era. Today marks the official debut of new manager Mason Grant, a name that—until a few months ago—most of us had never even heard. Now he's in the hot seat."
Gary Neville:"He's not come up through United. Not through England. There's a sense of mystery about him. But what we do know is this: Grant has made bold moves—Van Dijk, Kroos, Salah, Son, Cancelo... He's not patching holes. He's building from scratch."
Jamie Carragher:"And with those kinds of signings, he'll be judged early. If he flops, it'll be chaos. But if he clicks? The league could be in serious trouble."
Neville:"Preseason was experimental. Not always fluid. But there were moments—glimpses—of structure and control. If he can bring that into a competitive match... he might be onto something."
David Jones:"First test: Fulham. Solid, aggressive. A potential banana peel if United aren't sharp. Let's see what Grant's United is made of."