Manchester United are mourning the death of their former goalkeeper David Gaskell, the club's youngest ever player, at the age of 84.
United announced the sad news in a statement on Friday evening. Gaskell, who played 96 times for the club, was just 16 years and 19 days old when he made his debut as an emergency replacement for goalkeeper Ray Wood in the Charity Shield against Manchester City in 1956.
United said in a statement: "Dave was devoted to his beloved wife, Barbara, with whom he shared 68 wonderful years of marriage. He was a proud father to his three daughters, Michelle, Lesley, and Nicola, and a loving grandfather to Joel, Emily, Eleanor, Ted, and Edith. His family was his greatest joy, and his legacy will live on through them.
"In these past few weeks of illness, Dave was surrounded by the love and support of the many friends he made throughout his life—friends who, like so many in Wrexham and beyond, will miss him dearly.
"Dave Gaskell leaves behind not just a remarkable sporting legacy, but an enduring example of kindness, dedication, and humility. He will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him."
United say the story behind his unlikely spot in club history "could have been written for Roy of the Rovers", as he went along to watch the Charity Shield match against City at Maine Road having completed his work on the Old Trafford ground staff that day.
The cub statement went on: "An early injury to starting stopper Ray Wood left United down to 10 men, until coach Bert Whalley grabbed Gaskell from the crowd, pulled together some kit, picked up a spare pair of team-mate Colin Webster’s boots and threw the teenager back onto the field in Wood’s stead.
"Gaskell went on to turn in a man-of-the-match performance, keeping a clean sheet as the Reds won 1-0 – although his appearance had been so unorthodox that most onlookers didn’t realise Wood had been substituted!"
Gaskell would go on spend the next 11 seasons at United as a valued goalkeeping understudy by the legendary Sir Matt Busby, who turned to him in the run in of the 1962-63 season as he helped United stave off relegation and win the FA Cup, beating Leicester in the final.
After he left the club in 1969 he would go on to have spells at Wrexham as well as with clubs in South Africa and Kuwait.
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