SIR Alex Ferguson is widely renowned as being one of the greatest managers that this country has ever seen.

Thirteen Premier League titles, two Champions League cups, plus numerous other honours were won by the Scot during an illustrious 27 years while in charge of Manchester United.

But history could have been so different if Hereford United had produced one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history.

Ferguson was under severe pressure to win some silverware when he brought his Old Trafford side to a muddy Edgar Street for an FA Cup Fourth Round tie on January 28, 1990.

A solitary Mark Robins goal saw them home against Nottingham Forest in the previous round that reportedly saved his job, but surely he would not have dodged the bullet if little old Hereford had knocked his big guns out of the cup?

The Bulls were in the Old Fourth Division but managed to get to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the fifth team in their history having disposed of Farnborough, Merthyr and Walsall.

Cup fever gripped Hereford, with Danny Lee singing "Hereford United, We All Love You" and the famous Hereford Bull being paraded around Edgar Street prior to kick-off.

The game itself was nothing to write home about, but it will forever be remembered for 13,777 fans cramming into Edgar Street and the Bulls being just six minutes away from earning a money-spinning tie.

Star-studded names such as Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Brian McClair all played for the Red Devils that day but they struggled to breach a Hereford defence that was marshalled expertly by Paul Hemming and Darren Peacock.

It was left to Clayton Blackmore to grab the decisive late winner and Manchester United went on to win the FA Cup that season.

It was Ferguson's first trophy at the Old Trafford helm and the rest they say is history.

One person who remembers that day 25 years ago is Mark Jones, who played in the game for Hereford.

He said he will always remember the atmosphere and how the game was nearly called off due to heavy rain that caused the Merton Meadow car park top be flooded for the first time.

"We expected the game to be called off because when we got to the ground there was mud everywhere," said Jones, a midfielder who joined the Bulls from Walsall.

"We had three days in Torquay because it took us completely away from playing football and the whole city was buzzing about playing Man Utd," said Jones, who is now a 47-year-old lorry driver living near Walsall.

"Clayton Blackmore won it for them six minutes from time, which was gutting.

"I kicked the ball in my own half and they went on to score, which was a bit gutting personally and for the club.

"The thing they always bang on about is the Nottingham Forest game and how Alex Ferguson would have been out of a job if Man United had lost.

"But I'm pretty sure if we had beaten them, he would have been out.

"I will always remember it, especially the atmosphere.

"I cannot believe it was 25 years ago."

Jones left United at the end of that season and played locally in the Beazer Homes League before retiring due to injury.

He said he always looked out for Hereford's results and was saddened to hear of their demise.

"I feel sorry for all the people there because it was a lovely club," said Jones.

"They had people there who promised so much but didn't deliver, it's sad."

Teams: Hereford United: Elliott, M A Jones, Devine, Hemming, Peacock, Pejic, M Jones, Narbett, Robinson, Benbow, Tester.

Man Utd: Leighton, Anderson, Martin, Donaghy, Duxberry, Pallister, Blackmore, Ince (Beardsmore), McClair, Hughes, Wallace.