Peter Beardsley is recognised as one of Newcastle United’s greatest ever players, but it could have been completely different if Alex Ferguson had got his hands on him.
The attacking midfielder enjoyed two memorable stints on Tyneside, with the first being alongside club legend Kevin Keegan.
Peter Beardsley was mentored by Keegan, helping him become the Newcastle United legend fans know so well to this day.
The now 64-year-old was then coached by Keegan during his second stint at Newcastle from 1993 before his mentor’s exit during the 1996/97 season.
To this day, Beardsley is still one of Newcastle’s top goalscorers, despite the arrivals of players like recently departed duo Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak.
While fans recognise Beardsley as one of the best players the club have ever had, Sir Alex Ferguson was keen to bring him to Manchester United in 1992.
Sir Alex Ferguson opted for Eric Cantona over Newcastle United legend Peter Beardsley
Beardsley initially rejected Newcastle in 1979 before eventually joining the Magpies four years later. He enjoyed a brilliant first stint on Tyneside before joining Liverpool, where he won six trophies.
However, it was while he was at Everton that he caught Ferguson’s eye, but in the end, they signed Eric Cantona from Leeds United for £1m due to a well-timed phone call from their managing director at the time.
“Dion Dublin broke his leg against Palace,” Ferguson told ESPN. “So we started scouring about trying to get someone in.
“Peter Beardsley wasn’t really playing for Everton at the time so I went to Martin Edwards’ office and said, ‘Why don’t we try to sign Peter Beardsley?’
“When I was in there the phone went, it was Bill Fotherby from Leeds asking if we’d sell Dennis Irwin. During the call I wrote Cantona’s name on his pad. They said they would come back to us in half an hour.
“Half an hour to discuss a player like Cantona? Something like that should have taken five days. I knew there was something up and they came back to us and said they’d sell him for £1m. We signed him the next day.”
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Peter Beardsley could not believe Newcastle United signed Alan Shearer in 1996
Beardsley had the fortune of playing alongside Newcastle’s record goalscorer, Alan Shearer on Tyneside, but for only one season.
Despite that, the pair remain great friends outside of football, and are well-loved by the Newcastle fans.
Shearer joined for a fee of £16m in 1996, a world record at the time. Older fans will remember waiting out in the rain to see the local hero unveiled outside the Gallowgate stand at St James’ Park. From then, they knew they were onto a winner.
Beardsley was no exception to that, as he and Les Ferdinand were delighted to welcome Shearer back home.
“I would say he’s the best centre forward in the country,” Beardsley told a news outlet.
“Everybody realises that.
“When Man United are prepared to pay the same money as we have, I think that makes you see his true value.”
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