JACK Crompton had his slice of Wembley glory with Manchester United 60 years ago - and the FA Cup is still giving him sleepless nights.

The Old Trafford stalwart, who served the Reds as goalkeeper, trainer and even briefly as caretaker manager across five decades, is now president of Curzon Ashton.

And the sprightly 86-year-old felt the old passion of the cup stirring in his veins again as Curzon took a stunning three-goal lead against League Two side Exeter in their first-ever appearance in the first round.

After the UniBond League first division side held on to their lead in the teeth of an Exeter fightback to 3-2, he and wife Sheila are plotting a trip to Kidderminster for the second round tie in a fortnight.

"I needed a sleeping tablet to get to sleep after the game on Saturday," admitted Jack, who became involved with Curzon in 2005 at the urging of Sir Alex Ferguson.

"It was amazing. I don't let my excitement out during the match, but I felt it when I got home.

"I am not a talker at games, either. I just like to watch and concentrate. Everyone around me in the directors' box was jumping up when the goals were going in, so I missed the damned things!"

Jack still enjoys the involvement and personal touch of being involved at Curzon.

"They even made us cushions for our seats with our names on," said Sheila.

Jack has just brought out his life story, in conjunction with another Old Trafford stalwart, club statistician Cliff Butler.

Vital

It chronicles the story of the quietly-spoken man from his days playing for Newton Heath Loco to his Wembley glory in 1948, and then on to his vital role in helping United rebuild in the aftermath of Munich.

And it also reveals the little-known tale of how Jack became United manager for less than a month in 1981 - and faced a player revolt as the club embarked on a Far East tour!

The Reds United set off for Kuala Lumpur with just 11 players after Northern Ireland full back Jimmy Nicholl failed to turn up at the airport, Mickey Thomas fled after showing up for the flight, and Sammy McIlroy escaped from the plane just before the doors closed.

Poor Jack, who was filling in as boss after Dave Sexton got the push and before Ron Atkinson was appointed, rolled into Malaysia with the bare bones of a team, and was accused by one local FA official of belittling his country and insulting his king.

Worse was to follow. He arrived back in Manchester to be told that his services were not required by new boss Atkinson, and was dismissed after 36 years of service, at the age of 60, with a minimum of fuss.

"I had given my all to the club I loved so dearly, and this was how I was being repaid," said Jack. "I know it happens all the time in industry and commerce, but I retained this romantic notion that football was different.

"Needless to say, it shattered my illusions and damaged my affection for the club which had played such an enormous part in my life."

Jack deserved better. He spent 12 years as goalkeeper from 1944 to 1956, winning the FA Cup and contributing to two league championships in 1952 and 1956 - although he did not play enough to claim a medal.

He left to join Luton as first- team coach, with Matt Busby promising him a return to United's backroom staff once he had gained some experience.

The terrible news from Munich in 1958 meant that day came quicker than anyone imagined.

Sadness

United trainer Tom Curry was among the dead, and the Reds' board asked Luton whether they could have Jack back.

After crying his eyes out for his lost pals, Jack drove north to take up his new post in a city crushed by sadness.

He helped the recovering Busby and Jimmy Murphy rebuild the team, and he played an integral part in the moulding of the great Sixties teams which won two league titles, the FA Cup and, of course, the European Cup.

After the Busby era came to an end. Jack again left the club to take up the manager's job at Barrow, then the assistant's jobs at Bury and Preston - the latter under Bobby Charlton.

Tommy Docherty asked him back to coach the reserves for one last glorious spell at United before the axe fell.

Jack had some input into every great United side of the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies and when Sir Alex healed some of his wounds with an open invitation to Old Trafford and a few kind words, he became an avid fan of the Nineties and Noughties teams.

So Jack is better placed than most to indulge in the old pub game of choosing United's greatest-ever XI, but he shies away from the task, instead picking a squad of 16.

His squad is: Schmeichel, G Neville, Carey, Heinze, Byrne, Stam, McQueen, Edwards, Keane, Robson, Giggs, Stiles, Law, Rooney, Charlton, Best.

"FROM Goal Line to Touch Line" by Jack Crompton, with Cliff Butler (Empire £16.95).

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