LEGENDARY footballer Ralph Milne has spoken for the first time about his greatest moments on the pitch and his battle with the booze off it.
In an exclusive interview with the Record, the 47-year-old talked openly about the struggles he has faced since leaving football The Dundee United striker was one of the most exciting players of the 1980s, bemusing opponents with electric pace. He went on to play for Manchester United - but always enjoyed a big drink.
He was once ordered by his doctor to cut back on alcohol. But the father-of-two admitted the change in lifestyle proved a bit difficult. He said: "I went to the doc because I wasn't feeling great and he said I had to cut my intake down or risk some pretty serious health problems. "I went away with that warning and I managed to drop from 20 to 19 pints a session. That's how bad it was."
Last year, he decided enough was enough and quit the booze overnight.
Ralph said: "I started drinking lime and sodas in an effort to sort myself out but after a bit I couldn't speak. "My face was totally paralysed and I thought I was having a stroke. I was in a right state and in a panic I rushed to A&E. "The doctors said my body was reacting to coming off the drink too quick and they actually told me to get back down to the pub and have a pint and try to give up much more slowly."
The Record caught up with Ralph in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, where he is staying with a relative. He talked warmly about his career, saying: "I have absolutely no regrets and wouldn't change a thing. "I've got some fantastic memories of my time as a footballer and loved every minute of it. "I got the chance to play for Dundee United and Manchester United and scored some fantastic goals along the way. What more could a man want?"
Ralph signed for Dundee United under hardline manager Jim McLean in 1977.
His debut two years later was the catalyst for some of the most exciting attacking football seen at Tannadice.
On his day, Ralph was unstoppable, often leaving international defenders such as Roy Aitken, Alex McLeish and Willie Miller tackling thin air.
He reserved his best performances for the European stage, scoring 15 goals - a record that still stands and one that is not likely to be beaten.
And no Arabs fan will forget his breathtaking chipped goal which secured the club's league championship in 1983.
He said: "It was a great time to be a footballer. Some of the stuff we played was out of this world.
"There were times when I could run around everybody and score for fun.
"You can teach someone a bit of skill and how to pass a ball but it is impossible to teach pace. That's what I had and it terrified the best defenders in the land."
He had a tempestuous relationship with McLean - and claims the tough manager picked on him despite a host of match-winning displays.
In one case, he was fined a week's wages by the gaffer for simply leaving the gym light on.
In McLean's autobiography, Jousting With Giants, he says: "If I had an outstanding failure then it was Ralph Milne. He had tremendous talent. He did not have the right attitude."
Ralph left Dundee United in 1987 and moved to Charlton and then Bristol City, where he landed his big break.
After one training session, he was called into manager Joe Jordan's office thinking that a move to Aberdeen was on the cards.
But instead, it was Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.
Ralph said: "When Joe said Fergie wanted me to play for him I though it was a wind-up until he called Old Trafford and handed the phone to me.
"Alex was on the other end and asked if I fancied going to United. Did I fancy it? I'll remember that call as long as I live - I couldn't get to Manchester quick enough."
Ralph signed for s125,000, replacing Republic of Ireland star Kevin Moran in the Red Devils' dressing room where he was given a peg between hellraising drinkers, Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath.
The notorious pair were recovering from injuries at the time and it wasn't long before Ralph was hitting the town with them on all-day benders.
Ralph said: "Although Fergie tried to stamp it out, we'd always end up drunk in some bar somewhere. Norman and Paul were heavy boozers and there was a macho culture at the club which meant I had to keep up."
Ralph's time at Old Trafford didn't work out. Ralph was pilloried by Reds' supporters who regularly list him in their "worst-ever-signings" team. But the short-sighted fans only saw glimpses of his true skill.
Ralph's most surreal footballing moment came in the twilight of his career when he was asked to try out for Hong Kong club Sing Tao.
He turned up to meet the club's UK agent. He took Ralph to London's St James' Park, ordered him to change behind a tree and told him to start dribbling the ball in the shadow of Buckingham Palace. Ralph repeatedly beat him and was signed.
When Ralph retired, he took over a pub near Bristol, which he ran for about 10 years before returning to Dundee three years ago.
Ralph admits he has little to show from his time as a pro and like George Best, he says he spent his money on "booze, birds and gambling and wasted the rest."
Loyal pals have given him a number of low-paid jobs over the years - he recently worked as a delivery driver before being arrested for alleged drink-driving as he headed to work one morning.
Last month, Ralph, who has two grown up sons, attended the funeral of United chairman Eddie Thompson where his appearance sparked fears for his health.
At about the same time, a rumour also started that he was a down-andout, living in a homeless hostel.
But Ralph denied the claim and urged people not to worry about him.
He said: "I sign about two or three autographs a day and can't walk down the street without someone shaking my hand with a big grin on their face and that, to me, is what it's all about."
'They told me to get back down the pub, have another pint and give up slower'
0
Comments
Complete pisshead.
You only had to look at him to see he wasn't, let's be kind, athletic.
And if a player in his prime is carrying too much weight, must have had a drinking reputation at Dundee Utd easy to find out, then he surely doesn't have a professional attitude?
But then Lennie prided himself on picking up washed up underachievers or those who'd lost their way ..... giving them a new lease of life and making them an integral part of his lean, mean, relegation fighting machine.
It's obvious really I suppose, looking back.
Drank like a supporter.
That's right, he was excellent in that game, I remember it well. He must have been locked out of the pub the night before!
[/quote]
I think his main hunger by the time he got to us was for a pint of heavy. I was at Old Trafford when he scored against us, definitely a low point. The ball hit the net (via a big deflection), we all peered through the rain, and there was this fat bloke pogoing about on the edge of the area in celebration. The whole experience was like something out of one of Jeremy Beadles shows.
His only contribution was knocking Palace out of the cup after he left us!
?
Definitely not a good reputation, though.
I well remember his gilt-edged chance in the Full Members Cup final which he blasted straight against the keeper. Other than that I can't think of any other goal scoring opportunities he ever had in his time for us.
Agreed, Veron was abysmal and at a mere 26.8 million quid more expensive than Ralph should be Fergies worst signing.
What's it all about, Ralphie?
Nope .... he looks 58. And knackered out.
Ridiculous for people to still go on about his time at Man United, he only cost them about 150,000 or something paltry.
That's a nice way of saying that Milne was drummed out of the club.
And then Lennie, with his reputation for salvaging 'lost cause' quality players, decided to take a punt.
As did Old Misery Guts Fergie a couple of years later, as he already knew the player.
However, having read this, ...
"He admits he rues the day he ever left Dundee United, to be cast adrift at Charlton Athletic, where he endured a jolting culture shock. His bitterness grew all the more acute when, in 1987, he watched his hometown club beat Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup: "I thought, I should be playing there, not at
Crystal Palace."
... I now think he's just a washed up old c**t!
I can remember a few of the squad around that time would have a "sociable" drink or two in the social club at welling post match after the reserves , Andy Jones springs to mind