It's nineteen years since a Champions League group stage went ahead without Manchester United. That year, a woefully unequipped Blackburn Rovers side, whose manager had just toddled off, went out to represent the Premier League and departed with a whimper.
That was the season when the class of '92 announced themselves. United bought no one in the summer, sold off three of their marquee players and relied on both the youngsters and established players like Keane, Schmeichel and, yes, Eric Cantona.
What of the players who lived on the fringes of that team. The lads who were called upon for dreary League Cup games. The lads who always got their run in pre-season games against Shelbourne - matches filmed for the benefit of United's magazine video.
(Incidentally, in the 1994 game at Tolka Park, Ryan Giggs was about to take a corner, when a girl sauntered up to him kissed him on the cheek before skipping back to her friends. If anyone has that video or knows that girl, get in contact).
Here are the forgotten squad players from United's last (glorious), Champions League-less season.
* We are aware these screengrabs are from the 1996-97 edition of Championship Manager but we have found the 1995-96 version difficult to obtain.
Pat McGibbon
Lurgan born McGibbon signed for Manchester United from Portadown in 1992. He was one of the lesser celebrated imports of 1992 (the other was Eric Cantona). McGibbon made only one appearance for United and it was desperately inauspicious.
He was at the heart of the defence when United took on York City in the League Cup at Old Trafford. They lost 3-0 and McGibbon was sent off.
He spent the next couple of seasons as a 'permanent loanee' being farmed out to Swansea and Wigan before signing for the latter. He won seven caps for Northern Ireland.
In recent years he has coached Newry Town and was assistant manager at Monaghan United.
Graeme Tomlinson
In a career scarred by injury, Tomlinson never broke into the United team. Prior to a shattering leg-break, Ferguson told the player he saw him as a 'key part of United's future.' He moved on to Bradford City.
He is a part-time DJ.
Chris Casper
Another injury wrecked career, Casper joined Manchester United as a trainee in 1991 and made four appearances for the first team, featuring when they won the 1994 Charity Shield.
After moving to Reading, a horrific injury suffered after a tackle against Cardiff forced him to retire aged 27. He won damages against the guilty player, Richard Carpenter in an out-of-court settlement.
He later coached the Bath University side to the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in a century.
Terry Cooke
Currently living in Colorado, Cooke spent the bulk of his career playing in the US before finishing up in the Azerbaijani league. He made four appearances for United, gaining one assist after whipping in a cross for Ryan Giggs to score in 1995.
Ben Thornley
The player Gary Neville considered the best of the '92 bunch.
The prince of the fringe players from that season, Thornley probably came closest too breaking into the team proper earning nine appearances. A familiar tale among this batch of players, his career was stunted by injuries.
Later on, he played for Huddersfield and Aberdeen. He currently works for Old Trafford in hospitality and does co-commentary for MUTV radio.
John O'Kane
A right back who was in line for a first team place until Gary Neville was re-purposed as a full-back. O'Kane went on to have a decent career, playing for a host of clubs including Burnley, Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool. He currently works as a support worker in Darwen.
Simon Davies
Not Spurs' Simon Davies, but also a Welshman, the United Davies played 20 times for United and even scored against Galatasaray in a 4-0 win in a dead rubber Champions League group game in 1995. He later played for Luton Town, Rochdale and Jeff Stelling favourite Total Network Solutions.
He is currently assistant manager to Manchester City's U-21 side.
