Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson has revealed why he's happy that former Manchester United teammate Steve Bruce is now his manager.
Richardson and Bruce face their old club today.
"I well remember that day and the trial," he said. "It was probably the best I had in my life. The gaffer was there and he came over and he said to my dad, 'He could be a player, that kid'. We had a picture taken with him because he's a legend.
"I moved up to Manchester on my own and Steve Bruce would invite me round to his house and take me out for meals. He did really well for me and Jermal Johnson and another lad called Danny Byrne..
"As a kid in a new city, when your parents aren't around it can be daunting. You get lonely. He knew how I felt because he had to leave the North-East to go to Gillingham..
"Steve and his wife are great people and they have great hearts. They were magnificent to me and you never forget that sort of warmth and generosity. At first I couldn't understand him because I was from London and hadn't heard Geordie accents but I got used it..
"Now he's my manager and I know if I am playing rubbish he will tell me. I will always have love for the family and hopefully I can repay a debt by doing well for him now."