Fullback 1957-70 5ft 10" 10st 7lbs b.Manchester, 6 May 1937 Sat 10th June 2000 Shay Brennan passed away. His memory will linger in the minds of those of us who were privileged enough to watch him play. Debut v Sheff Wed (h) *FAC 5th rnd 19/2/58 scored twice Career: Manchester schools football UNITED pro.22 Apr 55 Waterford (Ire) player/manager Aug 70 Born in Manchester of Irish parents, Shay Brennan was a member of UNITED`s FA Youth cup winning side in 1955. Initially developed as an inside forward he made a memorable senior debut at outside left, scoring twice in the historic Sheff Wed Cup tie, two weeks after thr Munich air disaster. Brennan also scored in the semi-final replay against Fulham at Highbury, but he missed out on a Cup Final place as more senior players recovered from injuries sustained at Munich, became available for selection. He was similarly unfortunate in 63 when he appeared in the first four rounds of the FA Cup and then was deposed by Tony Dunne. A wonderfully likeable man of great Irish charm, Brennan was a cool-headed right back with an excellent positional sense and no littl skill on the ball, who remained a key part of UNITED`s vintage team of the 60`s. His early disapointment were later amply compensated by appearing in the 1968 European Cup winning side. He also won League Championship medals in 65 (played in all 42 games) and in 67. He was awarded 19 caps by thr Republic of Ireland and in 61 twice represented the FA in matches agains the RAF and the Army. In 1986 a crowd of over 10.000 attended a benefit match in Dublin, when UNITED met Shamrock Rovers, after Brennan had suffered a heart attack. He recovered and ran his own parcel courier business in Tranmere, nr Waterford until a triple heart bypass forced him into semi-retirement. He passed away June 10th 2000. RIP Shay ....
Did You Know? Brennan was the first player to be capped for the Republic of Ireland who was born outside of the country. He was the first Manchester United player to receive a pension from the club. As a player at Manchester United, his room mate was Bobby Charlton.
Sat, 10 Jun 2000 United legend Shay is dead By NEIL CUSTIS SHAY BRENNAN, one of Manchester United's 1968 European Cup heroes, has died. Brennan, 63, suffered a heart attack while playing golf in Tramore, Waterford, yesterday. Manchester-born Brennan was thrown into the United first team in the club's first match after the 1958 Munich air crash which devastated the legendary Busby's Babes. The full-back took the field in front of 60,000 fans at Old Trafford, filling in as a right winger and scoring twice in a 3-0 FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Brennan became one of United's unsung heroes, making 355 appearances for the club and winning two League titles before that 4-1 Euro triumph over Benfica at Wembley. Last night, United chairman Martin Edwards said: "Everyone at the club is devastated by the news about Shay. "He will always be remembered as one of the great United players from that European Cup winning team. "He was a wonderful man as well. After he stopped playing he kept in touch with the club and was a regular and very welcome visitor to Old Trafford. "Everyone connected with Manchester United will have great memories of a great player." Former United boss and Brennan's best man Wilf McGuinness said: "The news comes as a big shock. "He was a real star at Manchester United. He was a great character and a great player. And, never mind George Best, Shay was the most handsome of the lot, too." Brennan was the first player born outside Ireland to play for the Republic under the parentage rule. Both his parents were Irish and he won the first of his 19 caps against Spain during a World Cup qualifier in Dublin in May 1965. He also captained his country five times. Current Republic boss Mick McCarthy, who is in New York for the U.S. Cup, said: "The entire party out here is very saddened . "He was one of the game's great characters." Brennan settled in Waterford and played for his local club from 1972, winning two league titles there before hanging up his boots. He ran a parcel courier business until a triple heart bypass forced him into semi-retirement. RIP
Appearances: FL 291 - 3 g FAC 36 - 3 g FLC 4 - 0 g EUR 24 - 0 g Total: 355 apps 6 goals Greetings to Manchester United Supporters "All Over The World".
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