Is there anything Manchester United cannot do to build the brand? Before the weekend’s match with Arsenal, Manchester United fan Norrapon Phadungthai, from Bangkok, Thailand, proposed to his girlfriend Wana Tripongruttanakul in front of Bryan Robson.
In the old days, retired footballers chose life in a newsagent, sports shop or pub. You think of Nottingham Forest skipper Billy Gray in his grocery, Peter Lorimer in his Leeds pub, Lou Macari running his chippy near Old Trafford and Chelsea’s Bobby Tambling manning the till in his eponymous sports kit emporium.
Nowadays most top players retire to the TV sofas. The question ‘Where are they now?’ can be answered, “On Sky Sports talking to Ben ‘Shep’ Shepherd about Celebrity Ninja Warrior.”
But here’s Robson going his own way by acting as ring bearer and witness at a romantic encounter sponsored by DHL.
The wedding package the groom won by playing an online game also seems to include a kickabout Stag Do with Denis Irwin…
And taking in the sights and smells of the home team changing room…
We’re sure it’s the start to big things for Norrapon and Wana. But what next for Robson and former United legends, a branded mobile minyan, perhaps, footballer-o-grams or half-time cheerleading?
Call us, United, we have ideas…