They're so erratic it's almost criminal... so I rang 999! Drunk United fan who demanded to speak to Fergie explains his rant

By Paul Collins

Published: | Updated:


The Manchester United fan who rang 999 to speak to Sir Alex Ferguson has apologised.

After United crashed out of the Capital One Cup semi-final to Sunderland last week, 56-year-old Martin Davies rang emergency services and demanded to speak to legendary boss Ferguson to persuade him to return to his helm and replace David Moyes.

Now Davies, who was drunk at the time, has explained his actions.

Don't bother us! Greater Manchester Police posted this message after a drunk man phoned in on Wednesday

Don't bother us! Greater Manchester Police posted this message after a drunk man phoned in on Wednesday

Trouble: The man rang in drunk after watching Manchester United lose on penalties against Sunderland

Trouble: The man rang in drunk after watching Manchester United lose on penalties against Sunderland

Call me! The man demanded to speak to Sir Alex Ferguson while on the phone to the police

Call me! The man demanded to speak to Sir Alex Ferguson while on the phone to the police

TRANSCRIPT OF THE CALL

Fan: Yeah could I speak to Sir Alex Ferguson please?

999 respondent: Not by 999 telephone line.

Fan: Sir Alex. The result is all wrong. They had extra time and it was a total and utter load of rubbish.

999: Is there a crime you need to report?

Fan: Yeah a crime. I’ll report a crime.

999: What crime is that?

Fan: The crime is that Man Utd… Man Utd were absolutely knackered.

999: Can I take your name? Address? I’m going to clear the line, OK?

Fan: Yeah can you phone me back?

999: No.

Fan: Why?

999: This is not a police matter.

Fan: Are you a police woman?

999: No I’m a member of police staff, but this is not a 999 matter.

Fan: 999 matter, oh I see, right. OK then…

999: Goodbye.

Fan: Yeah, bye bye. 

He told the Sunderland Echo: 'I was watching the game with a couple of friends. One of them was a Manchester City fan so I was getting a bit boisterous. I guess I was goaded into ringing.

'It was a spur of the moment thing. I was upset as I’ve been a fan since I was six.

'They’ve become so erratic it’s almost criminal. So I rang 999.

'I wanted to speak to Sir Alex to get him to come back and sort them out. But I knew there was no point in calling Old Trafford so I thought I’d ring the police.

'I guess I made an error. I mean they could’ve arrested me for wasting police time.'

Greater Manchester Police have now advised Manchester United supporters not to ring 999 if they want to speak to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The male fan told the police that he did indeed want to report a crime, and that the crime was that Manchester United were 'completely knackered'.

He also added that the 'result was all wrong' and that it was a 'total and utter load of rubbish'.

The fan, like thousands of others, had watched on aghast as United somehow conspired to knock themselves out of the cup and fail to set up a Wembley final with rivals Manchester City next month.

The game was a microcosm of United's season. They went ahead thanks to Jonny Evans but failed to hammer home their advantage and rather limped to penalties after Phil Bardsley - thanks to an horrific mistake by goalkepper David de Gea - had looked like giving the visitors a win in extra time. 

Beaten: United missed four out of their five penalties and were knocked out of the Capital One Cup

Beaten: United missed four out of their five penalties and were knocked out of the Capital One Cup

Gutted: To pile on the misery, David de Gea made an uncharacteristic mistake for Phil Bardsley's equaliser

Gutted: To pile on the misery, David de Gea made an uncharacteristic mistake for Phil Bardsley's equaliser

Shocker! Sunderland booked their place in the Wembley final against United's rivals Manchester City

Shocker! Sunderland booked their place in the Wembley final against United's rivals Manchester City

However, in an echo of Ferguson's old teams where no cause was a losing one, Javier Hernandez equalised in added time to take the game to penalties.

Phil Jones, Rafael, Danny Welbeck and Adnan Januzaj then all missed in the shootout as Sunderland progressed.

Most watched Sport videos