Sir Alex Ferguson has told of the “rottweiler” primary teacher who was one of his biggest influences.
The football legend hailed Elizabeth Thomson, saying her discipline and determination stayed with him and helped drive him to success as a manager.
Mrs Thomson taught Ferguson and his younger brother Martin at Broomloan Road Primary School in Glasgow’s Govan in the 40s and 50s.
The former Manchester United boss said she’d go down the streets chapping on parents’ doors if kids didn’t turn up for school.
Ferguson said: “Elizabeth Thomson was a fantastic inspiration. She was from a well brought up family but she was a rottweiler.
Govan is a working class area, there’s a lot of poverty. If the kid wasn’t in the class she’d be up banging their doors.
“She said ‘If they’re not in, there will be trouble.’
“She was an influence on me in terms of that determination.”
Ferguson, 80, stayed in touch with his former teacher after leaving school and she visited him when he was Aberdeen manager.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
