It is a photograph that never ceases to draw smiles from Manchester United followers. Lined up behind Eric Harrison, then the club's youth team coach, are a clutch of fresh-faced hopefuls, leaning jauntily against one and other, grinning broadly.
Sir Alex Ferguson described his youthful class of the early 1990s as "the heartbeat of the club" and, having disproved the theory that "you win nothing with kids" to collect the 1995-96 Premiership title, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, went on to enjoy stellar careers at Old Trafford.
Harrison remains at a loss to explain how such a rich seam of local talent was picked at virtually the same time. All of the boys were from the Greater Manchester area, with the exception of Beckham. (The rest would always tease him about his Essex roots, and he gave them plenty of ammunition. Scholes, Butt, Gary Neville and Beckham all got Ford Escort cars when they signed professional terms, and Beckham promptly jazzed his up with alloys and leather seats.)
The old analogy about London buses – wait for one and then they all turn up – just does not cut it. Fergie's Fledglings (that name never did really stick) seemed the work of a higher power. It increasingly does as the years tick by. Today, at United and the other Big Four clubs, the time of the young local superstar appears over.
United's starting line-up in the 1–0 Carling Cup defeat at Derby County on Wednesday night featured two Englishmen, Scholes was one of them, and three Irishmen. Danny Welbeck, the striker, is the great Mancunian hope and as at every club in the land when their own are concerned, there is a tremendous desire among diehards to see him do well.
In the other Carling Cup semi-final first leg, the Tottenham team and home crowd were energised by the half-time introduction of Jamie O'Hara against Burnley. O'Hara, a homegrown product who supported Spurs as a boy, stirred everyone as he put both body and soul on the line. The big question, though, involves whether Welbeck will ever establish himself as a United regular? Or, for that matter, will O'Hara at Tottenham?
Welbeck's task is enormous. Like Chelsea, who have not brought through a homegrown player since John Terry, United have shown themselves to be quite prepared to spend lavishly on the finished article – in addition to bringing in young foreign talents such as today's new signing, Ritchie De Laet. Consequently, when Welbeck looks ahead of him, he sees Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. Even if United do not commit the £32m necessary to make Tevez's deal permanent at the end of the season, would Sir Alex Ferguson turn to Welbeck or open the club's chequebook again?
The globalisation of the game, coupled with the imperative for instant results and gratification, has served to stifle the dreams of players in the academy ranks of top clubs. With scouting networks so sophisticated and extensive, only the genuinely world-class can emerge into the Premier League's biggest teams. At United, the names of Da Silva and Possebon provide an exotic contrast to those of 15 years ago. Welbeck and his counterparts across the country know that it has never been tougher.
