Among all the memories of Nobby Stiles in the World Cup, European Cup and the old First Division, I recall a match in which Manchester United were playing poorly against Fulham at Craven Cottage in March 1967 and drifting towards defeat, just when they needed at least a point in the League title race.
Nobby was nominally playing alongside Bill Foulkes as a central defender when he decided to sort things out. First he moved into midfield, waking them up, then he moved up front where, in the dying seconds he launched himself at the ball like a heat-seeking missile to somehow bundle it into the back of the Fulham net, to make it an honourable 2-2 draw. After that crucial, morale-boosting point, United went on a relentless run to become League champions.
