Ferguson's 1st team sheet goes under hammer

DEVIZES, England (AP) — The hand-written official team sheet from Alex Ferguson's first game as manager of Manchester United is expected to raise up to 3,000 pounds ($4,700) when it is sold at auction on Saturday.

United's 2-0 loss to Oxford United on Nov. 8, 1986, was the first of 1,500 league games under Ferguson, who retired last month after nearly 27 years in charge.

A fan who was given the team sheet by former Oxford player Peter Rhoades-Brown as a souvenir has put it up for sale in Devizes, Wiltshire.

Andrew Aldridge, an auctioneer for Henry Aldridge and Son, says "the (United) team in November 1986 was a little different to the star-studded affair for Sir Alex's last game in charge that included global stars such as Robin van Persie."