Sheffield United's greatest ever player reveals why he texts Chris Wilder and looks back on another famous win over Man Utd

But at around 10 o’clock on last night, after watching Sheffield United stun Manchester United in front of the television cameras, Bramall Lane’s greatest ever player reached into his pocket, composed a congratulatory text and quickly pressed the ‘send’ button on his mobile phone. The recipient, as always, was Chris Wilder.

“Ever since he became the manager, I’ve enjoyed watching us play,” Currie says, explaining why the ritual developed following Wilder’s appointment. “I’ve genuinely looked forward to every game because of how his team goes about things. So I think it’s important to let him know just how proud they've made me. I want them to realise that myself, all of us in fact, are always right behind them because of the way they carry themselves.”

Wilder spoke about how much he values the support of Currie, Len Badger, Ted Hemsley and other members of United’s old guard during the post-match interviews; telling The Star he was “looking forward to reading” what they had to say during the journey back to South Yorkshire. Together with Tony Agana, a friend and former colleague during his own playing career, the trio have been a constant source of encouragement, companionship and at times advice since the 53-year-old took charge five years ago; leading a squad which had just finished mid-table in League One towards the first of two promotions less than 12 months later.

Despite coming ninth last term, and challenging for a place in Europe before the first national lockdown robbed them of their momentum, United have found victories harder to come by this season. The one they achieved over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad, with goals from Kean Bryan and Oliver Burke bookending Harry Maguire’s equaliser, was only their second in the Premier League since returning to action in September and their first at Old Trafford for nearly half a century.

“I’m expecting a phone call off TC and Badge,” Wilder admitted afterwards. “I get messages off those three, Ted as well, week in week out. It’s the same with a lot of the old boys, like Tony Agana, others I played with and others I’ve got to know. This club has always had that feeling about it, hasn’t it. The people here don’t forget, it just seems to draw you in. It’s a club that, no matter where you are in the world, always stays with you. Badge, Ted and TC will all be in touch, I know, because they care.”

Speaking from his home near Worksop 24 hours later, Currie admits he doesn’t actually remember his goal against Manchester United in December 1973. But, expressing his belief that United’s latest win over the 20-time champions can inspire what would be a remarkable march towards survival, the former England midfielder confesses he would have swapped that success 48 years ago for one when the two clubs met in the North West a couple of years earlier; a superb solo effort from George Best helping condemn United to a 2-0 defeat.

“We’d just come up and went there top of the table if my memory serves me correctly,” he says. “There were 20,000 odd people locked out, so many had come over from Sheffield. I was talking to a bloke only the other day who gave his ticket away, tried to get in and couldn’t, and was back home in Sheffield by half-time. If we’d have won that, who knows what would have happened? But Ted, who’d kept Bestie really quiet, went off injured and they got two late goals.”

“We knew we had matchwinners, like Billy Dearden, Woody (Alan Woodward) and myself, so our manager John Harris just used to let us go out and play,” Currie continues. “Obviously things are different now, but the lads should have that belief in themselves too because, genuinely, they could easily be on 20 or 24 points."

Describing how he celebrated a triumph which, despite failing to lift United off the foot of the table saw them move to within 10 points of safety - “I punched the air and shouted ‘yes’ at the top of my voice” - Currie, like Wilder, was impressed with the tactical discipline and “bravery in possession” they demonstrated against opponents with more than £420m worth of talent in its starting eleven.

As United prepare for Saturday’s return to Manchester, where they face leaders City, he acknowledges those two qualities must again be in evidence at the Etihad Stadium.

“The other night, we defended fantastically well,” Currie, who made nearly 400 appearances for United after signing in 1968, emphasises. “We kept Rashford quiet, Paul Pogba, who has now got his head straight and is a better player than I thought he was, he was quiet too. Yes, Manchester United had a lot of the ball but they didn’t create too much with it, and we had other chances as well. We’re creating chances. We just need to finish them better, take those big moments, like we just have done.”

Despite the euphoria provoked by this week’s events, the odds are still stacked against United as they battle to retain top-flight status. However, convinced that “if anyone can do it, Chris and these boys can”, Currie is adamant there are mitigating factors behind the situation United find themselves in. They include the loss of several influential figures, including defenders Jack O’Connell and Enda Stevens, to injury.

“People have to realise what a big miss Jack has been,” Currie says. “Not only defensively, but also for his forward play and the little triangles he played with Enda and John Fleck. Enda has been in and out to. The same as Flecky.

“It’ll be tight, but I still think we can do it. And whatever happens, Chris is the best man for the job."

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