Manchester City icon Shaun Goater recently celebrated his 56th birthday and shared a humorous anecdote from his early days as a Manchester United youth player. He quipped that he could have made more money stacking shelves back home in Bermuda than from his initial club wages.
Goater’s Stellar Legacy at Manchester City
Goater became a hero at Manchester City, netting 84 goals in 184 appearances over five seasons. He led the scoring charts for four consecutive years after joining in 1998 and marked the first City striker to exceed 30 goals in a season since Francis Lee. His highlights include helping City return to the Premier League and scoring a memorable brace against Manchester United in the final derby at Maine Road.
Launch of Career at Manchester United
Goater began his English football journey with Manchester United’s rivals. Scouts spotted him during a mid-season tour in Bermuda, leading to a trial under Sir Alex Ferguson. He impressed enough to sign professional terms as a teenager but left Old Trafford without a first-team debut.
The Wage Negotiation with Sir Alex Ferguson
Reflecting on his modest start, Goater recalled: “Manchester United travelled to Bermuda during a mid-season break, and that’s when I caught their eye. Sir Alex Ferguson spotted me and presented me with a trial opportunity.”
Without an agent, he negotiated his own £175 weekly wage. “In Bermuda, you could bag groceries for customers entering shops, and for that, you’d receive tips. I would earn more money bagging groceries in Bermuda than I would playing for Manchester United,” he joked.
Needing more to cover his new mortgage, Goater approached Ferguson directly. “I went to see him, and explained that my mother and I had recently relocated and were residing in a new property, and with the £175 a week, I couldn’t manage the mortgage payments, so I required a little bit more – and he ended up granting me a £50 rise!”
Despite Ferguson’s later role as a rival manager, Goater holds him in high regard. “At the time when I joined United, they were calling for Ferguson’s head. But he was always truthful, he was honest, he would tell you straight how things were. For me, as an 18-year-old, having to front up to the gaffer, it was a tough thing.”
“But in my mind I was thinking ‘£175? I should be getting more than this!’ It worked out in the end for me though because I got my increase! And ever since that day I’ve always had a good relationship with Fergie. I have the utmost respect for him.”
