On Saturday, before Manchester United's clash with Nottingham Forest, Sir Alex Ferguson presented retrospective medals to 19 former Reds or their families after they now meet the qualifying criteria of the updated Football League rules.
In title-winning campaigns of yesteryear, United’s players often outnumbered the medals presented to the group, leading to some going without, sometimes despite ceremonially being ‘awarded’ one in public.
Others missed out on appearances made until the recent rule change, when players needed five or more outings to their name during the victorious campaign in order to qualify for a medal. These updated terms have allowed United, together with football historians, to go through the annals and identify players who are retrospectively entitled to medals for their contribution to title triumphs of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.