The Theatre of Dreams
This Is Your Life The Theatre of Dreams feature

Phil Downs assisted Michael Aspel in surprising his friend, the chairman of the Manchester United Disabled Supporters' Association, Ray Gainer, for This Is Your Life in January 1995.


Phil, a subsequent chairman of MUDSA, discusses Ray's legacy at the club - and pays tribute to two other former Manchester United subjects - Matt Busby and Bobby Charlton - in an exclusive interview recorded in August 2010.

     
     
  Matt Busby This Is Your Life Matt BUSBY

6 January 1958

The Scottish-born former footballer, and manager of Manchester United since 1945, was surprised by Eamonn at the BBC's Dickenson Road studios in Manchester.
Guests include the President of the American Football Association, James Maguire, who flew in from America to pay tribute.

     
     
Bobby Charlton This Is Your Life Bobby Charlton This Is Your Life Bobby CHARLTON

26 November 1969

As one of the 'Busby Babes', Bobby had played for Manchester United since 1956, and was also a member of the 1966 World Cup winning England team.
Eamonn surprised him as he became the first recipient of an award for great moments in sport at The Sportsman's Club in London, from where the programme was then broadcast.

     
     
Matt Busby This Is Your Life Matt Busby This Is Your Life Matt BUSBY

12 May 1971

The Manchester United manager became the first subject to be honoured twice, when Eamonn surprised him ahead of his last game leading the Reds in a derby match with Manchester City at city's Maine Road ground in Manchester. This second tribute tells how, having survived the tragic events of the Munich air crash, Matt successfully rebuilt the United team.

     
     
George Best This Is Your Life George Best This Is Your Life George BEST

17 November 1971

The Belfast-born winger - who began his professional career with Manchester United in 1963, aged 17 - was surprised by Eamonn during a fashion show at a restaurant in London's West End.
George - one of the world's first celebrity footballers - is greeted by his boss, Matt Busby, and presenter Cathy McGowan.

     
     
  Denis Law This Is Your Life Denis LAW

19 February 1975

Denis, who joined Manchester United in 1962 as a striker, is the only Scottish player to win the European Footballer of the Year. Nicknamed 'The King', he was United's second-highest goalscorer behind Bobby Charlton.
Eamonn surprised the recently retired player for a tribute which included singer Rod Stewart and footballer Jimmy Greaves on the guest list.

     
     
Bryan Robson This Is Your Life Bryan Robson This Is Your Life Bryan ROBSON

23 January 1985

Bryan - current captain of Manchester United and England - was surprised by Eamonn in a 'traffic jam' while on his way to a business meeting in London.
His guests include his boyhood heroes Bobby Charlton and Denis Law as well as his Newcastle United favourite, Wyn Davies, and current England manager Bobby Robson.

     
     
Nobby Stiles This Is Your Life Nobby Stiles This Is Your Life Nobby STILES

20 November 1991

The midfield player - who was a member of the World Cup winning England team in 1966 - was surprised by Michael on the pitch at Old Trafford - home of Manchester United. Nobby had a successful career at the club playing alongside Bobby Charlton and George Best, as well as an equally successful period with England under manager Alf Ramsay.

     
     
Ray Gainer This Is Your Life Ray Gainer This Is Your Life Raymond GAINER

1 March 1995

The chairman of the Manchester United Disabled Supporters' Association was surprised by Michael at Old Trafford.
Ray - who was born with spina bifida and confined to a wheelchair - raised significant amounts of money for charity. Among those paying tribute are player Bryan Robson and manager Alex Ferguson.

     
     
George Best This Is Your Life George Best This Is Your Life George BEST

6 March 2003

Michael surprised George at Thames Television's Teddington Studios, referring to his first Big Red Book - "will you regard this as Chapter 2?" His eventful story and full life was celebrated with friends old and new, and the show ended with a moving presentation of a specially made 1968 European Cup winners medal, to replace the original, which had been lost.

     

* the pre-1970 subjects were surprised by a different coloured book - see the Big Red Book feature for full details