Mustoe: I borrowed Mark Hughes' boots

HEARD the one about the schoolboy who scored for Manchester United wearing Mark Hughes' boots?

It is a match Gloucester City defender Neil Mustoe will never forget because he was the 15-year-old apprentice in question.

Having travelled up to Manchester from Gloucester on the train after school, young Mustoe realised he had no boots to play in.

The only pair in the changing room were the size seven and a halfs belonging to Hughes, then a centre forward for the first team who went on to win the Uefa Super Cup and the Cup Winners Cup.

"He was a bit of a hero to me," said Mustoe. "His boots were the only ones that fit and he kindly loaned them to me.

"I scored the winning goal in the match I wore them in.

"It was a B team game against Stockport County and we won 1-0."

Mustoe, who joined the Tigers' coaching staff earlier this season said he felt for former Welsh international Hughes who was sacked on Saturday after 18 months in charge at Manchester City, with Roberto Mancini installed in his place.

He said: "It is disappointing. I am 33 and I have just been asked to help coach a non-League team.

"When you look at things like this you think why would you get into management.

"He did everything possible and only lost two games in five months and took City to their first domestic cup semi-final in about 30 years."

Mustoe, who won five caps as an England schoolboy and played in Manchester United's FA Youth Cup winning side alongside Phil Neville, said football was a fickle game.

He said: "I have been at a club where I was the fans' favourite and the manager's favourite but a new manager came in and suddenly I was out of the team.

"Hughes has proved himself and he will get another job."