FORMER Newport County AFC defender Derek Brazil says he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the death of ex-Manchester United coach Eric Harrison last week, writes Josh Thomas.

Harrison died aged 81 on Wednesday, four years after he was diagnosed with dementia.

Appointed by United in 1981, Harrison ran the club’s academy until 2008 and nurtured the talents of Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville.

South Wales Argus:

He was also a part of the Wales coaching team during Mark Hughes' reign and he received an MBE for his services to football in 2017.

Brazil, who went on to play for County between 1996 and 1998, was one of the players who benefited from Harrison’s knowledge during his time at United between 1986 and 1992.

“I’m deeply saddened to hear the news about Eric,” said he said.

“He was my first coach when I arrived at United aged 17.

“He was a tough, no nonsense coach who wanted the best for all of us.

“He was like a tough father figure who pushed you to the limits to try to get you in the first team, which he did with many of us.”

Brazil made his United debut against Everton in May 1989 and he added one more appearance against Millwall in 1992 before leaving that summer to sign for Cardiff City in search of first-team football.

“Eric prepared you bluntly for life at other clubs,” added Brazil.

“He once said to me ‘young lads like you can never say you are a pro until you have made 100 appearances in the league’.

“Many years later when I did with Cardiff, he was the first person I thought of.

“All the things he taught me about the will to win in everything you do have always stuck with me.

“I just wish I got the chance to thank him for everything he did for me in my early years at Old Trafford.”

South Wales Argus:

Brazil (above) would go on to have a successful career, making more than 200 appearances in the Football League before joining the Exiles and then moving into the Welsh Premier League with Inter Cardiff (Cardiff Met) and Haverfordwest County.

And the former Republic of Ireland under-23 international, who is now 50, will always be in debt to his former coach.

“Sadly I never saw him again after I left in 1993,” he said. “But he moulded me for the best part of six years and he was a great coach and a great inspiration.”