Forget the hair dryer...here's the sword! Cardiff striker Campbell reveals Ferguson used a weapon to keep United youngsters in check

By Ashley Clements

PUBLISHED: 05:28 EST, 24 November 2013 | UPDATED: 13:41 EST, 24 November 2013

Former Manchester United youngster Fraizer Campbell has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson used a rather unusual technique to ensure his young players behaved and it involved something a bit sharper than a hair dryer.

The 26-year-old claims that Ferguson would pull out a sword during youth team meetings and tell them they'd get the sword if they didn't act as professionals.

Now with Cardiff, Campbell spent 12 years playing through the United youth system before eventually being sold to Sunderland for £5million in 2009.

Home: Fraizer Campbell (centre) celebrates scoring against Manchester City in the Premier League

Home: Fraizer Campbell (centre) celebrates scoring against Manchester City in the Premier League

Intimidating: Campbell claims Sir Alex Ferguson (above) had a sword to keep the youth players on their toes

Intimidating: Campbell claims Sir Alex Ferguson (above) had a sword to keep the youth players on their toes

Campbell told the Daily Star: 'When Sir Alex was there, all the young lads would be brought in on the first day and he would tell the players how the club is run and what he expects of professionals.

'Right at the end of the meeting he picked me out and said, ‘Fraiz, can you go over to the cupboard and get that box out?’

'I got the box out and gave it to him and he pulled out a massive sword.

'He said, ‘If any of you misbehave then I’ll have to get the sword out!’'

On the move: Campbell signed for Sunderland in 2009, but has since moved to Cardiff

On the move: Campbell signed for Sunderland in 2009, but has since moved to Cardiff

United travel to Cardiff on Sunday afternoon in a match that will see Campbell play against his childhood club.

He added: 'I’m a United fan so it was awesome to be there but it may have been better if I wasn’t – I would be watching too much in training instead of playing.

'It was class training with the likes of Wayne Rooney. United have great footballers and some of the best players in England, so training with them was what you dreamed of when you were younger.'

Travelled: Campbell (right) has also played for Tottenham Hotspur between 2008 and 2009

Travelled: Campbell (right) has also played for Tottenham Hotspur between 2008 and 2009

 

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Man Utd always produce or buy thugs and divers. Just like Fergie, their fans are hypocrite and their players try get other players like Kompany sent off for good tackles whilst making thuggish ''challenges'' all the time. Jonny Evans ruined Holden's career with a shocking challenge, he punched Rosenberg full on unprovoked in Fergie's last ever which obviously went unnoticed and he kung fu'd Drogba which somehow resulted in a Drogba yellow card.

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I suspect, from your pigeon English, that you live abroad in a hut made for you by the other villagers to keep you away from their children.

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Hopefully CPS will take a look at this if true - "Prosecutors are reminded that where a weapon is used in dangerous circumstance to threaten, or cause fear, the Sentencing Guidelines Council recommends that the starting point for a first time adult offender would be a custodial sentence of 6 months."

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Jeez you're a barrel of laughs aren't you. Got any more witty anecdotes

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Interesting to see what CPS thinks - "Prosecutors are reminded that where a weapon is used in dangerous circumstance to threaten, or cause fear, the Sentencing Guidelines Council recommends that the starting point for a first time adult offender would be a custodial sentence of 6 months."

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fergie is a weirdo...

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Sir alex gone is a blessing to the premier league the man was such a contradicting moaning little child

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Oh please you bitter fool. Premier League just lost the greatest manager ever. It'll never be the same.

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SAF is a legend love this man.

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Sven used his sword a number of times on his lady friends.

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That sort of theatrical might work with kids 10 and 20 years ago, but to me (a bit older) it would be laughable. Mind you, I doubt anyone laughs when Sralex is around, and I do get the point - mess around and it's the chop!

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Mr johnnie walker!!!

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Although the pen may be mightier than the sword, in Fergie's case it was different. He got his results and for the club and fans that's all that mattered.

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