I’m an ex-Man Utd star now working in construction… a decision I made during the Treble season still haunts me
FORMER Manchester United starlet Michael Twiss is now happily working in construction – but it’s a case of what might have been.
Twiss was Man Utd Reserve Team Player of the Year in 1998 and was close to breaking into the first team before the club’s historic Treble in 1999.
And Twiss regrets joining Sheffield United on loan during the 1998-1999 record-breaking season.
He had made his first team Man Utd debut in February 1998 after coming on as a substitute in the club’s 3-2 defeat to Barnsley in their FA Cup fifth round replay.
The former midfielder was highly rated coming through the academy at Carrington – a couple of years after the famed Class of 92.
But in the summer of 1998, Twiss was in demand.
A former Man Utd captain then made a call that set the wheels of fate in motion.
Twiss told the Manchester Evening News: “Steve Bruce was at Sheffield United and was looking for someone to go across.
“Eric Harrison put my name forward and I went and I shouldn’t have gone.
“Even though loans are sometimes quite good and can work out, I was probably at a point where I was breaking in at United.
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“First and foremost I missed the treble season!
“I was unlucky that I went to Sheffield United, did pre-season, played in the League Cup in the second game of the season, which was my first start.
“And then one of the younger lads injured me in training and my ankle went up like a balloon and I was out for eight weeks.
“I was trying to forge my way back into an established team which was difficult.
” I perhaps could have progressed at United if I had stayed there.”
The Salford-born star had already been involved in European nights with United prior to his loan move across the Pennines
He was in the matchday squad against FC Kosice in 1997-98 as well as in two top flight games.
I missed the Treble season!
Michael Twiss
Twiss added: “I had played a couple of games for United already and with doing that.
“I should have taken advantage of being in and around it but I was out of sight out of mind at Sheffield United.
“It wasn’t like now when there is loads of stats and loan managers.
“I am sure there was dialogue and stuff but you just kind of disappeared for a year.
Twiss returned to Old Trafford after the Treble glory, but was released at the end of the 1999-2000 season.
Spells at Port Vale and then Conference clubs Leigh RMI, Chester City and Morecambe followed.
The now 47-year-old took up construction after retiring from football with non-league outfit Altrincham in 2012.
He now works for Kier Group, a provider of infrastructure services, construction and property developments.
Twiss said: “I have started again and learnt something new. I like the site management side.
“You could be out on site and mixing with the banter and also coming into the office. I didn’t want to be sat at my desk all day.”
He studied for a Diploma at Salford University and set about seeking work experience, at Coronation Street Studios among other places.