Sam Trafford

So just over two years in my dream job came to an end today as I became one of the statistics you’ve been reading about in the press associated with United. For those two years I loved every day of being able to work at Old Trafford, I loved the immense privilege despite it being such a difficult time in our history, hoping that I could help from within to contribute something positive. I’m beyond proud of my work outside of United, the kind reviews of my books and perception of me as a writer. To be described as the pre-eminent writer on the club by Martin Edwards, to have Tony Whelan say I have ‘no peers when it comes to articulating the nature and essence of our magnificent football club’ are not tributes I use to be boastful, but are compliments I’m incredibly, incredibly proud of, as they represent something I’ve worked extremely hard for.  That outside reputation earned the trust of some of the club’s most beloved families, as well as that of the family of Tom Tyrrell, who entrusted me with his archive. I was able to use some of that to create some fascinating content for the club, including podcasts to mark the 66th anniversary of Munich and the 25th anniversary of the Treble, which were both very warmly received. I was also trusted to conduct a one-man investigation to discover the foundation date of the club, which I accomplished. The club did not know of this beforehand. It is one of the most important pieces of information in the club’s history and I’m very proud that it was my research and investigation which discovered it.  I am proud that I worked on the campaign that saw former players awarded winners’ medals in 2023. I also conceived a legacy project to record interviews with elder figures at Old Trafford for archival use for future generations, and worked on important in-house academy projects.  And I have immense pride that copies of my books have been given to young academy players, as well as sit inside the walls of Old Trafford on the director’s corridors.  To see these things with my own eyes has been an indulgence I cannot describe. Obviously, I am heartbroken that my contribution is no longer of value to the club I love. I understand that difficult decisions have to be made. I have seen very talented people leave their roles, and I have seen legendary figures who are drenched in the history of our club been told they too are now part of the past; a past which is, for me, the richest history in football, a past which these people remain a significant part of the tapestry and educational process for the future. They are indispensible; the cost of losing them far greater than financial. I read all the comments on social media from those on the outside, who speak about the necessity of these decisions. People make jokes and comments, but we are talking about people working for the club, mostly because they love the club. It’s the biggest club in the country, possibly the world, and every loss I’ve seen and experienced has been significant to the operations. Every loss has been felt.  These are real people, real lives, being affected - not because of the quality of their performance or contribution. They work incredibly hard and feel, like I have done, a sense of gratitude and privilege and a dream coming true. There are people having to deliver terrible news which wasn’t their decision to make. A football club is not a normal business. It is a community asset, serving different needs. It is it’s history.  Anyway. So today I leave the club I love, hoping that one day, they will need me again, and that I’ll be back, my tiny little cog in the big machine, my sense of grandoise not lost on me with the self-importance of this post.  I’m by no means an important loss, but it’s an important loss to me.