“Happy 40th Anniversary St Ann’s Hospice! Keep up the great work that you are doing and enjoy your Tea!” Brian Turner CBE

All quotations are used with permission.

John Doherty was one of the Manchester United players who earned the famous nickname during the 1950s under manager Sir Matt Busby.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

He won a league championship medal in 1956 and later became a hugely popular chairman of United’s former players association.

John died of lung cancer four years ago at the age of 72 and was treated at St Ann’s Hospice.

His widow Barbara has already raised £10,000 for the charity as a way of saying thank you and has now donated another £5,000 after a charity night supported by former United players, including Denis Law.

A picture of Sir Alex Ferguson with the Premier League trophy won last May fetched £1,000 and £600 was paid for a picture of Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

Barbara said: “St Ann’s Hospice was very good to John and me. I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed in his memory, especially everyone connected with Manchester United.”