sa国际传媒

Football legend Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the most celebrated figures in the game 鈥� but he has never forgotten the primary school teacher who helped to shape his attitudes.

Fergie, who won 38 trophies with Manchester United and 11 at Aberdeen, 聽was taught by Elizabeth Thomson at a primary school in Govan, Glasgow.

He said: 鈥淪he was a fierce woman with an incredible drive and she commanded the utmost respect from students.鈥�

He added: 鈥淲hen I think about her now, I realise that it wasn鈥檛 all about education. Mrs Thomson endeavoured to make you want to be the best you could be.

鈥淪he got you performing, you know? Yes, I think there鈥檚 part of me that comes from her. That determination and that sense of drive. That 鈥榥ever give in鈥� attitude she had about all her students.鈥�

Sir Alex paid tribute to the Broomloan Primary School teacher .

He told how Mrs Thomson was a strict teacher who 鈥� as was typical in those days 鈥� would use corporal punishment to keep her students in line. When she died, she bequeathed the belt she used on pupils鈥� hands to Ferguson, with a letter that said: 鈥淵ou鈥檒l know more about this than anyone.鈥�

Sir Alex added: 鈥淪he took an interest in the kids, though. If she was worried that they weren鈥檛 eating much at home, she鈥檇 sure as hell make sure that they ate well at school.

鈥淭eaching is a vocation, isn鈥檛 it? That鈥檚 what teachers are born to do. And they take it on as a quest to be the very best.

鈥淓lizabeth was from a good class of family and she came to Govan. Maybe 2000 teachers turned the job down, turned down that sort of challenge, but she thrived on it. She improved everyone she touched. She actively sought out challenge.

鈥淭he three ingredients to Elizabeth, when I think about it, were personality, determination and energy. Anyone who鈥檚 in charge of someone else needs those three ingredients. It just won鈥檛 work without them.鈥�