I originally wrote this piece back in May 2022 and thought today was a good day to get it out there again. On last night's The Real Housewives of Cheshire, Joe revealed his late father's autobiography had been found and would be on sale in 2021.

Joe had been watching his son, Remi, playing for Manchester United Under 12s at Carrington in 2014 when he spotted Les Clitheroe, his former Sunday league team manager, a schoolteacher and an old family friend. Having moved around a bit and had spells when he was away from home earlier in his career, we were now all living at home in Loughton, but there was no way he would help me. The ball’s gone to Les who flicked it with the outside of his foot, on to his knee, caught it and rolled it out,’ said Harford. Maybe I never asked enough, but he was a quiet bloke at home and didn’t say too much about his connection to West Ham, and it was only towards the end that I found out that everyone in that family going back generations supported West Ham, and how he used to be a regular in the Chicken Run.Sealey was dubbed ‘Mr Angry’ for his tendency to fly into a rage for little reason, often at team-mates. I had to walk to Loughton station, which was about a mile, to go to Stratford, from there to Chadwell Heath, then another mile walk to the training ground. But the story they tell is a remarkable insight into the colourful life and career of one of the most larger than life characters of 80s and 90s English football, instantly recognisable to all fans, but someone who never gave interviews.

Because of his years of training, his heart was about twice the size of a normal person, and so when he had an artery flutter, which can happen at any time to anyone in normal life and not be noticed, it caused more pressure and his heart burst.He was named as goalkeeper for the 1990 FA Cup final replay against Crystal Palace after a poor display from Jim Leighton in the preceding 3–3 draw, and made several saves to help his side win 1–0.

It wasn’t hereditary, there was no illness, he’d had checks the previous year for insurance, it was a fluke.Joe remembers going to every match at Old Trafford - and of course the reaction to his dad following the part he played in United’s 1990 FA Cup Final win over Crystal Palace - famously Sir Alex’s first trophy for the Reds. Written by Les in 1994 the revealing and detailed story includes his rise to footballing fame and the true story behind how he stepped up for Alan Ferguson in the 1990 FA Cup Final replay. At the end of the 1997–98 season he was loaned out to Bury but did not make a first-team appearance. Yet he told me that back home in France, he has a blue Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible and a Harley-Davidson.