Sir Alex Ferguson's amazing gesture to John Virgo revealed after death of snooker icon

Ferguson himself recounted the tale to Doherty recently while the pair watched United's defeat against Leeds United.

While snooker remained Virgo's primary passion throughout his life, his devotion to the Red Devils was well documented and ran almost as deep.

The gesture took place before United's famous treble-clinching victory against Bayern Munich at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium.

Virgo's affection for United was no secret, and he had previously enjoyed a memorable moment at Old Trafford during a Premier League fixture against Sheffield Wednesday in August 1993.

At half-time, the snooker star took part in a penalty kick challenge, converting two of his four attempts from the spot.

The crowd responded with enthusiasm, chanting his name around the famous stadium.

It was this evident passion for the club that caught Ferguson's attention and would later lead to an extraordinary gesture in Barcelona.

The Scottish manager clearly appreciated supporters who wore their hearts on their sleeves, and Virgo embodied that devotion completely.

On the day of the final in Barcelona, Ferguson noticed Virgo standing outside the team hotel and made a spontaneous decision that would become one of the snooker commentator's most treasured memories.

The legendary manager invited Virgo to board the team coach, giving him the opportunity to meet the squad before their date with destiny.

Virgo found himself shaking hands with some of the biggest names in English football, including David Beckham, Gary Neville and Dwight Yorke.

For a lifelong supporter, the chance to wish the players well before such a momentous occasion represented an unforgettable experience.

Ferguson's thoughtful gesture demonstrated the warmth he showed towards genuine fans of the club.

Virgo himself spoke movingly about that extraordinary evening at Camp Nou when reflecting on his memories for United's official magazine.

"I was in the Camp Nou, when we won the Treble in 1999," he recalled.

"Losing 1-0, I thought 'well, this is it, another near miss'. Then we scored and I thought 'at least we've got extra-time to win it'. Then we scored again! Leaving the ground, my pal said to me: 'It doesn't get better than this'."

Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both found the net in injury time to secure a dramatic 2-1 triumph over Bayern Munich.

At Virgo's memorial service, attended by snooker stars including Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Neil Robertson and Mark Williams, Doherty paid tribute to his friend's gift for storytelling.

"The way he could draw a listener in, tell a story and build the drama, that's an art in itself," he said.