Will Sohail be the next Fergie?

A wheelchair-bound football coach from Bradford who dreams of one day managing Manchester United has had an endorsement from Sir Alex himself.

Sohail Rehman, 21, suffers from a disability called spinal muscular atrophy. He has always found it hard in life, trying to face the fact that he could never play the sport he loves.

But when many would have felt they’ve got no other option but to do something else, Sohail decided he was going to break down barriers and, just like Sir Alex, make the impossible dream possible.

At 16, he began his coaching badges and now at the age of 21 he is a fully qualified football coach.

But not only that, Sohail was given a nice surprise when the man who inspired him, Sir Alex Ferguson, wrote a letter to him, saying: “Dear Sohail, I am writing to congratulate you on passing your coaching badges and becoming a qualified football coach. It never ceases to amaze me the enthusiasm and effort people put into the game and more importantly in giving their time. May I take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the remainder of the season. Well done!”

Sohail says: “It just shows the character of this amazing man because this letter was written in April 2013 when he was planning his retirement and how to tell the footballing world — he still had the time to write to a young boy chasing a dream.

“It was mind-blowing to receive the letter, I have always had that blockage in my head saying I could not do it. But this letter has given me the belief. If a person like that can hear about you and what you have done, you shouldn’t doubt yourself.

“I want to go to the highest level I can. My ambition is to one day manage a Football League club and to one day manage Manchester United. Some may say thats a crazy goal to chase but why coach or manage if you wouldn’t want to manage the greatest club in the world?

“I have always had a love for football and always for this club. Coming to Old Trafford to watch a game is a great feeling.”

How refreshing to see how our Club inspires yet more and more people. And maybe one day he will get his dream of managing Manchester United.

After all, a boy from Govan went to the highest heights of world football… From all at MUDSA, good luck, Sohail.