OUR TEAM

nick welsh

Born in Swinton, Salford in 1966, Nicky Welsh knew he was going to play for Manchester United since the first moment he set foot in the stands of Old Trafford at the age of seven. Unlike most boys who dream of making it on the pitch, Nicky actually did – just not for very long. Recruited by the Reds as an apprentice while at school, then signed pro for a year before being let go, Nicky’s professional footballing career may have been short-lived, but it was definitely eventful – as he relates in his roller-coaster memoir My United Road.

Today, Nicky directs most of his energy towards running Isomi, a successful commercial furniture company he set up with his wife Jenny in 2011, but his footballing days are far from over. His heart still belongs to United, and his season ticket will always be his most treasured possession.

john ludden

Manchester author and playwright John Ludden is an experienced football writer, with work published in three languages. His books include the acclaimed history of Manchester United A Tale of Two Cities: Manchester United/Real Madrid 1957–1968, and the now cult-classic Once Upon a Time in Naples, which formed the basis for the film Diego Maradona, released in 2019. He is currently working on a prequel. 

John’s other work includes a radio play about the bombing of Coventry during World War Two, set to be broadcast on BBC Sounds in winter 2020, and a series of drama podcasts performed live at the Lowry Theatre, the NQL Salford, the Hotel Football and FC United. 

christopher eccleston

Christopher Eccleston is a British actor, with a career in theatre, film and television that spans 30 years. Christopher’s early television work included roles in Cracker (1994), Hillsborough (1996) and Our Friends in The North (1996), for which he received a BAFTA TV Award nomination. Christopher was also nominated in this category for his leading performance in The Second Coming (2003).

 In 2011, he won the Emmy for Best Performance by and Actor for his role in the TV crime-drama, Accused. Christopher also starred in popular dramas The Leftovers, The A Word and Come Home. Christopher’s film career was launched in 1991’s critically acclaimed Let Him Have It. Then, in 1994, he collaborated with the Academy Award-winning Directory Danny Boyle on Boyle’s first feature film, Shallow Grave which was closely followed by Jude.

 Christopher has appeared in a diverse range of theatrical productions, including A Doll’s House (Donmar Warehouse), Hamlet (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Miss Julie (Haymarket Theatre), and Aide-Memoire (Royal Court Theatre). Most recently, he assumed the titular role in the RSC’s production of Macbeth.