Manchester United’s decision to confirm Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 140 characters or less served to underline the extraordinary technological progress since he began his reign in 1986.

While Ferguson was getting his feet under the table at United’s Cliff training ground, the National Science Foundation were linking America’s supercomputer centres and unwittingly establishing the backbone of the internet as we knowu00a0it today.

> Coventry claimed a famous FA Cup triumph over Tottenham, Clive Allen’s 49 goals earned him both the PFA and FWA Player of the Year awards, and Tony Adams was voted PFA Young Player of the Year.