August 2010

The Guv’nor can now look forward to another accolade coming his way, after the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy inducted him into their official Hall of Fame.

For the first time, the trophy has created a Hall of Fame feature to honour some of the players and managers to add colour to the competition since the Johnstone’s Paint sponsorship began in 2006.

With his playing days behind him, Ince masterminded the MK Dons’ Wembley triumph in 2007/08 as manager, securing them their first ever piece of silverware in the process.

It is this success, coupled with Ince’s enthusiasm and no-nonsense attitude that has propelled the legend into the trophy’s Hall of Fame.

Speaking at the time of his former club’s success in 2008, the ex-Manchester United and Liverpool star said: “I am delighted to see the lads in the dressing-room taking pictures of the trophy and they are memories that no one can take away from them.

“We have finally created some history for this club, which is what we get rammed down our throats every time we play away from home, and this is the start of putting this club on the map.”

Ilford born Paul, aged 42, began his career at West Ham United, playing 72 times before earning a high profile transfer to Manchester United in 1989.

It was at the Red Devils where Paul won most of his accolades in a six-year spell, lifting two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, a League Cup and a Cup Winners Cup.

He became the first black player to captain the England national team and gained his first cap in September 1992.

To many Manchester United supporters’ surprise, Ince left Old Trafford for a spell with another European giant – this time Inter Milan.

An impressive return of 10 goals in 54 appearances made him a cult hero with the San Siro masses, and he played a prominent part in getting the side to the final of the UEFA Cup in 1997.

But despite an improved contract offer, he returned to England after two seasons, this time with Manchester United’s fiercest rivals Liverpool.

While the two year spell failed to yield any more medals to the Ince collection, he did boast some memorable high points, including a dramatic late equaliser in against his old club United, in front of an hysterical Kop.

From there, Ince captained Middlesbrough with distinction in a three year spell and then became a modern day legend at Wolverhampton Wanderers, leading them to the Premier League for the first time in their history.

Ince recently described skippering the Black Country club to victory over Sheffield United at the Millennium Stadium, 2003, as one of his biggest achievements in the game.

When he left Wolves after unsuccessfully applying for the managerial position in 2006, he cut his teeth in the dug-out at Macclesfield Town, with customary success.

Ince somehow kept the Division Two club in the Football League despite taking over when the Silkmen looked all but relegated to the Conference.

With his signature in high demand, MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman lured Ince to Stadium:mk for a spell in charge from 2007 to 2008.

In that time, Ince brought the Dons their first trophies in their history, by becoming League Two champions in April 2008.

But it was a month before at Wembley Stadium where he left such an impression on the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, winning the competition with a 2-0 success against Grimsby Town.

Ince went on to become the Premier League’s first black manager by taking over at Blackburn Rovers in 2008, but after being sacked after just 177 days, he made his way back to MK Dons in 2009.

The return was to be short lived, and Ince may well feel there is some unfinished managerial business to attend to in the near distant future.

If that’s the case, we wouldn’t bet against some more high points and memorable achievements for the man they call The Guv’nor.

Johnstone’s. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.