Scholes was one of Fergie's fledglings

By this stage Ferguson's team had began to take a shape that is recognisable today, with David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs regular first-teamers.

The 1995/6 season will be remembered for Alan Hansen's statement " you can't win anything with kids" following United's opening game defeat at Villa.

Of course the BBC Match of the Day pundit was wrong and United held their nerve as rivals Newcastle squandered a 12-point lead.

Although European success eluded them in 1996/7, a David Beckham goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon and another Premiership championship, proved that every cloud for United had at least one silver lining.

The threat of Arsenal under Arsene Wenger proved to be a thorn in United's side.

With Cantona retiring and Keane missing most of the season due to injury, Ferguson's men failed to find the extra gear to hold on to the substantial lead they had established, as the Gunners charged past in one of the greatest comebacks seen in the Premiership.

Of course, after a lull...

Manchester claimed an unprecedented treble of Premiership, European Cup and FA Cup titles during the 1998/9 season.

Arsenal's Tony Adams could do nothing to prevent Giggs' spectacular

There were many highlights during a year which will go down as one of the most drama-packed in recent history.

Defender Jaap Stam's crucial performances, Giggs' FA Cup semi-final goal against Arsenal, and the Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer strikes in the European Cup final will never be forgotten.

After a shaky opening half of the 1999/2000 season, United sprung out of their traps and went on a 11-match winning streak.

It was also a season where the FA Cup holders opted out of the competition for the World Club Championship.

And this season, it has been all too easy.

With Arsenal, Leeds and Liverpool floundering from the off, Ferguson's men have dominated the Premiership without having to break sweat.

Clinching the league just after the Easter period shows that while others have tried to buy their way to glory, United have nurtured their youth into a force which will, for many years to come, carry on flying the flag for Premiership football.