With the renovations and repairs starting at Old Trafford and the arrival of Matt Busby as manager, the club began to excel. In the two years following the end of the war, United had finished second in the league on both occasions and in 1948 the clubreached the FA Cup Final

Under Busby, who had been appointed by Gibson despite having no previous managerial experience, the team went on to achieve greatness. With its last FA Cup victory having come in 1909, Busby's team faced a Blackpool side boasting the great talents of Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen. It was a day that Gibson had dreamed of.

The likes of Johnny Morris, Jack Rowley, Stan Person and Charlie Mitten, all of whom had grown up around the streets of Manchester, were ushering in a new era of success.

Tragically just hours before Gibson was set to make the trip down to Wembley he suffered a stroke.

Perhaps that helped motivate the players as they claimed a 4-2 win and the team took a detour on the way home to visit their stricken owner. It was there that they left the FA Cup, for Old Trafford had not been finished yet.

"It was a wonderful gesture for the players to come and see him," recalls Embling.

"I remember that they kept the FA Cup in the spare bedroom. There were a lot of spare bedrooms, but I'll never forget it.

"There was nowhere to keep it as Old Trafford was still being renovated and I'll never forget my aunt taking me into the bedroom and opening the wardrobe.

"I was only a young boy and I had my paws on the FA Cup. I know it wasn't the original but even still, it was amazing."

Pride

While United returned to playing at Old Trafford in August 1949, Gibson lived just another two years until he suffered another stroke, passing away in September 1951. Just months later, United won the league title for the first time in 40 years.

During his lifetime, it is estimated that Gibson invested around $3.3 million in today's value, while both his wife, Lillian and son, Alan, also went on to serve the club's board for years to come.

Gibson's family will attend Sunday's game against Liverpool, sitting in the same stadium which would have faded into the abyss had it not been for the dreams and determination of one man.

From the seeds sown by Gibson, United would go on to flourish with European Cups, FA Cups and league titles galore thanks to the work of Busby and later, Ferguson.

Busby, who survived the tragedy of the Munich air disaster, where seven United players perished and 21 killed, cheated death to help restore the club once again.

Under Busby, United would go on to great triumphs, triumphs of which Gibson would have been so proud.