What happened next to Man Utd's forgotten stars from their famous Class of '92
THE Class of '92 has been praised for the impact they had at Old Trafford.
Comprised of a group of hungry, ambitious and gifted young footballers – the core of Man Utd's youth team of that era would make the Red Devils a global force.
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Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, the Nevilles Gary and Phil and Nicky Butt would all cement themselves as first-team stars.
But not everyone made it.
Ben Thornley's career was robbed by his injury, while Robbie Savage made his money at the club to become a Leicester City legend.
However, there were a few who had to find a new path away from the beautiful game.
This is what happened to the forgotten class of '92.
Kevin Pilkington
Shot-stopper Pilkington had one major problem getting into the Man Utd team. Peter Schmeichel.
He made eight appearances for the club before Port Vale wanted to sign him.
The goalkeeper played for a number of lower-level teams, including Mansfield Town and Notts County.
Pilkington moved to non-league football with Luton Town before hanging up his gloves in 2019.
Since 2021 he has been back at Kenilworth Road, where he is the club's goalkeeping coach.
George Swiss
Switzer, a left-back from the famous FA Youth Cup-winning side, was offered a one-year contract to stay at Old Trafford.
But in 1993 he was released and picked up for free by Darlington.
For six years he played for Northern Premier League side Hyde United, but had to take on other jobs to supplement his income.
Switzer worked as an optical technician for Dolland & Aitchison in Salford, and was a van man for a courier company in Manchester.
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John O'Kane
It didn't help O'Kane that Gary Neville burst into the first team and became the club's first choice.
After loans at Wimbledon, Bury, Wrexham and Bradford, he was sold to Everton for £1 million.
But when Howard Kendall was fired, he found himself in the team under new boss Walter Smith.
O'Kane would go on to play for Bolton, Blackpool and Hyde before retiring in 2006.
He now works in the healthcare sector after being diagnosed with autism later in life.
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Chris Casper
Much was expected of Casper, as captain of England's U18 winning side at the 1993 European Championship.
But the defender struggled to get a game at Man Utd, making just two appearances before being sold to Reading in 1998.
He became the Royals' first-round pick and was seemingly heading in the right direction.
Bad luck in the form of a nasty double leg fracture ended his career on Boxing Day 1999.
He moved into coaching and became manager of Bury for two years before being sacked.
Today he is back with his '92 classmates as director of football for Salford City.
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Simon Davis
To be a Man Utd winger in the 1990s meant ousting Lee Sharpe, Ryan Giggs and Andrei Kanchelskis for a place in the side.
And although Davies made 20 credible appearances for the club and became an international for Wales, it was a difficult task.
Yet he famously scored his only goal in a Champions League match against Galatasaray. A certain David Beckham was also on the scoresheet that day.
Davies retired in 2007 after becoming a journeyman in the Welsh League.
But he's got a great gig now.
The former midfielder is the Academy Director at Tottenham Hotspur.
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Colin McKee
Striker McKee was another boy offered a contract by United following the success of the Class of '92.
He would go on to win the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award.
However, after just one appearance under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Scot was sold to Kilmarnock.
There he played 78 times in three seasons and scored 12 goals before being released.
Eight clubs in just four seasons left him tired of the game.
McKee retired at the age of 27, became a maintenance man for a construction company and coached at Kilmarnock.
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Lenny Taylor
Defender Taylor was released after that FA Youth Cup final win.
Man City's reported interest never materialized, while a trial in Port Vale ended unsuccessfully.
Taylor turned down Walsall before ending up at Solihull Borough and playing in their reserves.
He retired from the game at the age of 29 and eventually went to work in a metal coating factory.
While he also started working for an electricity company.
Joe Roberts
Roberts contributed to that FA Youth Cup run from the bench with wins over Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
And he was involved in the following campaign, when the side reached the final again before losing to Leeds.
However, in 1994 he was released without ever appearing.
He soon retired from football and what he did next is a mystery.
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