APPROACHING seven years after the day Middlesbrough ended a long overdue wait for a victory at Old Trafford, Manchester United will pay a visit to Teesside this evening and there is no suggestion of an off-the-cuff remark being made in the heat of the moment from one Bernie Slaven.

Having well and truly learned his lesson back in December 1998, Slaven's antics in the window of a well-known department store in Middlesbrough's Linthorpe Road claimed more newspaper headlines than Boro's first win at the Theatre of Dreams in 68 years.

It was the outspoken Glaswegian's words that had got him into a predicament he had not been expecting, and a scenario that caused more of a stir than Bryan Robson's side overcoming the might of Sir Alex Ferguson's team who went on to win the Premiership that season.

After seeing off West Ham in the game prior to the trip to Manchester, ecstatic and buoyant Boro fans were optimistically getting carried away with the season that lie ahead.

But Slaven, working in the co-commentator role for Century Radio he still occupies, tried to bring them all back down to earth by uttering words that he would live to regret in the post-match phone-in after the success over the Hammers.

"If Boro win at Old Trafford, I'll show my backside in Binns' window," he said, completely unaware of the attention that brief and to the point statement was going to receive.

Gary Pallister, a close friend of Slaven's from their days together at Ayresome Park, had informed his old team-mate the whole squad were aware of his words and they had been a huge talking point on the team coach's trip across to Lancashire.

By half-time Hamilton Ricard and Dean Gordon had increased the chances of the Slaven buttocks being stuck out for all to see. A third from Brian Deane after the restart cemented the fact.

Not even two goals inside the last half hour from United could stop the inevitable.

"At 3-2, Andy Cole, one of the best finishers around, was through on goal and I'm not ashamed to say I was praying he'd stick the ball in the net and get me off the hook and save me great embarrassment," recalled Slaven in 'Legend?' - his autobiography.

That miss ensured a rare Boro victory at the famous ground, yet the Sunday morning newspapers were full of headlines of Slaven.

"I couldn't believe it," said one of Boro's most prolific strikers as he reflected over a coffee in the Tall Trees Hotel, near Yarm on Thursday lunchtime.

"The players that day had sweated blood and tears to earn the club's first win at Old Trafford in more than 68 years only for me to grab the headlines the next day."

And, not to go back on his word, Slaven did bend over to bare his red-knickered bottom to thousands of Teessiders and the rest of the country, as the publicity he received for his embarrassment surpassed everyone's expectations.

That incident will live long in the memory of all Boro fans and all as a result of a date with Manchester United. "You can bet it won't happen again on Saturday," said Slaven, ahead of today's visit of the former European champions to the Riverside.

The fact he was in a position to receive such attention for making the statement in the first place highlights the enormous standing he had around the Teesside town, and still does now.

Since moving to Ayresome Park in 1985 - after he accepted a two-week trial with the club when they replied to one of the many letters he sent to numerous clubs - he has called the town home.

He had scored 31 goals for Albion Rovers and, after rejecting an insulting contract to stay with the Scottish Second Division side, Slaven initially struggled to adjust to life at a place he remembers "had smog covering the town on a drizzly first day".

But, after a year under the guidance of manager Bruce Rioch - who the new book is dedicated to - he eventually settled down and went on to score 147 goals for the club. Only George Camsell, George Elliott, Brian Clough, John Hickton and Micky Fenton boast more.

And he is quite categorical in his belief that in the next 100 years, 'nobody will beat my tally'. A comment that suggests that today player loyalty to their clubs is a thing of the past, in all but the rarest of cases.

He fulfilled all the professional dreams he had with Boro. He played professional football, played at Wembley, played in the top-flight of English football - where he finished third only to Liverpool's John Aldridge and Arsenal's Alan Smith in the leading scorer chart - and made it to a World Cup finals with the Republic of Ireland, when he even met the Pope.

But, despite his love affair with Boro and the fans, he is still hurting from the fact less than 4,000 turned up to witness his benefit match during the 1996-97 season.

"It was the day of the Great North Run and it was a lovely sunny day," says Slaven, whose team consisted of Boro stars of the 80s and 90s and faced an Ireland XI. "The official attendance was 3,537. How humiliating. I know testimonial games have a reputation for being uncompetitive and the two sides were not the greatest of attractions, but I had still hoped for a crowd of 15,000.

"That would have been acceptable, enough to show I was appreciated by the football-loving public of Teesside. But 3,500? That's more of an insult than a crowd.

"As I walked onto the pitch for the start of the match, carrying my young son Dominic in my arms, I was hiding my face behind him out of embarrassment."

One of those not to have been in attendance that day was his former boss Lennie Lawrence, not that Slaven expected him to be there.

The pair, who have now buried the hatchet, never got along during Lawrence's days in charge and it was evidently clear it was going to be the case after the new manager's first training session with Slaven et al in the summer of 1991.

"I'm looking for new idols," were Lawrence's words. Immediately striking Slaven, the man worshipped for every slide-rule goal he had celebrated on the Holgate End fence, between the eyes.

It was from that moment Slaven knew he wasn't needed, yet it took a little time for his case to be proven.

"I remember we had a game at Bristol City and we went top of the league if we won," said Slaven. "He left me out and I couldn't believe it. There were only two subs that day and I wasn't one of them either.

"I asked him why? I didn't like his response and I told him he was nothing more than a schoolteacher. I was made to train with the kids and from there I left for Port Vale."

Having been brought up on the rough Castlemilk estate in Glasgow, Slaven is not the type to hold grudges.

And, in hindsight, why would he? Slaven, after all, is still revered on Teesside.

Legend? That's up to you.

Win Bernie's book

TO mark the launch of the book The Northern Echo has three signed copies of Bernie Slaven's new 'Legend? The Autobiography' to give away.

Simply send in your answers to the following question to be in with a chance of winning.

Which club did Middlesbrough sign Slaven from?

Answers to be sent by post to: Slaven Competition, Sports Desk, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF.

* Sponsored by Middlesbrough's Hillstreet shopping centre, all profits from 'Legend?' will be donated to Redcar's Ann Charlton Lodge, a residential home for multiple sclerosis sufferers.

Priced £20, 'Legend?' is available from the MFC Retail stores, Waterstones and WH Smith in Middlesbrough, The Book Inn in Billingham, and Guisborough and Yarm bookshops. It is also available by sending a cheque for £22.50 made out to "Bernie Slaven Charity Book", to 38 Westwood Avenue, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough