Manchester United 2 Swansea City 1: match report Now she has the grandchildren, and they all dote on her, but now she has lost her best friend - her sister Bridget - so that was important. The thought of being away on long summer tours, or the constant trips during the season, weighed heavy on Ferguson's conscience. He owed the woman he described in the programme as "the key figure in my life, providing a bedrock of both stability and encouragement." It was time for the family man to step out from behind the football man. Keeping the decision a secret was "very difficult," he acknowledged. There were some times when we almost blurted it out to the family. We told our sons in March, but my brother didn't know until Tuesday. He also left Old Trafford with a plea. Standing in the centre circle, clutching the microphone, Ferguson called on all present to back his successor, David Moyes, whatever pitfalls may strew their shared path. "I'd like to remind you that we've had bad times here," Ferguson said. The club stood by me. All my staff stood by me. The players stood by me. So your job now is to stand by our new manager. That is important. Surprises spiced an occasion wonderfully choreographed by the club. The play list began with The Stone Roses" Waterfall, mixed in a cheeky dig at events across town at City with Bad Moon Rising from Creedence Clearwater Revival before powering through a Ferguson favourite, Beggin by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Only four seasons? Sunday was a celebration of Alex Ferguson and the 26 seasons. Salford's kitchen-table banner factories had been working overtime. The tributes were many: "Sir Alex Immortal," "Thanks Fergie" and a more respectful "Thanks Boss" appeared between the usual Manchester United flags declaring "Not Arrogant, Just Better." United had distributed 70,000 red flags. Sir Bobby Charlton waved one rather serenely like David Niven welcoming home a grand prix winner. To the delight of all around, Charlton joined in the chant of "We love you United, we do." The club also thought of their guests from Swansea, providing 2,000 white flags, saying "Capital One Cup winners." As the clock ticked down towards kick-off, Ferguson stepped from the dressing room, waiting at the top of the tunnel as the players and staff of United and Swansea went ahead to form the guard of honour. He shook hands with some stewards, familiar faces backstage, before smoothing down his hair and striding down the tunnel. As trumpets sounded, the announcer went into emotional overdrive, screaming about United being back in "our rightful place as champions of England." His voice beyond fever pitch, the announcer shouted that the "impossible dream was made possible by Sir Alex Ferguson" as the Scot emerged to thousands of camera-phone flashes. The fourth official's electronic board bore the numbers "26 38," not some extravagant Fergie-time, just a reminder of the years and the trophies. Premier League dignitaries were in attendance. The chairman, Sir Dave Richards was present, although the only water feature he was in danger of falling into was a torrent of terrace tears. The chief executive, Richard Scudamore, was also on hand, knowing that his organisation has just lost one of its greatest selling points. In corporate and broadcasting boardrooms from the Far East to the United States, Ferguson's name is golden. The game itself was slightly incidental. Javier Hernandez hit the bar early on as most of the 75,572 crowd beseeched: "Fergie, Fergie, give us a wave." It was all a far cry from Ferguson's first game at Old Trafford, a 1-0 win over QPR on Nov 22, 1986. As 42,235 looked on back then, Chris Turner kept goal behind a back four of Johnny Sivebaek, Paul McGrath, Graeme Hogg and Mike Duxbury. The midfield comprised Jesper Olsen, Remi Moses, Clayton Blackmore and Peter Barnes with an attack of Peter Davenport and Frank Stapleton. Life has changed. Ferguson's final line-up cost £127million. Old Trafford continued to combine the sentimental, the uplifting and the crowing. "Mancini," gloated the Stretford End, "he gave the trophy back, and now he's got the sack" followed by "sign on." It was a bit tacky, totally tribal and very inevitable. Mancini leaves Manchester City having given United a scare, having given the "noisy neighbours" some great moments and some belief. When Paul Scholes, playing his last game at Old Trafford, received possession, United fans urged him to "shoot." They sang of the icons of the Ferguson era, of Eric Cantona, Andy Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Gary Neville. Up in a private box, Wayne Rooney sat rather forlornly, having submitted a transfer request. The party went on without him. The Stretford End was in expansive mood, even calling on the kit-man Albert Morgan to give them a wave. Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson looked down from the smart seats, beaming as Hernandez pounced on some loose Williams" control to give United the lead. But early in the second half, when Michu equalised with a majestic volley, Swansea's lively fans serenaded Ferguson with "you're getting sacked in the morning." Swansea were terrific for a while, really threatening to ruin Ferguson's farewell party. Wayne Routledge played a 1-2 with Michu, outstripped Rio Ferdinand but poked the ball just wide. With three minutes remaining, things reverted to Ferguson's script with a winner from Ferdinand, the 20th United player to score in the season of their 20th title. At the final whistle, after only a modest three minutes of Fergie time, he shook hands with Michael Laudrup and ventured on to the Old Trafford pitch for the last time, "thanking all of you" at United. "You have been the most fantastic experience of my life," Ferguson told them. My retirement doesn't mean the end of my life with the club. I'll be able to now enjoy watching them rather than suffer with them. But if you think about it...those last-minute goals, the comebacks, even the defeats are all part of this great football club of ours. Then Bruce and Robson carried out the Premier League trophy. "I think it is also important to go out as a winner," concluded Ferguson. That is really important at this club. It is all I ever wanted to do here - be a winner.