Man United set to hand title winners' medal to Hollywood star in special ceremony

Manchester United are poised to hand out a title winners' medal to a Hollywood superstar and Golden Globe winner.

Ian McShane, 80, received huge acclaim for his performance in the TV series Deadwood and won the Best Actor award.

He has also appeared in Game of Thrones, Shrek the Third, Kung Fu Panda and Pirates of the Caribbean.

He's never been a footballer but McShane's dad, Harry, turned out for United, Blackburn, Huddersfield, Bolton and Oldham in a long career.

For United, he scored eight goals for the club in a four-year spell between 1950 and 1954. The crowning moment was the club's First Division triumph in 1952, of which McShane was part of.

He made 12 appearances that season and also scored the winner against Manchester City in a huge derby clash.

But bizarrely, he did not qualify for a winners' medal as he was said to be two games off from being eligible.

In the current climate, players need to turn out just five times in order to collect a medal.

Image: Alamy

Yet 71 years on and McShane, who passed away aged 92 in 2012, is finally in line to receive the recognition he deserves.

United successfully appealed to EFL for McShane to receive a medal, along with two others from the 1952 title win and several other ex players.

The crop of 1975, who won the second division, will also be commemorated as Tony Young, Jim Holton, Steve James, Arnie Sidebottom, Steve Coppell, Mick Martin, Ron Davies will all get medals.

In total, it's been uncovered that 20 ex players are entitled to 23 medals - though just eight are still alive today.

Image: Alamy

A special ceremony is to take place at a Premier League game next term at Old Trafford, with McShane's only son Ian accepting on behalf of his late footballing father.