Ask most people to name United's most important figure throughout our history, and you will more than likely be given the name of Sir Matt Busby, or perhaps Sir Alex Ferguson. This is all well and good, and these two great men probably are our most influential all-time figures, but many people have not even heard of one man who arguably made United what it is. One man who dedicated his life to the Red cause, and saved the club on more than one occasion. That man, was called Louis Rocca.

Now, there have been countless numbers of 'unsung heroes' in United's history, men who have seldom been given accolades but by those who knew the club intimately. Jimmy Murphy was Sir Matt's long-time assistant and perpetrator of the youth system which still forms the backbone of our club; Brian Kidd had an equally important role when he served under Fergie, but never has there been such small amount of 'praise-singing' (except perhaps at OT, circa '99) for someone who deserved it so much.

It's incredible that no-one has made a film about Rocca's life. It's some story. Born in Manchester in 1883, Louis quickly became obsessed with Newton Heath, as United were then known. By the age of 12 he had become official tea-boy for the players and staff, and soon went on to be responsible for the kit. He did this simply by hanging around and becoming a fixture at the club. By 1907, when he was 24, Rocca had become the club's first ever groundsman, and was also chief scout. He became notorious for scouting around the lower Manchester and Lancashire leagues, and often turned up in disguises, such was the level of anger towards him from smaller clubs for consistently poaching their players.

In the tunnel at todays Old Trafford are two plaques, bearing the names of the two chairmen who saved United from ruin: JH Davies and James Gibson. Rocca was instrumental in bringing both to the club. Davies, a wealthy brewery owner, was strongly encouraged by Rocca to bring the club back from the brink of financial oblivion in 1902. Rocca's roguish Mancunian charm paid off and Davies did just that, saving the club and beginning a successful period in which support from all over Salford, Manchester and Lancashire led to a needed name change. Manchester Central and Manchester Celtic were discussed, but in the end Rocca's suggestion of Manchester United was by far and away the most widely supported. Needless to say, the name stuck.

After the death of JH Davies in 1927, the club was again facing financial ruin. Once again though, Rocca's knack of finding the right man for the right job came up trumps, and prosperous clothing firm owner James Gibson became United's new chairman in 1931.

Through the late '30s and the war years, Rocca had the treble role of chief scout, secretary-manager and assistant-manager, as he and Walter Crickmer struggled to keep United alive. After the war, with no ground and a serious lack of new talent, fresh blood was required to kick-start the slumbering beast. Trusting Rocca's assertion that he "knew just the man", James Gibson approached a talented young Scottish manager, who had formerly played for Liverpool and Manchester City. Matt Busby had arrived.

Most of Busby's first great team were Rocca signings, and even though he retired to the board of directors soon after Busby's arrival, it was his fifty-year legacy that had set the precedent for the success that followed. Rocca died in 1950.

It's criminal that this Louis Rocca does not gain the respect his contribution to the club deserves. The club should recognise this man's achievements, and every Red should know his name as well as they do Sir Matt Busby's and Sir Alex Ferguson's. If it hadn't been for Louis Rocca, United would certainly not be what it is. Total respect.

Danny Blanchflower said of Rocca: "He WAS United. His dream of the greatest team in Britain came true." And Europe. Thanks Louis.