Brian Cox's fondness for the current Arsenal team may be mistaken for allegiance, but that belongs to Manchester United, a Premier League club steeped in Scottish heritage.
Cox was 11 when eight United players from Sir Matt Busby's team died in 1958 in the Munich air disaster. Two more suffered such terrible injuries that they could not play football again and 15 other passengers were killed.
"I will always be a United fan because United is what affected me as a child," Cox says, his voice softening.
"I remember it so vividly, waiting to hear about Duncan Edwards. I'll never forget those few days. That's what really locked me onto Man United, because all these young men and Edwards, who was the extraordinary player of all time… his range was amazing, he was fit as anything.
"It was his kidneys that finally killed him. Sir Matt Busby nearly died as well, he ended up in hospital. It was a very traumatic thing. As a kid… I remember feeling very empathetic towards Man United.
"It just became my team really from that point on because of what Busby then recreated. They were called the Busby Babes, they were an absolutely amazing team."
@AdamCrafton's interview with Cox is free to read — the full video interview is available to watch in the piece or on The Athletic's YouTube channel.
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🚨💣 BREAKING: Éderson to Manchester United, here we go!
Deal done with Atalanta for €45m package with add-ons included, agreement now in place.
Medical and formal steps to follow but deal in place.
Éderson will sign a four year deal plus option, as @TheAthleticFC reports.