39. James Chester

James Chester is an agile, tough-tackling central defender from Warrington.

He was first spotted by United scouts playing for his local team, Winwick Athletic. James began playing for the team when he was five, when he played with boys four years older in the Under9s.

By the age of eight, United had taken an interest and invited him down for training sessions at the club. Since then he has risen through the ranks at Old Trafford and graduated from the Academy in 2007.

Chester became an integral part of the Reserves' defence in the latter half of the 2006/07 season

and throughout the following campaign.

James was the Reserves' top appearance maker during the 2007/08 campaign, playing a key role as the Reds ended the season with success in the Manchester Senior Cup final.

Chester took over the captain's armband for the Reserves at the start of the 2008/09 campaign and his consistent displays, combined with injuries to first team regulars, resulted in a call-up to the senior squad for United's League Cup semi-final, second leg with Derby County in January 2009.

With 23 minutes remaining in the clash at Old Trafford and United three goals to the good, Chester entered the fray as a substitute for Gary Neville. Like so many fledglings in the past, the Reserves' skipper didn't look fazed by any means.

Just two weeks later, Chester joined Sir Alex's son Darren for a month-long loan spell with Ferguson Junior's Peterborough side and played a part in three wins out of five.

He is now back at Old Trafford continuing to work towards his ultmate aim of becoming a first team regular.