That memorable 1989 afternoon, goals from David Oldfield (2), Trevor Morley, Ian Bishop and Andy Hinchcliffe ensured a big Maine Road defeat for our neighbours.
Brightwell offered his thoughts on that wonderful derby, played in front of 47,00 fans, as part of a roundtable discussion, alongside Mike Summerbee, Paul Power and Nicky Weaver, which is out later this week to mark the 100th anniversary of the first-ever game played at our wonderful old ground.
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Brightwell admits memories of that victory are never far from the mind.
“It was really special,” he told us.
“They were going into the game as the favourites. During the 1980s and 1990s, United were always the favourites.
“They had just signed some big money players, too. Paul Ince had signed, Gary Pallister and one of the Wallace lads from Southampton for over £1million, which was big money at the time.
“But we absolutely destroyed United that day. It was a full house at Maine Road.
“We were the underdogs. There were a few lads that had played in the Youth Cup final in 1986 - the likes of myself, Lakey, David White, Andy Hinchcliffe.
“It was special and was mixed in with the experienced lads like Paul Cooper in goal, Gary Fleming at right back, Brian Gayle, who was a captain at the time, Ian Bishop, a young lad who went on to have a great career at City. Then there was Dave Oldfield and Trevor Morley up front.
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“It was a really special memory.”
Brightwell also pinpointed another brilliant match in his Maine Road career - a 5-2 victory over Tottenham in 1994.
The result itself reverberates around the memory banks as well as the fact he had to mark a certain Jurgen Klinsmann in the epic encounter.
“Brian Horton was manager and he played really attacking football,” he added.
“We had players like Paul Walsh and Niall Quinn. That was complemented with a young Garry Flitcroft and Stevie Lomax in central midfield.
“It was a really, really good day.
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“Klinsmann played for Spurs. Brian played three at the back and I was having to mark Klinsmann of all people.
“He was world class and that was an experience in itself.
“We played great attacking football. I look back on it with fond, fond memories.”
