The striker, who passed away in the USA at the age of 65, still holds the club record at Manchester United for the most goals scored in a season.

But in the early months of 1969, while his former teammates were defending their European Cup success against the continent's finest, Viollet was playing in front of crowds as small as 630 for Witton Albion.

But his four goals in 13 games will live long in the memory of the Witton fans old enough to have witnessed the great man's efforts in a team which was far from vintage Albion.

Phil Chadwick, the club's secretary, said: "It wasn't a great team. Witton only finished ninth in the Cheshire League and I think it was Ken Barnes' last season with the club, but there were some very good players in the side. Dennis had a good scoring record."

Viollet, who was 35 at the time, was enticed to the club by player-manager Ken Barnes, who was also close friends with another great United striker, Denis Law.

Viollet's debut came in January as a replacement for the injured Brian Rimmer but his first home game during a season badly hit by poor weather wasn't until February 21.

That match was against Ellesmere Port and, during the build up, Viollet was interviewed by Barry Davies for Grandstand in a feature which highlighted the great man's move into non-league football.

During his spell with Witton Viollet, who was one of the survivors of the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, netted twice in the Cheshire League, once in the Cheshire Senior Cup and once in the Mid Cheshire Floodlight League.

His last goal for the club came during Witton's 1-1 draw in the final of the Cheshire Senior Cup against Macclesfield.

The match was played, of all places, at Northwich Vics' Drill Field ground in front of a crowd of 2900.

Witton went on to lose the replay and Viollet's association with the club ended shortly after.

As for the player's greatest Central Ground moment, that came against local rivals Winsford when, in front of a crowd of 845, his strike helped the home side to a 3-0 win in the Mid Cheshire Floodlight League.

Staggeringly, despite having a prolific scoring record during his days in the top flight, Viollet only received a handful of England caps.

Nevertheless, he is still regarded as a United great whose brief time at Witton Albion is still fondly remembered.

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