In July 1991, Sealey moved to Aston Villa. He returned to Old Trafford on a free transfer in 1993 and was understudy to Peter Schmeichel.
During this spell, Sealey made two appearances for United – in the 1994 FA Cup quarter-final against Charlton Athletic, when Schmeichel was sent off, and in the 1994 League Cup final where United lost 3-1 to Aston Villa.
Schmeichel’s suspension for his red card meant Sealey got the nod for Wembley, but there was no winner’s medal this time.
Despite playing for a string of clubs thereafter, Sealey’s knee plagued him for the rest of his career. At one point, he was so desperate that he visited a faith healer on the recommendation of United and England captain Bryan Robson.
“Robson swears blind that he had a small, hairline fracture on his shinbone, and she’d put her hands on his shinbone,” said Sealey, “and he had an X-ray the following day and the fracture had gone.”
He claimed that when the healer touched his knee, it felt “like a red-hot iron”.
In August 2001, Sealey died of a heart attack, aged 43. He was working at the time as a goalkeeping coach at West Ham.
His life story is the focus of the book On Days Like These by Tim Rich.