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Manchester United Manchester United Football Club was first formed in 1878, albeit under a different name - Newton Heath LYR (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway). Little suspecting the impact they were about to have
on the national, even global game, the workers in the railway yard at Newton
Heath indulged their passion for association football with games against other
departments of the LYR or other railway companies. Davies decided to invest in the club, in return for some
interest in running it. This led to a change of name and, after several
alternatives including Manchester Central and Manchester Celtic were rejected,
Manchester United was born in April/May 1902. The following season, 1905/06, was to prove one of the greatest in the early life of Manchester United. The half-back line of Dick Duckworth, Alex Bell and captain Charlie Roberts were instrumental in the side which reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, but more importantly finished as runners-up in the Second Division. Twelve years after being relegated, United reclaimed their place in the top flight. To celebrate, Mangnall signed Billy Meredith from rivals Manchester City. Nicknamed the Welsh Wizard, Meredith had been implicated in a bribery scandal at City, and was due to be auctioned along with 17 other players. Mangnall made his move early, and acquired Meredith's signature before the bidding began. The winger's arrival proved to be inspirational - Meredith
set up countless goals for Sandy Turnbull in 1907/08 when
United won the Football League Championship for the first time. As champions,
United played in the first ever Charity Shield in 1908. They duly won the
trophy, beating FA Cup winners QPR 4-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Sandy's
namesake, Jimmy Turnbull. And so the first chapter in the club's history ended
on a high note, with the promise of more to come in the next, including a move
to a certain new stadium… |