The History of Manchester United Football Club
One of the Most Famous and Successful Clubs in World Football
Nov 18, 2008
The northern English city of Manchester is home to Manchester United Football, one of the most recognisable names in world football.
Formed back in 1878 as Newton Heath L&YR Football Club, they started life as the works team for Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot.
By 1892 the club had joined The Football League’s Second Division and had become independent from the rail depot and were now simply known as Newton Heath F.C.
Managing director of Manchester Breweries, J.H. Davies was appointed club chairman and changed the name from Newton Heath F.C. to Manchester United. Davies also decided to abandon the green and gold shirts of Newton Heath and change the club colours to red and white, colours still worn today.
By 1906 Manchester United reached the First Division, gaining promotion as runners-up and by 1908 had secured their first League Title.
United went on to win their first FA Cup in 1909 and achieved their second League Title in 1911. In between these successes, United moved to Old Trafford which still remains the clubs home base.
The following years saw the club slip into decline and they were relegated back to the Second Division in 1922. By 1938 United were once again in the First Division after a string of promotion and relegations.
Matt Busby Guides United to Years of Success
On football’s return after the Second World War, United appointed Matt Busby as Manager in 1945 and he guided them to a runners-up spot in 1947, 1948 and 1949 as well as helping them win the FA Cup in 1948.
Manchester United secured the League Title in 1952, ending a barren run of 41 years without league success. They managed League Title success again in 1956 with the squads’ average age being just 22 years old. This young group of players were affectionately known as the Busby Babes.
United won the league title again in 1957 and reached the FA Cup Final, losing out to Aston Villa. Then on the request of the FA, United became the first English team to compete for the European Cup, but were beaten by Real Madrid at the semi-final stage.
The 1958 Munich Air Disaster
However, tragedy struck on 6th February 1958 when the plane that was carrying the team home from a European Cup match, crashed on take off at a re-fuelling stop at Munich airport. Eight players, 3 of the clubs staff and 12 passengers were killed in the accident.
Manager Busby spent two months in hospital and was even read the last rites but managed to make a miraculous recovery.
Manchester United continued with competition with a makeshift squad and even managed to reach the FA Cup final that year losing to Bolton Wanderers.
Busby began to re-build the squad signing players such as Dennis Law and George Best and United achieve FA Cup success in 1963 before two more League Title wins in 1965 and 1967. United went on to win the European Cup in 1968 winning the final 4-1 against Benfica.
In 1969 Matt Busby resigned as manager after 24 years in charge and United struggled to replace his success eventually being relegated to the Second Division in 1974.
The club made an immediate return to the First Division though and reached the FA Cup Final in 1976, losing out to Southampton. However, they secured FA Cup success one year later with a 2-1 Cup Final win over Liverpool, but were beaten in 1979 Cup Final by Arsenal. The 1980’s saw United struggle in the league but win the FA Cup twice in 1983 and 1985.
Manchester United Dominate English Football Following the Arrival of Alex Ferguson
Aberdeen boss Alex Ferguson arrived as manager in 1986 and after a slow start to his career at the club guided the team to an FA Cup win in 1990.
1991 saw United beaten in the Final of League Cup, but they won their first European Cup Winner’s Cup, beating Barcelona 2-1 in the final. In 1992 United reached the final of the League Cup again, this time beating NottinghamForest 1-0.
Manchester United began to dominate English football winning the first Premier League title in 1993, their first title since 1967, and followed it up with success a year later, securing the prestigious League and FA Cup double in 1994.
United reached the 1995 FA Cup final but were beaten 1-0 by Everton, before securing a second League and Cup double in 1996. The club went on to win the title again in 1997.
The Treble season of 1999
In 1999 Manchester United won the treble of the Premier League, the FA Cup and European Cup making it their most successful season ever.
League titles were achieved again in 2000, 2001 and 2003 with FA Cup success in 2004. They also reached the 2005 FA Cup final, but were beaten by Arsenal on penalties but did secure the League Cup in 2006.
In 2007 United were on course for another League and Cup double but were beaten in the FA Cup Final 1-0 by Chelsea.
In 2008 Manchester United secured the 10th Premiership title in 16 years and went on to beat league rival Chelsea 6-5 on penalties to achieve their third European Cup Final success.
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