Manchester United Reds

Manureds

This is the history of Manchester United FC - the world's greatest football club  

1887-1900 1901-1920 1921-1940 1941-1960 1981-2000 2001-

This is the decade of George Best - the greatest footballer to grace the game!


1961/62
 
This season saw Herd recruited from Arsenal, having previously played locally for Stockport County with his Father. The defense was also strengthened with Chisnall making his debut. United finished a poor 15th in the league and eliminated from the FA cup in the semi final losing 1-3 to Spurs. Due to Uniteds poor form attendances again suffered a crowd of 57000 watched the Spurs game and 56000 the derby against Manchester City. David Herd became top scorer of United, scoring 14 goals in his first season. 


1962/63.

1962 saw the recruiting of two new players who were to have a huge impact on United. Denis Law signed from Torino for 116,000 pond at the start of the season, Eric Cantona may be the `young pretender' but Denis is still the King, Denis was the penultimate piece in Matt's team-jigsaw. The arrival of Denis brought not just a great footballer but a showman and entertainer; he drew crowds all over the country. He was quite magnificent in every way. Pat Crerand moved from Glasgow Celtic the following February, he had a touch of silk. Immediately Paddy arrived the Lawman was transformed, transformed from brilliant to genius, and that was because of Pat. United having a bad year finished 19th just avoiding relegation. Their best league result was the 5-1 defeat of Notts forest. Better results in the FA cup saw United reach the final. An unforgettable game resulted in the underdogs, United beating the fancied Leicester City 3-1. Attendances in general were continuing to drop although United were attracting better gates away from Old Trafford, 69000 squeezed into Goodison for the Everton game. Only 49000 watched the Manchester City derby. 


1963/64
 
The cup success drew the crowds back to old Trafford 63000 fans watched United thrash Everton 5-1, Ipswich receiving a 7-2 drubbing. A 6-1 defeat at Burnley was revenged with a 5-1 victory two days later. Uniteds new players included Sadler, Anderson, the ineffective Moore from Chelsea and the magical George Best, also John Connelly joined United from Burnley. The trio of Charlton, Law and Best ('holy trinity') were to become household names and lay fear and wonder into the hearts of opposition teams everywhere. The youth team won the FA Youth Cup again by beating Swindon Town 5-2 on aggregate. 


1964/65 

United further strengthened the their team with Fitzpatrick, Aston, and Dunne. Success came to Old Trafford in the form of Uniteds first league championship since 1957. The finish for the league title couldn't be more closer as United pip Leeds United on goal average. A cup run to the semis was also achieved. A play-off defeat by Ferencvaros deprives United a place in the Fairs Cup final. Uniteds success resulted in an increase in attendances crowds around the 55000 to 63000 mark were a regular feature at Old Trafford. 


1965/66 

Ryan and Noble, who had a promising future cut short were United's new players this year. The crowds were once again flocking to watch United. United came a reasonable 4th in the league, and lost out to Everton in the FA cup semi final. The Charity Shield was shared with Liverpool after a 2-2 draw. El Beatle Rips Benfica Apart United's return in the premier European competition ends in a 2-1 aggregate defeat by Yugoslavia's Partizan Belgrade. 


1966/67
 
Alex Stepney arrived from Chelsea this helped to consolidate a position that had troubled United for a couple of years. The goal keeping duties had been shared by Gregg Gaskill and recently Dunne. Stepney now took the mantle of goalkeeper. High points of 5-0 against Sunderland, 6-1 west Ham, but a loss of 0-3 to Stoke saw United take out the league championship again. It was the seventh league title for United after finishing four points clear of Nottingham. A loss to giant killers Norwich ended Uniteds cup run in the 3rd round. In the League Cup they lost very disappointing in the second round. More than 60000 fans watched United on not less than eight occasions this year. 


1967/68 

Uniteds squad was strengthened further with the promotion of Burns, Gowling, Rimmer and the current assistant manager Brian Kidd. Attendance soared topping the 60,000 mark in the league alone 12 times. 100,000 mainly United fans watched their greatest ever moment , the 4-1 defeat of Benfica in the European cup final. United became the first English club to win the European Cup with their thrilling 4-1 win over Benfica at Wembley on 19th May. Bobby Charlton gave United the lead only for Graca to equalize and send the game into extra time. George Best restored United's lead and another goal from Charlton and a header by Brian Kidd, celebrating his nineteenth birthday, seals a famous victory. This was United's finest hour and Busby's dream. Matt Busby received a knighthood from the Queen in recognition of his services to football. The Charity Shield was shared again after a 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur. The 2nd position in the league, after Manchester City, paled to nothing when United triumphed at Wembley. United lost 10 of their 42 league games and scored 89 goals, giving them a goal average of +34. 


1968/69 

Morgan, Sartori and James were Uniteds recruits this year although playing attractive football and attracting the crowds United seemed to wane after their triumph over Benfica. Finishing a poor 11th in the league and losing in the 6th round of the cup to Everton a loss in the semi final of the European cup completed a disappointing year for United. Any hopes of retaining the European crown were shattered by AC Milan who triumph 2-1 on aggregate in the semi final. United also lost the World Cup Championship in a bitterly contested two-logged affair. Estudiantes of Argentina triumphed 2-1 on aggregate. Sir Matt Busby decided to give up control of the team and he became general manager. Wilf McGuinness took charge of the team. 


1969/70 

1969 saw Wilf McGuinness promoted to manager on Matt Busby's retirement. Ian Ure joined the team in a stop gap measure to strengthen the defense.  A chaotic year ended any chance United had of success. Best although leading goal scorer was at his worse behavior. Charlton and other senior team members would not accept the authority of McGuinness. United finished a poor 8th in the league losing once again in the FA cup semi. So more semi final disappointment as United lost 1-0 to Leeds United after two replays, they also lost 4-3 on aggregate to Manchester City in the League Cup semi final. McGuinness eventually was relieved of his position in December 1970 when Matt Busby once again took control at Old Trafford.

 
1970/71
 
Matt Busby followed Wilf McGuiness as manager. The greatest manager of Manchester United ever took charge again and all the fans hoped that he would make a new super team and bring them prizes again. But Matt Busby couldn't bring anymore what he brought before, United finished only 8th in the league, with 16 wins, 11 draws and 15 defeats out of 42 matches. In that 42 matches United managed to only score 66 goals. In the FA Cup United was defeated in the third round and the League they reached the semi final, but when were knocked out.

 
1971/72
 
Matt Busby resigned as manager, joining the board of directors. The next manager was Frank O'Farrell. But under O'Farrell United had another poor season. They finished 8th again in League, with 19 wins out of 42 matches, they scored almost the same amount of goals as last year, only 69 goals in 42 matches. In the FA Cup they reached the sixth round, but were eliminated by Stoke City. In the League Cup they reached the fourth round, but again Stoke City were the stronger team. O'Farrell signed Martin Buchan from Aberdeen and Ian Storey-Moore from Nottingham Forest for £200,000. 


1972/73
 
This was yet another gloomy season for United, they started the season poorly and in December Frank O'Farrell was dismissed in favor of Tommy Docherty. Docherty was a man who was media friendly and spoke the same language as the fans on the terraces. He kept a poor team in the first division in his first season by buying a lot of new players. New arrivals included Ted MacDougall from Bournemouth, Wyn Davies from Manchester City, Alex Forsyth from Patrick Thistle, Jim Holton from Shrewsbury Town, George Graham from Arsenal and Lou Macari from Celtic. MacDougall however moved to West Ham United after just six months at the club. 
At the beginning of the season both George Best and Bobby Charlton announced their retirements whilst Denis Law rejoined Manchester City. United finished a disappointing 18th place in the league with only 12 wins and 48 goals scored in 42 matches. In the FA Cup as well as the League Cup United reached the third round. 


1973/74 

What had threatened a season earlier eventually happened this season, United were relegated. For the first time in almost forty years United returned to division two. But the relegation proved beneficial in the long run, as it gave them the time needed to rebuild a new team. Docherty bought Paddy Roche from Shelbourne, Stewart Houston from Brentford and Jim McCalliog from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The worst thing for the United supporters was that it was Denis Law for Manchester City who back heeled United into the lower division. 10,000 fans invaded the pitch with seven minutes remaining, hoping to get the match abandoned, but it didn't help. United was relegated and instead of meeting Liverpool, Leeds, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea among others, they now had to visit Oldham, York, Millwall, Bristol and Blackpool. United finished 21st with only ten wins and 38 goals scored. In the League Cup United reached only the second round and their FA Cup campaign ended in the fourth round. 


1974/75
 
But United roared back in style after just one season in division two. They became the Champions with sixty one points and only seven defeats, but also only 66 goals scored in 42 matches. Docherty continued his rebuilding as he bought Stuart Pearson from Hull City and Steve Coppell from Tranmere Rovers.  In the League Cup United lost in the semi-final, but that didn't matter, as in the fourth round they had beaten Manchester City, always a bonus in those days. In the FA Cup they failed to progress beyond the third round. 


1975/76 

In their first season back in the top flight United finished third behind the dominant Liverpool. They lost 9 times and scored 68 goals and were back where they belonged, at the top of the table in division one. Gordon Hill moved to Old Trafford from Millwall. In the League Cup United lost in the fourth round. But in the FA Cup United reached the final where they met Southampton from the second division. Everybody in the country was convinced that this would be United's fourth FA Cup, but it turned out to be a massive upset. Southampton stunned United with a 1-0 win at Wembley. United would have to wait another year for their first trophy since winning the European Cup in 1968. 


1976/77 

This season United returned to Wembley and now they had to beat Liverpool to win the cup. United ended Liverpool's hopes of the treble (Championship, League Cup and FA Cup) by winning the FA Cup final 2-1. Pearson scored the opening goal for United and the second was a lucky strike from Jimmy Greenhoff, who signed for United at the start of the season from Stoke City. A month later, Docherty was sacked after it came to light that he was having an affair with the wife of the club's physiotherapist. United played some great football under the Doc and he brought Buchan, Hill, Coppell and other class players to United. Dave Sexton replaced him, but Sexton's era will not be remembered very fondly by most Reds as he failed to bring a trophy to Old Trafford.  In the UEFA Cup United were knocked out in the second round by Italian giants Juventus, the Italians winning 3-1 on aggregate ending United's European ambitions. The club's record transfer fee received was equaled when Gerry Daly moved to Derby County in April for £170,000. 


1977/78 

Following the FA Cup triumph of the previous season 1977/78 failed to deliver further success as United finished a disappointing 10th in the League with 16 wins, 10 draws and 16 defeats and scored 67 goals, their goal average was only +4. In the FA Cup they were beaten in the fourth round and in the League Cup they progressed only as far as the second round. In the European Cup Winners' Cup they won the first round and met FC Porto in the second. United's European dreams ended again with a 6-5 aggregate defeat. United did however share the Charity Shield with Liverpool after a 0:0 draw with Liverpool.  United set a new record transfer between British clubs by signing Gordon McQueen from Leeds United for £500,000. This followed the earlier move by Joe Jordan, also from Elland Road, for £350,000. A record fee was received from Derby County again for Gordon Hill, sold for £250,000. 


1978/79
 
United's centenary season got under way with a 4-0 win against Real Madrid, watched by almost 50,000 fans. But at the end of the campaign there was disappointment as United lost a sensational FA Cup final to Arsenal. With Arsenal leading 2-0 and less than 5 minutes remaining McQueen scored to give United hope and incredibly a minute later Sammy McIllroy pulled the scores level. But there was heartbreak for United as in the last minute Arsenal stole the winner to win the FA Cup.  In the league United ended again disappointed, finishing only 9th. In the League Cup they lost once again in the third round. Sexton signed Mickey Thomas from Wrexham for £300,000. 


1979/80 

The season began with United paying and receiving record club transfer fees. Ray Wilkins moved from Chelsea to Manchester for £825,000 and Jimmy Greenhoff went to Leeds United for 350,000. United came very close to winning the Championship this season, but Liverpool pipped them to the finishing line. United had to settle for second, despite only eight defeats in the league. In the FA Cup there was defeat in the third round and in the League Cup they were also knocked out in the third round. 


1980/81
 
The European dream ended early in the new season as Polish side Widzew Lodz knocked United out of the UEFA cup on the away goals rule. In October the record transfer fees were smashed again, Garry Birtles arriving from Nottingham Forest for £1.25M and Brighton and Hove Albion paid £500,000 for Andy Ritchie. Following the previous season's escapades the United fans were dreaming of another Championship, but this time United failed to reproduce any Championship winning form and finished a very disappointing 8th. In the League Cup they didn't do much better as they lost in the second round while in the FA Cup they were eliminated in the fourth round. This disappointing season meant the end of the managerial spell of Dave Sexton at United, he was dismissed at the end of the season and succeeded by Ron Atkinson.

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