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Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club
Club History
Manchester United Football Club is one of the most successful clubs in Britain along with the likes of Liverpool, Rangers and Arsenal but in this paper I will take a look why United are simply just the best there is.
The Birth Of A Legend
It all started way back in the 1870’s when a group of railway workers decided to form a football club to play in on the weekends. They called the team The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Football Club but in 1878 renamed themselves Newton Heath.
In the early 1890’s the Football League accepted their application to join the league and were placed in the First Division, as there was two divisions. They started indifferently as they lost their first game to Blackburn Rovers, the powerhouse of the 1890’s, 4-3 but a week later they beat Wolverhampton 10-1 to notch up their first ever victory. This victory is still a club record.
In 1894 the club moved to Bank Street in Clayton because they were
facing major financial problems but John H. Davies, a brewery director, was persuaded to put some money into the club therefore becoming the chairman and a director at the club. He decided changes were needed so he board renamed the club Manchester United and changed the strips from green and gold halved shirts and dark green shorts to red shirts and white shorts.
The club appointed their first ever manager in Ernest Mangall in 1903 and three years later United had pulled themselves out of the Second Division back into the First Division, but real success didn’t come till 1907/08 when they won the First Division title for the very first time. A year later in 1908/09 the club then won it’s first F.A. Cup. John H. Davies brought a plot of land near Lancashire Cricket Club in the mid 1900’s and started to build a new stadium. Old Trafford opened in 1910 but Liverpool won the first game there 4-3. In 1910/11 United won their second First Division title and a year later picked up their second Charity Shield, after winning their first in 1908.
The Indifferent 30’s, 40’s and 50’s
In 1934 came a vital clash in the history of this great club. They had to travel to Millwall and beat them to stay in the Second Division otherwise they would sink to the unthinkable depths of the Third Division North. They won 2-0 and just a season later won the Second Division title to win promotion back up to the First Division.
In the mid 1940’s World War II erupted therefore destroying Old Trafford so the club had to sign an agreement with arch rivals Manchester City to play at their home ground Maine Road. The board also appointed Matt Busby as new team manager, a move which was to change the club dramatically. He captured his first tile in 1951/52 as United became First Division champions, but Mr. Busby wasn’t happy and he decided the team needed some new blood and he brang together a group of extremely talented youngsters which became known all around the world as “ The Busby Babes “.
In 1955/56 The Babes won the First Division championship and entered the European Cup, the biggest club competition in the world. They went out in the semi-finals, to eventual Real Madrid, but they retained the league title the following season so they could enter the competition again. They wouldn’t entered the 1957/58 European Cup if they knew what was going to happen next. After losing to AC Milan in the semi-finals the team stopped off at Munich. On take off the plane crashed killing eight members of the team and fifteen members of the club, press and airline staff. One of the players killed in this crash was Duncan Edwards, a player who could play any position at anytime time. This was a great loss to United because at the time he was said to have been the best player in the world.
A Time Of Rebuilding
The late 1950’s and early 1960’s was a time of rebuilding for the team and by 1963 they had won back the F.A. Cup and 1964/65 was the first time they had won the league for eight seasons. The 1963/64 season was a historic one as it was the season Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best teamed up for the first time.
Benfica and United make their way out onto Wembley for the 1968 European Cup Final, which United won 4-1. In 1966/67 United won the league again therefore winning the right to compete in the European Cup again the following season and what a season it turned out to be. On a warm summer’s evening at Wembley Stadium, England Manchester United played Benfica in their first European Cup final. Benfica ,with one of the greatest players ever up front in Eusebio, were never in it and United won 4-1 in extra time. The goals came from Charlton with two and Best and Kidd picked up one each.
The European Champions.
The 1970’s were a disaster as the Red Devils dropped to the Second Division but just a season later they got themselves back into the First Division under the guidance of new manager Tommy Docherty. In 1977 United got back on the winners list by winning the F.A. Cup and the Charity Shield. The 1980’s were as inconsistent as you could possibly get as United had a trophy drought and picked up just three honours them being the Charity Shield in 1983 and two F.A. Cups in 1983 and 1985. Ron Atkinson started the decade as the manager and he quickly brought a entertaining side including Bryan Robson one of the greatest ever to wear a United shirt. In 1986 Alex Ferguson replaced Big Ron as manager and United were about to start the most successful part of the clubs history.
The Successful 90’s
The 1990’s under Alex Ferguson have been the clubs most successful and, rightly so, United have been labelled the team of the decade, in the English game. In the 1990’s under Ferguson United have won 17 trophies including five Premier Leagues, four F.A. Cups, five Charity Shields and the most important two a European Cup Winners Cup and a European Super Cup. Ferguson’s belief in his youngsters has led to players like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers becoming not only household names but regulars on the international scene.
After the 1991/92 season United made the move for Eric Cantona, a player who was not good enough for Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United but good enough to ba called the best Manchester United player ever. Cantona made the move but sadly will remembered for his kung-fu kick at a member of the crowd at Selhurst Park. Eric was a legend and without him in the 1995/96 United might have come away from the campaign with no trophies.
This season, 1998/99, United have reached the F.A. Cup Final, and won it, and the European Cup final for only the second time in their history. They played Bayern Munich of Germany in the final of the European Champions League and came out citors for only the second time in the clubs history. The score that night finished 2-1 to us. Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored one each in the last three minutes to win the cup. Mario Basler had given the Germans the lead inside six minutes. They also won their fifth Premier League in seven years.
Sun Microsystems Ltd is proud to be the Official Technology Partner and Platinum sponsor of Manchester United, a leader in the world of football and a club with perhaps the most glittering history in the game. As a world leader in computers, it’s natural that SUN would team with other winners; winners like McLaren, whose Formula 1 cars are designed and run using Sun equipment; winners like Team EF Language whose boat won the Whitbread Round the World Race; winners like Manchester United.
Sun Microsystems computers are used to power the Internet (including www.ManUtd.com), and are the driving force behind the UK’s leading Financial Services, Manufacturing, and Telecommunications companies. Sun operates in over 140 countries, enabling large organisations to network more productively their people and share information across the globe. You can find Sun on the world wide web at www.sun.co.uk. You say teamwork. We say network.
Media mogul Murdoch already holds the rights to broadcast live Premier League games exclusively through Sky, but this contract will expire in 2001. The sports broadcasting market, however, is a lucrative one, and it is reported that Murdoch has expressed a desire to enter the world of Premier League football through a more direct route.
Perhaps another catalyst to Murdoch’s decision to buy into football is the realisation by the League and its clubs that there is a lot of money to be made in broadcasting live games to fans. The capabilities of digital television will allow each club to effectively run its own channel thus cutting out the middleman broadcaster which, in this and many cases, is Sky. BSkyB will doubtless be keen to secure broadcasting or takeover deals with Premier League clubs before this starts to happen.
However, any such deal will be investigated by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), as are all takeovers. The OFT will examine whether or not the buyout will have competition implications - restricting the access to televise Man Utd. games, for instance. If the OFT finds that there are implications of this nature the deal would be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC).
BSkyB is already being taken to the High Court by the OFT over a broadcasting deal struck between the Premier League and Sky in 1993. The OFT claims that Sky made the deal, to broadcast games between 1993 and 1996, without first obtaining the OFT’s consent (see Newsline).
Man Utd.’s launched digital TV channel, MUTV, is part-owned by BSkyB, Granada and the club itself; it is initially only available through Sky. It is expected that other clubs may join the bidding now that Sky has got the ball rolling. Other possible players include Granada, United News & Media and leisure group Enic. However, any such takeover is likely to meet with resistance. Already sports minister, Tony Banks, has said that the Sky talks should “set off alarm bells” and described the potential deal as having “profound consequences”.
Alex Ferguson is the manager of the Manchester United Football Club. Manchester United (Man United) that on 26th May 1999, won a unique football treble: The European Cup, The English Premiership and the English FA Cup. It was an amazing achievement won in amazing style by an amazing team. It was, quite literally, the stuff that dreams are made of. But there is something even more amazing than this particular achievement. It is that in an age who very meat increasingly seems to be hype, and short-term action for short-term gain, Man United achieved through long-term vision and planning. Money didn’t buy the treble for Man United. Time, wisdom, strategic thinking, a focus on developing young talent, total commitment and a never- say-die attitude did. Sure, Man United spent big, but that was only part of the equation for success.
Alex Ferguson is a driven man. A man who knows what he wants, sticks to his plans and is prepared to wait and let things mature. He is known to have a ferocious temper. He drives everyone around him very hard; expects nothing but total commitment from his players. His players know that he will stand by them, that he will never ridicule them in public, that he will defend them to the last. He has time-honoured qualities, often derided in this shiny, new age.
One evening, Ryan Giggs’ mother opened her front door. There was a man there who wanted her son to play for Man United. His name was Alex Ferguson. She knew that Man United was a great club, but Ferguson’s presence told her something more important; that the manager cared enough to come to her home. The ‘good old days’ had as many bad days and bad ways. Today, is a great time to be alive. But those of us lucky to play a part in this great period of change should not dismiss the past out of hand. Because there are values that are as valuable today as they ever were.
Alex Ferguson became manager of Man United in 1986. After three years, he had brought the club no major success. Many were calling for him to resign. But the board of Man United held resolute, looked to the future. In 1990 came their first major title but it was not until 1994 that the planning and the patience truly began to pay off. That’s a long time to wait in football, a sport notorious for getting rid of managers who do not deliver immediate success. With our Internet stocks frenzy and our quarter by quarter expectations, it is easy to forget that a year isn’t really all that long, that five years isn’t really all that long. Substance grows slowly. Solidity needs to settle. Style is a finely honed art. Success can take time.
Man United have proven that sporting (and commercial) success of unheralded proportions can still be achieved in the age of the press release, by the time-honoured practices of perseverance, self-belief and attention to detail.
Board of Directors : From left to right: Peter Kenyon, Amer AlMidani, Martin Edwards, Maurice Watkins, Professor Sir Roland Smith, Greg Dyke, David Gill
Profit before taxation rose to £27.6 million, compared with £15.4 million in 1996. An exceptional contribution of £2.2 million was included in the prior year’s pre-taxation figures. Turnover for the year was £87.9 million (1996 - £53.3 million) an increase of 65 per cent. This flowed through to an operating profit of £26.2 million (1996 - £14.2 million), a rise of 85 per cent. Profit after taxation was £19.0 million (1996 - £11.3 million, £9.1 million excluding the exceptional item). Earnings per share were 29.8 pence (1996 - 18.4 pence, 14.9 pence excluding the exceptional item).
The Board is recommending a 19 per cent increase in the final dividend to 4.3 pence per share (1996 - 3.6 pence per share) giving a total dividend for the year of 6.2 pence (1996 - 5.2 pence per share). Further commentary on the results is given in the Financial Review.
Manchester United has achieved major success and business growth over recent years. So much so that independent research indicates that the Company enjoys a level of turnover and profitability that is ahead of our international competitors. At every level we are confident of our ability to maintain our record of success.
ANNEXURE TO ARTICLE
PLAYERS DETAILS
Peter Schmeichel
Position : Goalkeeper
Nationality : Danish
Date of Birth : 18/11/68
Weight : 16st 10lbs
Height : 6’4”
Date Signed : 12/8/91
From : Brondby
Transfer Fee : £550,000
League Apps : 190
Peter is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world by ‘football experts’ and by strikers as a giant oncoming brick wall. One of the few goalies to have scored a header.
David May
Position : Defender
Nationality : English - Oldham
Date of Birth : 24/6/70
Weight : 12st 10lbs
Height : 6’
Date Signed : 1/7/94
From : Blackburn Rovers
Transfer Fee : 1,400,000
League Apps : 54+10
Gary Pallister
Position : Central Defender
Nationality : English - Ramsgate
Date of Birth : 30/6/65
Weight : 14st 13lb
Height : 6’4”
Date Signed : 28/8/89
From : Middlesborough
Transfer Fee : £2,300,000
League Apps : 300?
In a young United side Pally stands tall as the only man to have won a complete set of medals during Fergie’s reign. One of the unsung heros of Old Trafford, he is a tower of strength in United back 4 and the longest serving member of a rock solid defence.
Denis Irwin
Position : Defender
Nationality : Irish
Date of Birth : 31/10/65
Weight : 11st
Height : 5’8”
Date Signed : 20/6/90
From : Oldham Athletic
Transfer Fee : £625,000
League Apps : 252+4
The ‘Quite Man’ of football. Denis is a vital and longstanding member of the Old Trafford squad, also as an Irish International, brings a solid and mature head to the game.
Roy Keane
Position : Midfield
Nationality : Irish
Date of Birth : 10/8/71
Weight : 12st 10lbs
Height : 5’10”
Date Signed : 19/7/93
From : Notts Forrest
Transfer Fee : £3,750,000
League Apps :
Roy is the most tempramental midfielder around but one of the best in Europe. He has been dealt a massive blow with his latest injury as he is now out for the rest of the 97/98 season. This is also a major blow to the Republic of Ireland International side which he made his debut for against Chile on 22 May ‘91. He plays a very important part in both teams. However, Fergie’s young fledglings seem to be coping quite well without him as their recent results in the Champions League have shown. It will be a long wait for Roy on the side lines.
Jordi Cruyff
Position : Winger
Nationality : Dutch
Date of Birth : 9/2/74
Weight : 11st
Height : 6’
Date Signed : 20/7/96
From : Barcelona
Transfer Fee : 1,400,000
League Apps : 18+6
Jordi made his debut for United against Wimbledon in Aug 96 and since then has scored 3 goals. He has made 9 appearances for Holland and scored 1 goal. Being the son of the brilliant Johan Cruyff alot is expected of him but the way things stand at United he has yet to secure any regular appearances to the first team.
Ole Gunnar Solskjæ
Position : Striker
Nationality : Norwegian
Date of Birth : 26/2/73
Weight : 11st 10lbs
Height : 5’10”
Date Signed : 5/7/96
From : Molde, Norway
Transfer Fee : £1,500,000
League Apps :
The babyfaced genius.
Word Count: 3020
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