United Legends

ALL TIME MANCHESTER UNITED RECORDS!!!!

robi prosser — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:57:41 GMT

as we have many fans from all over the world who may or may not know this i thought i would make a post with all our records on there for everyone to see

so here goes

Biggest League Win

10-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers 1892-1893

Biggest Premier league win

9-0 vs Ipswich Town 1994-1995

Biggest away win

8-1 vs Nottingham Forest 1998-1999

Biggest European win

10-0 vs Anderlecht 1956-1957

Biggest FA cup win

8-0 vs Yeovil Town 1948-1949

Biggest League cup win

7-2 vs Newcastle United 1976-1977, 5-0 vs Tranmere Rovers 1976-1977, 5-0 vs Hull City 1987-1988, 5-0 vs Rotherham United 1988-1989

Biggest Charity Shield win

8-4 vs Swindon Town 1911, 4-0 vs Aston Villa 1957, 4-0 vs Newcastle United 1996

Most league appearences

606 Bobby Charlton

Most FA cup appearences

78 Bobby Charlton

Most League cup appearences

51 Bryan Robson

Most European Appearences

130 Ryan Giggs

Most charity Shield appearences

12 Ryan Giggs

Most Substitute appearences

150 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Most Overall appearences

817 Ryan Giggs

Most League Goals

199 Bobby Charlton

Most FA cup goals

34 Denis Law

Most League cup goals

19 Brian McClair

Most European goals

38 Ruud Van Nistlerooy

Most Charity Shield goals

6 Harold Halse

Most Overall goals

249 Bobby Charlton

Most Goals in one game

6 Harold Halse vs Swindon Town 8-4 1912 Charity Shield

6 Gerorge Best vs Northampton Town 8-2 1970 FA Cup 5th round

Most League Goals in one game

5 Andy Cole vs Ipswich Town 9-0 1995 FA Premiership

Youngest First Team appearence

David Gaskell 16 years + 19 days vs Manchester City, Charity Shield 1956

Oldest First Team appearence

Billy Meretith 46 years +281 days vs Derby County 7 May 1921

Most Consecutive League appearences

206 Steve Coppell

Most Hat-Tricks by a United player

18 Denis Law

Most goals in a season

46 Denis Law 1963-1964

Fastest goal

15 seconds Ryan Giggs vs Southampton 18 November 1994-1995

Highest Attendance for a home match

83,260 vs Arsenal at Maine Road 1947-1948

Highest Attendance at Old Trafford

76,098 vs Blackburn Rovers 2006-2007

I will update every week if i can !!!!

Legends Profile: Charlie Roberts

robi prosser — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:51:36 GMT

Center-half Charles (Charlie) Roberts ranks alongside Johnny Carey, Bryan Robson and Eric Cantona as one of the most influential captains in United's history. He was also one of the truly great central defenders of his generation, despite gaining only 3 full caps for England. Early on in his career, Roberts played for Darlington St.Augestine's and the famous amateur club, Bishop Auckland. In April 1903 he signed for Grimsby Town to take the first step in a senior career as one of the finest center-halves England has ever produced.

Slightly less than a year later Robert's moved to Manchester United. It was reported that United paid just £600 for him. If so, it was a great bargain, for he earned himself a very special place in United's folklore. Ernest Magnall was assembling a side to match the best. Roberts was destined for glory not only as a player, but also has Magnall's trusted lieutenant on the field.

In 1904 Roberts madehis debut for United, and for the next nine seasons he was rarely missing for the first-team line-up. He quickly became established in United's defence, forming one of the cornerstones of the club's first great trophy-winning sides. Together, Charlie Roberts, *** Duckworth and Alex Bell made up one of the most outstanding half-back lines of that, or any other era.

Under Charlie Roberts' captaincy United captured the league championship in 1908 and 1911, and lifted the FA Cup for the first time in 1909.

Roberts was a founder of teh players' union, which the Football Association did their utmost to defeat in the months following United's 1909 FA Cup win. New rules written into players' contracts effectively forced them to renounce the union. Many players, fearing for their jobs, did just that. Several United players, including Roberts decided to fight for what they believed to be right, and in a sensational development the FA suspended them. Dubbing themselves "The Outcasts," the group began to train independently for the oncoming 1909-1910 season, under the watchful eye of Charlie Roberts. Evetually, support for the Union began to return, the FA were forced to reassess their position and agreement was reached just hours before the beginning of the season. The outcome allowed Roberts to return to what he did best - captaining United's defence from his central position.

Roberts' nine years as a Manchester United star ended in August 1913, when he was transferred to nearby Oldham Athletic in exchange fo a record club fee for the time. He was now 30 years old, but his determination remained strong and he captained the Latics to second place in the 1914-1915 League Championship.

Roberts won only three England caps in his footballing careeer, perhaps because of his fight for the players' union, but the northern based football league chose him for their representative side nine times, eight times while he was at United and once after he moved to Oldham.

On 25th February 1905, Roberts became the first-ever Manchester United player to be capped for England.

Legends Profile: Billy Meredith

carpy_united4ever — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:25:07 GMT

BILLY MEREDITH

FORWARD (1906-1921) 335 APPEARANCES 36 GOALS

A long time before the status of celebrity had been branded about, Billy Meredith was a superstar in his time. Along with Edward VII and the prime minister David Lloyd George, billy was one of the most famous people in britain in the first two decades of the 20th century, an instantly recognisable icon whose image dominated the public prints. Even the people who knew little of football and cared less knew all about Meredith: he was widely admired for his raffishness and rebellion, just as much as his prowess on the park.

If cricketer W.G. Grace bestrode the sporting world in victorian times, the edwardian era belonged to Meredith without question. His roots in the tiny, strictly god-fearing village of Chirk, in Wales, could not have been any humbler. Aged 12, Meredith went to work in a local mine. However, football turned out to be his saviour. He had shown some talent as a player in local football and Meredith wanted to try his luck in England. His family were reluctant to let him go, but in the end he joined Northwich Victoria as an amateur in 1892. He was soon spotted and signed by Manchester City and became an instant sensation, dazzling spectators up and down, right accross the country, with his breathtaking wing play. Billy won his first cap for Wales in 1895, the second division championship in 1903 and the F.A. Cup in in 1904 with City. Meredith was already showing signs of the anti authority streak that was such a feature of his career. In 1905 he was implicated in a financial scandal and accused of bribing an Aston Villa player to throw a match. He always denied the allegation, but was one of a number of players to be banned from playing for the club ever again. What a costly mistake this ended out to be as City's loss was very much neighbours United's gain, as Ernest Mangnall (the present United manager) snapped up Meredith and a number of his City team mates for United. It was the start of one of the greatest United careers.

If someone was to see Meredith in the street you wouldnt recognise him to be an exceptional athlete. He was as pale as a ghost and had bandy little legs which wouldnt 'stop a pig in a passage' as the saying has it. Yet get him on a football pitch and he was transformed. Meredith's skill with a ball, devastating acceleration and pin point crossing, allied with the ability to inspire his team mates, all played a huge part in United's rise to the summit of english football. Meredith was the teams best player as they won two championships and the F.A. Cup in the years before the first world war. Meredith's links with United ended acrimoniously after the war and the money was the main root of the problem. No player chafed against the restrictions of the maximum wage more than Meredith. He remained bitter throughout his career that players were not allowed to earn wages commensurate with their skills. Football was generating fortunes in gate money those days and Meredith was keenly aware that he pulled in more spectators than anybody else. He therefore left United in July 1921 to rejoin city as a player-coach, but nothing in the rest of his career matched his achievements with United. He also played for Wales 48 times and scored 11 times. In his career Meredith was muchly operated as a winger, where he could do the most damage to the opposition, but could also be used as a striker.

Meredith died on 19th April 1958, much to the dismay of Manchester City and United fans together. This of course had already been a heartbreaking year too football fans and in particular United fans, following on from the Munich air disaster.

Legends Profile: Sammy McIlroy

robi prosser — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:21:36 GMT

Samuel Baxter McIlroy was Sir Matt Busby's last signing in september 1969. McIlroy has supported United as a youngster, and fellow Belfast boy George Best was his hero. When he came over from Northern Ireland at the age of 15 comparisons with Best were inevevitable and McIlroy later said " It was a great honour for me just to play with George Best but as my father said, there's only one George Best and there always will be. "

Three months after signing as a professional, McIlroy made his debut for United, against Manchester City at Maine Road. In front of 63,000 people, McIlroy scored 1 and had a hand in the other two in a thrilling 3-3 draw, for the remainder of the season McIlroy spent most of his time on the bench, but still had the distinction of becoming the third youngest British player to win an international cap at the age of 17 years and 198 days, he player for Northern Ireland against Spain. Seriously injured in a car crash in january 1973, McIlroy missed many of the later games of 1972-1973, but in 19973-1974, he managed to establish himself as a first team regular.

Unfortunately the club was relegated that season, but not for long. McIlroy was an ever-present in the United side that won the second division championship in 1974-1975, and by that time he was also playing regularly for Northern Ireland.

A resourceful midfielder with an impresive goal-scoring record, McIlroy appeared in three FA Cup finals for United, in the 1976 defeat by Southampton, his glancing header might have swung the United's way had it not hit the cross bar, McIlroy did win a winners' medal a year later, when United defeated the reigning champions, Liverpool, at Wembley.

In 1979 McIlroy made his third FA Cup final appearence, scoring a memorable goal against Arsenal when he made a weaving run through a packed gunners penalty area before curling his shot past his international team mate, Pat Jennings. Unforunately the goals wasn't enough to prevent United from as they slipped to a 2-3 defeat.

In October 1981 McIlroy was dropped from the first team to make way for Manchester United's record new signing, Bryan Robson. McIlroy responded by scoring a hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the same day that Robson had signed on the pitch before the game.

After clocking up more than 400 appearences for United, McIlroy was sold to Stoke City in 1982, where he played for another three years before moving back to Manchester to join City. After a short spell at Bury, Sammy McIlroy spent time in Sweden and Preston before concluding a playing career that has included 88 international caps. McIlroy then embarked on a managerial career, where he took non-league Macclesfield Town into the Football League on 1997, he managed his country from 2000-2003 but they were very poor during under his management only winning 5 games out of 29.

McIlroy is currently manager of Morcambe where he has worked his magic again when they got promoted via the play-offs to the football league in 2007

Happy Birthday Roy Keane (38) (NOW Ipswich Related) GENERAL DISCUSSION

Solomon Onilado — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:00:39 GMT

Happy Birthday to Roy Keane.

Legend at Old Trafford.

Hope he has a good birthday

Hope he has a long and successful managerial career.

To Roy Keane

top 10 legends (my opinion)

RED DEVIL 1996 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:05:39 GMT

10. Mark Hughes

9.Paul Scholes

8.Bryan Robson

7.Roger Byrne

6.Duncan Edwards

5.Steve Bruce

4.Ryan Giggs

3.Eric Cantona

2.Liam (Billy) Whelan

1.Bobby Charlton

Now I know I left out George Best but i believe he was a great player but not the best.

Let the bad reviews begin HAHAHA!!!!

Your Old Trafford Moment

ManUtd.com Journalist — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:06:28 GMT

The OT100

To mark Old Trafford's 100th birthday on February 19, 2010, the Manchester United Media team has drawn up a list of the 100 greatest moments and occasions in the Theatre of Dreams' century of being.

We'll be running through the whole hundred chronologically on ManUtd.com, starting on Thursday, 12 November, but we want you to get involved as well, by taking a prolonged trip down Memory Lane and telling us what you saw.

We're asking for your most unforgettable Old Trafford memory. It could be as recent as last-gasp winners from Kiko Macheda and Michael Owen, it may go back to Real Madrid's European Cup visit in 1957 or even pre-World War II.

It could be a game, a goal or a landmark moment. It might be the briefest flash of brilliance or an entire day of sombreness; it's down to you to decide your most enduring memory of something you've witnessed at Old Trafford - even if it's going to watch Simply Red or Nigel Benn versus Chris Eubank!

The only condition is that it has to have taken place at Old Trafford.

Once you've settled on your favourite, tell us what made it so unforgettable for you. We'll be publishing the best submissions across club media around the anniversary next February.

Thanks, and happy posting.

The Manchester United Media team.

LEGENDS WEBSITE NOW UP AND RUNNING

robi prosser — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:10:53 GMT

Right as we have had trouble keeping these posts on here myself and Carpy have been involved in making a new website

Pepe I know you are interested in this as you said you would be

I would just like to tell you all that this site is very much a work in progress and we will be adding to it a few times a week as long as we have the time

anyway here is the link I hope you all enjoy

http://manchesterunitedlegends.wordpress.com/

Legend XI

C-C UNITED — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:48:08 GMT

Schmeichal

G.Neville Ferdinand Vidic D.Irwin

G.Best Keane Charlton Giggs

Ronaldo Cantona

Subs: Van Der Sar, Law, Van Neistelrooy, Pallister, Beckham, Scholes, Robson

Choose yours...

United legends dream team

Blaize — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:39:46 GMT

I'll probably look at this list again later and then think about my starting 11, but for now, this is my all time United legends dream team. At the moment, the players from the 90s figure heavily, simply because the 90s was when I started supporting United and it was a special time for me; in the way that it was the decade that I really started getting into football and United.

1. P.Schmeichel (long time since I saw his name on a team sheet so the spelling is probably wrong)

2. G.Neville

4. S.Bruce

6. G.Pallister

3.D.Irwin

11. R.Giggs

16. R. Keane

18. P.Scholes

10. D.Beckham

7. E.Cantona

20. O. Gunnar Solskjaer

Legends Profile: Duncan Edwards

robi prosser — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:43:28 GMT

It is generally agreed that the best United player of all time was Duncan Edwards. Matt Busby said of the 15-year-old giant that he kooked and played like a man, he was the Ryan Giggs of his day.

At 16 years and 185 days old, Edwards became the youngest-ever player in the First Division. On making his England debut in the 7-2 win over Scotland in April 1955, aged 18 years and 183 days, he became the youngest ever England international which was only broken by current United player Michael Owen during his Liverpool playing days in 1998.

Edwards went on to score five goals in the 18 internationals he played for Engaland, a healthy total for a left-half. The fact that he helped United to wim the FA Youth Cup the same month as he made his international debut underlines his "ManBoy" nickname.

Edwards' talent was first noticed when he was the star of Dudley Boys team. He went on to captain England schoolboys, and several top clubs scrambled for his signature, but in June 1952 he joined United. Coach Jimmy Murphy did the groundwork in persuading Duncan's parents that he should come to Old Trafford, but Matt Busby clinched the deal. Busby didn't have to sell United to Edwards. In his autobiography, Busby recalls, Duncan said: "I think Manchester United is the greatest team in the world. I'd give anything to play for you."

Within a year Edwards made his League debut, the youngest ever to play in the First Division. Frank Taylor, the only survivor among the nine british journalist's on the munich plane, went to Edwards' first League game. United had a woeful 1-4 defeat at home to Cardiff City that day, and Taylor reported that Edwards was heavily built and might have trouble with his weight.

Despite his imposing appearence, Edwards was a gentle unassuming man. He was well-liked by his team mates, who accepted that he was naturally capable of achieving more than them. The team would warm up by jogging along the sides of the pitch and walking across the ends. Most of them did 4 circuits, but Duncan did 10.

At left-half , Edwards usually wore the number 6 shirt, but he had the ability to play in virtually any position on the field. Wilf McGuinness credits Duncan Edwards' incredible versitality for most of his early chances in the first team: I never dreamt I could overtake him in the team but if Dennis Viollett got injured up-front or Roger Byrne got injured at left-back, Duncan could be slotted in these positions and I would get a game. He could play as an attacker, creator or defender and still be the best player on the pitch ... Once he was playing for the English League XI against the Scottish League. 2-0 down, Duncan was moved from left-half to center-forward. He scored a hat-trick to win the game."

The only contemporary player who bore comparison with Edwards was the great Welsh star John Charles. But in a private conversation with Frank Taylor in 1957, Sir Matt Busby told Taylor why he rated Edwards as the best player in the world: "He agreed that John Charles was a fantastic player , taller (6ft 2in compared to 5ft 11 in), better in tha air and perhaps better on the ball. But the difference was Duncan was always involved. Charles would drift in and out of games."

Sir Matt Busby's right hand man Jimmy Murphy was perhaps Edwards' greatest admirer. Once in Murphy's other role as the Welsh national team coach, he was delivering his team talk before a game against England. He spok about each English player in turn, highlightin their strengts and weakness. As he closed in tactical sermon, a Welsh player piped up "You haven't mentioned Duncan Edwards, boss." Murphy replied: "There's nothing to say that could help us."

Of the many talented Busny Babes, Edwards was the natural kingpin. Wilf McGuiness recalls one game that illustartes the point: "Pre-match, Jimmy Murphy was saying to the likes of David Pegg, Bobby Charlton and myself, 'I don't want you to have a Duncan Edwards complex and always give him the ball. You are good enough players yourselves.' At half time it was 0-0 and Jimmy changed his tune. He said, 'right, this half, as soon as you get the ball, give it to Duncan!'"

Of the 8 Busby babes that died in the Munich air disaster, Edwards ' innate strength and unconquerable spirit kept him alive for longest. For 15 days in the Rechts Der Isar hospital, he defied chronic kidney damage, broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a broken pelvis and a smashed right thigh, before his death at 2:16am. On 21st of February, 1958.

Sir Bobby Charlton describes Duncan Edwards as "The best player I have ever seen, the best footballer I've ever player with for United or England, the only player who ever made me feel inferior."
This was extraordinary praise for someone who died years before average footballers reach their peaks.
In 1957, United had reached the European Cup semi-final and were favourites to win it in 1958. If Edwards had come through Munich unscathed, United would almost certainly have won the European Cup before 1968.

At international level Edwards was expected to take over the captaincy when Billy Wright retired. Edwards would have been 29 by the time of the 1966 World Cup, and some believe that it would have been him and not Bobby Moore who lifted the Jules Rimet trophy. Bobby Charlton certainly believed that Edwards would have held back Bobby Moore for some time, and Frank Taylor once said that if Duncan Edwards had lived, Bobby Moore wouldn't of won a cap, because there was no way the Edwards would not of been chosen.

As Bill Foulkes said: "Duncan had everything, he was powerful, technically as good as anyone, and he could read the game as if he'd been in the game for 30 years even when he was 17. He was a freak to be honest, mature beyond his years. He always behaved in the correct way - everything he did was correct. He'd obviously been well-tutored when he was young. He was one of the boys, but he was also a gentleman, the model professional." Will McGuiness explains succintly why Edwards was the greatest-ever United Player: "Best, Law and Charlton were world class when they had the ball. Duncan was world class when United had the ball, and when the opposition had the ball he was our best defender. He was complete."

Wilf McGuiness also went on to say many moons later, "He had legs like tree trunks, like Mark hughe but bigger. But he wasn't all power. If the ball was hit like a bullet at him, he would let it hit his chest and kill it. He could dribble, give short one-twos and then unleash an accurate 50-yard pass."

Jimmy Murphy once said, "when I hear Muhammad Ali proclaim to the world that he was the greatest, I used to smile. You see, the greatest of them all was an English football named Duncan Edwards."

During one international game against West Germany in 1955 Duncan Edwards scored a 25 yarder, he sturck the ball with so much power that the goal kepper ended up in the back of the goal with the ball, this earned him the nickname of 'BOOM BOOM of the Germans

Edwards was but still a child in footballing terms when he lost his live but he was also the man of the team, he was only 21 years and 143 days old, during this time he had already played a total of 175 games and scored 21 goals for United. He also had won 3 Youth FA Cup winners medals, 2 League Championship winners medals and a runners up medal from the FA Cup.

roonie is the best

kyle gomes — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:31:26 GMT

wayne roonie, is the best forard man chester ever had.manchester united is the best english team from england. i admire them alot.

Legends Profile: Jack Rowley (My Attempt)

Casper626 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:29:44 GMT

John Frederick "Jack" Rowley (nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his deadly left foot and amazing scoring record) was a last-minute signing that Sir Matt Busby made in 1937. In his youth career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, he failed to get a first-team spot and moved to Bournemouth in 1937. He made an instant impact scoring 10 goals in 11 appearences. This got the attention of many big clubs and eventually Manchester United signed him for £3000.

He made his debut against Sheffield Wednesday just a day after he was signed but failed to make an instant impact. On his next match against Swansea Town however, he scored 4 goals at the age of just 17. In that season he scored 9 goals in 29 appearences and helped the team to a runners-up spot in the second devision. The team got promoted to the first devision for the first time since 1931. He was initially signed to play as a left-winger but he soon developed to become a centre-forward. He instantly became a first-team regular making 38 appearences and 10 goals the season after.

In 1945 league football was suspended due to the war, Jack Rowley served in the South Staffordshire regiment, participating in the D-Day landings at Normandy in 1945. He also guested during hostilities for Wolves, Aldershot, Belfast Distillery, Folkestone, Shrewsbury Town and Tottenham.

In 1948 he helped Sir Matt Busby's Manchester United to a FA Cup title and scored 5 goals in 6 FA Cup appearences (2 of which came in the FA Cup final) and in the league that season he scored 23 goals in 39 appearences at the sparky age of just 21. In 1952 he helped United get a top devision title by netting 30 goals in 40 appearences. The season before he only scored 14 goals in 39 appearences and many doubters thought he wouldn't make it at United. He proved them wrong and instantly rose to the heights of the many United greats.

After making 424 appearences and 211 goals, (in all competitions) he was sold to Plymouth Argyle during the 1954-55 season. After 3 seasons at Argyle, he produced 56 appearences and 14 goals. At the end of the 1956-57 season, he retired at the age of 37 and became the manager of Plymouth Argyle until 1960. He managed 238 games, won 93, drew 52 and lost 93. He later became manager of Oldham Athletic until 1963. Afterwards he also managed Ajax, Wrexham and returned to Oldham. He eventually retired at December 1969 at the age of 49.

He is currently the third highest goalscorer in Manchester United's history. Only Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law have scored more goals than Jack Rowley.

Unfortunately, he died 11 years ago in 1998 at the age of just 77.

P.S: This is my attempt of a legend's profile. I know it isn't that great and that robi prosser's one is miles better. But I am only 13 and he is an adult!

Legends Profile: Tony Dunne

Casper626 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:14:30 GMT

Anthony Peter Dunne cost Sir Matt Busby £5000 to sign him from Shelbourne F.C. At Shelbourne Dunne made 18 appearences and 1 goal. He spent just 2 seasons at Shelbourne but on his final season he helped them win the FAI Cup (Thats the Irish version of the FA Cup) by beating Cork Hibernians 2-0. A week after the final he caught Sir Matt's attention and eventually he was signed for £5000. Dunne made his Manchester United professional debut against Burnley on the 15th October 1960 and on that day he played in his natural left-back position.

In 1963 he played a huge role in helping the club win the FA Cup. And in 1965 and 1967 he was part of the team which won both those first devision titles. He is one of the most underrated left-backs in the history of Manchester United clocking up over 500 appearences and producing 2 goals. He even helped Manchester United win the European Cup in 1968.

He made his international debut for Ireland at a 3-2 defeat to Austria on the 8th of April 1962. He made 33 caps for Ireland and played as a left-back and a centre-half. He played alongside his brother Pat Dunne in one game in a loss to Spain on the 10th of November 1965. He captained his country on four of his 33 caps and one the Irish footballer of the year in 1969.

Eventually, however, he left the club at the start of the 1973/74 season to join Bolton Wanderers. He won the Football League Second Devision in the 1977-78 season and at that time Bolton were being managed by former United player Ian Greaves. In 1979 he moved to Detroit to play for Detroit Express in the NASL (North American Soccer League) he made 12 appearences but no goals. He retired in the same season and went on to be the assistant manager at Bolton Wanderers until 1981.

From 1982 he managed Steinkjer F.C until 1983. Afterwards he retired at the age of just 42. He currently lives in Sale and runs a driving range in Altrincham. He currently has made the fifth most appearences for Manchester United. Only Sir Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs, Bill Foulkes and Alex Stepney have made more appearences for Manchester Unite than him.

Tony Dunne - The Most Underrated Full-Back In The History Of Manchester United F.C

Legends Profile: Denis Law

Casper626 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:43:28 GMT

One of the greatest goal scorers in the history of Manchester United - Denis Law. In 1956 he started his career at Huddersfield Town. Up until 1960, he clocked up 81 appearances and 16 goals at the young age of just 20. He instantly caught the radar of Manchester City, who signed him for a British Record of £55,000. Law spent a very successful year at the Eastlands making 44 appearances and 21 goals still only 21. He caught the attention of Italian club Torino and was signed for £110,000. He found it difficult to settle into Italy's style of play and was signed by Manchester United in 1962 for another British record of £115,000.

On the 18th of August 1962 he made his debut against West Bromwich Albion. He made a fantastic start, scoring in a little under 10 minutes. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. United's form had been terrible because of the dreaded Munich Air Disaster in 1958 and were constantly fighting relegation that season. In a league match against Leicester City, Denis Law got his first hat-trick for Manchester United, unfortunately Manchester United lost that match. Eventually he helped United find their trophy winning form in a 5-0 thumping against Huddersfield, his former club. He again scored a hat-trick in that crucial FA Cup match. United went on to face Leicester City again, this time in the FA Cup final. Leicester City had finished fourth in the league and were strong favourites to win. But Law denied them and scored one goal in a 3-1 victory to crown United FA Cup winners. It was a great year for Law since he also married his wife, Diana, on the 11th of December 1962.

In the 1963/64 season, Law became a prolific goal scorer and broke the Football League First Division record and made 42 appearances and 46 goals, netting nearly 2 goals every match. That season he was selected to play for a Rest of the World side against England at Wembley. He scored a goal in a 2-1 defeat. He described this as one of the greatest honours of his career. In the 1964/65 season, Denis Law was crowned the European Footballer of The Year and in that season, Manchester United won their first top division title since the Munich Air Disaster. Law also won the top scorer award for his 28 goals that season.

In 1968, United did the unimaginable, they won the European Cup for the first time and Matt Busby had proved that he could create a new United team which would win the European Cup despite the Munich Air Disaster. Unfortunately, Law had a knee injury which made him miss both the semi-final and the final. His knee injury was causing long-term damage. He visited a doctor in January 1968 and the doctor told United that a previous operation to remove the knee cartilage had failed and that a second operation had to be taken. Law was not shown the report for several years and had to continue full-training.

In the 1968/69 season, United reached the semi-finals of the European Cup and they faced Milan. In the first-leg they were beaten in the San Siro 2-0. United won the second-leg 1-0 through a Bobby Charlton goal. Denis Law also had the ball in the back of the net only to see the Milan defender clear it. Law appealed that it was a goal but the referee waved play-on and United went out on aggregate. At this time Matt Busby was knighted and decided to resign from his job.

Afterwards United went in decline; they couldn't find a good enough replacement for Sir Matt Busby. Wilf McGuiness took over at the start of the 1969/70 season. United finished eighth in the league but Law missed almost all of the season through injury only making 20 appearances and 12 goals. At the end of the season he was transfer listed for £60,000 but nobody made a bid so he stayed at United. After a dreadful 1970/71 season, Frank O'Farrell took over as first-team coach. They made a good start to the 1971/72 season and finished five points from the top of the league by the end of 1971. However by the end of the season they finished eighth and O'Farrell was sacked.

Law recommended bringing in Tommy Mocherty as the first-team. United decided to agree with his recommendations and brought him in. He made a great impact to the team lifting the club into mid-table. Docherty sent Law back to the Eastlands on a free-transfer. He played there for one season and scored 12 goals in 26 appearances. He later decided to retire because the manager of City said he would only play for reserves if he stayed.

There is currently a statue of Denis Law in the Stretford End in memory of the great things he did for the club. He has scored 237 goals in 437 appearances and is currently the second highest goal scorer in the history of Manchester United. Only the great Sir Bobby Charlton has scored more goals than him. The pair of them up front is thought to be the best pair of strikers in the history of Manchester United.

Legends Profile: Lou Macari

carpy_united4ever — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:54:33 GMT

LOU MACARI

MIDFIELDER (1972-1984) 400 APPEARANCES 97 GOALS

Lou Macari joined United from Celtic in 1972 for £200,000, which at the time made him one of the most expensive footballer players in Britain. At firs in his earlier days in his career he was employed as a striker, despite being 5 foot 6 inches tall he was one of the tiniest around, but that didnt mean much to him really. But Tommy Docherty converted him into a midfield operator, after he failed to make it as a regular goalscorer in the top flight of english football. His ability to get forward from deep positions made him a potent penalty area presence. His debut was an impressive one against West Ham at Old Trafford where he managed to grab himself a goal in a 2-2 draw. He grabbed himself three goals on the way to wembley in 1977 for United, and he was the setup of in the winning goal against liverpool. It was Lou's shot that flew off Jimmy Greenhoff and flew into the back of the net past Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence. He only won a couple major honours at his time with United, 1 F.A cup, and the second division championship, where he was top scorer with 11 goals.The main thing that sparkled and standed out in Macari's game aside from energy as a box to box player was the sheer class of his dribbling skills with the mazy tricky runs and close control he possessed. A pure example of this and probably one of Macari's finest hours as a United player was the F.A cup final in 1977 where United beat Liverpool 2-1. As i explained earlier he also self made a goal for his team to cap off his fine performance. He was always a very consistent performer when he was taken back into the heart of the midfield. At his time he was a fans favourite at Old Trafford. He also got himself 24 caps for Scotland where he scored 5 times. Lou left United in 1984 when he fell out of favour with Ron Atkinson who took the mantle of the boss from Dave Sexton, who had a very short spell as the United boss. He bleeded United red and he still does on the sofas to this day. He is as close to a mancunian from outside manchester as you can get.

Macari did try his hand in management after leaving United and retiring, where he managed swindon, west ham, birmingham, his beloved celtic and huddersfield. He also had two stints at Stoke, but nothing has really been made too much of his managerial career, certainly not like his playing days. But his brief time at Huddersfield was his best, where he couldnt prevent them from being relegated to division two, where the following season he managed to get them to the play offs but lost out at the semi final stage, Huddersfield didnt renew his contract and let it run down as they didnt llike his defensive style of play.

Nowadays Macari works for MUTV a lot and Sky sports on certain occassions. He also owns a fish and chip shop down Chester Street near Old Trafford, called ''Lou Macari chip shop'', which i have had the privilidge of having a portion from, I must say they are'nt too bad.

Legends Profile: Martin Buchan

robi prosser — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:08:42 GMT

Nobody can dispute the enormous contribution that Manchester United's long-serving defender, Martin buchan, made to the club. Buchan had enjoyed a distinguished career as Aberdeen before he ventured south to Old Trafford. At, 20, he was made club captain Dons, and a year later he skippered the team to a Scottish Cup victory. He was voted Scottish Player of the Year in 1971 and earned the first of his 34 Scotland caps inn the same year. Towards the end oof 1971-1972 season, Aberdeen decided to cash in on their young captain by selling him to a top English club. Plenty were interested, and it came as a suprise when Buchan chose United over the more successful Liverpool and Leeds United of that time. A class center-back like Buchan was exactly what United needed, and he wasted no time in justifying the record £125,000 transfer fee that manager Frank O'Farrell paid.

United were in decline, with world-class players such as Charlton, Best and Law coming to the end of their careers playing alongside individuals who simply weren't of the same calibre. Six months after Buchan joined United, O'Farrell was sacked and Tommy Docherty brought in. United continued to slide and were relegated in 1974, but with Buchan newely installed as captain, they bounced back at the first attempt by winning the Second Division Championship in 1975.

After the adversity of his first two years at Old Trafford, the club's fortunes were improving and Buchan later described his years under Docherty as "the happiest days of my playing career".

United reached the FA Cup final in 1976, but Southampton , suprisingly, won with a single goal. A year later United reached the final again, against Liverpool, and with Buchan blotting out Kevin Keegan with a typically faultless performance, the Reds achieved a memorable 2-1 victory. Buchan also won the accolade of becoming the first post-war player to captain both a Scottish and English cup-winning team. With Liverpool dominant in the league, Buchan's honours were restricted to the cups, and he picked up another runners-up medal in the 1979 FA Cup final defeat at teh hands of Arsenal.

In the 80's, Buchan suffered badly from persistant injuries, and in 1983 he bowed out of Old Trafford to spend a short spell playing at Oldham, and an even shorter one managing Burnley before leaving the game. After his footballing career, Buchan worked for a sportswear company, promoting football boots, These days he works for the PFA in London

Ha made 455 appearences scoring only 4 goals one of which was a superb long drive which was very uncharacteristic.

PROPOSOAL - TRINITY OF LOYALTY AND SUCCESS

Monte_Cristo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:03:27 GMT

Its scholesy's birthday and its just time that we honour our most loyal player or players i should say with the correct or most deserved statement or title in UNITED's history. No doubt Giggs, Scholes and Neville has been our most loyal players up to date that are still playing for united. They are the liging UNITED LEGENDS and it excites me to think in the future how united can put up a trinity statue outside OT for this 3 players but the proposal i have is what they should be brand of. Im putting up this thread just for future consideration for people who are most concerned to come up with the said proposal. im not asking for a statue for the 3 lads cos im sure united intime will have to build one outside oT but instead im proposing a tagline or statemenet that will embed rightly and deservedly so for this 3 guys. here is my tag line for the said proposal...

"THE TRINITY OF LOYALTY"

"THE TRINITY OF LOYALTY AND SUCCESS"

so anyone got anymore idea please post it here and hope it may be heard or be forwarded or be known to the community. so hope you guys come up with more ideas or better taglines.

P.S. Im not sure if this is the right forum(section) for this but if not so please do transfer to the correct thread section. i apologise in advance.

Over the last 25 years which UTD player ...............

4-4-2 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:34:28 GMT

Over the past 25 years which player could you say was the best in THE WORLD in the position they played.......at that moment in time....

Gary Neville best right back ?...

Schmeichel...best keeper ?

Over to you ......but remember it is at the time they where playing at their prime....

So how many best in the world players did we have ?

manutd best 5 players!~

deokmin9 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:41:42 GMT

George Best!~

sir.Bobby Charlton!~

Jack Rowley!~

Joe Spence!~

Mark Hughes!~

dear!~i'm Choi' Deok-Min(mr.choi)!~age:35!~i'm korean, seoul, south korea

Pure Class!! got to be an OT legend

CHOPPER1976 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:36:07 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xrlKdwQreE I had a season ticket from 92-01 then had 2 give it up for a work...family etc... I have been a long time reader of the forum, but not a big poster.... unless something really needed saying. Anyway I love watching archives of past moments. My personal best was Lee Martin in the replay, perhaps because it was one of my 1st major United experiences. There are some really good posters on here and I hope I can find more time to share my experiences and findings with you all true Reds. Enjoy the Beckham post people

Legends Profile: Sir Bobby Charlton - The One and Only

Casper626 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:04:43 GMT

Introduction

Sir Bobby Charlton - arguably the greatest English footballer of all time. He played football until he was 39 years old, he survived the Munich Air Disaster at the age of 20 and he has scored more goals for Manchester United and the England national team than any other player in history. There can't be any better than Sir Bobby Charlton, can there?

Bobby Charlton - The Youth Days

Bobby Charlton came from a family where there were many footballers, his uncle played for Newcastle United and his elder brother played for Leeds United. While he was going to grammar school, a Manchester United scout found him and brought him to the Red Devils' Youth Squad at the age of 15. Even though his mother didn't agree that he would be allowed to become a professional footballer, in 1954 Bobby Charlton went on to become one and played for the Manchester United senior team. He played as a striker and a midfielder and was known for scoring plenty. He became quite a good professional footballer in the end.

Sir Bobby Charlton - Manchester United

As soon as he went professional, he made a great impact and began making regular first-team appearences even though he was only 18 years old. He helped the team win the League championship but was denied the chance to win the League-cup double after losing the FA Cup final to Aston Villa. Next season, Bobby Charlton established himself as a regular first-team player and as Manchester United reached the semi-finals of the European Cup, the competition began appealing for English clubs. The season afterwards, United started a new campaign in the European Cup and they reached the quarter-finals, where they would face Red Star Belgrade.

Sir Bobby Charlton - The Munich Air Disaster

Manchester United's team were in a great mood after defeating Red Star. They were forced to land their plane in Munich to refuel and the weather was getting worse. The players started getting worried and their joyous mood slowly went away. Bobby Charlton and teammate Dennis Viollet were sitting in the back of the plane prior to taking off. But teammates Tommy Taylor and David Pegg asked them if they could swap seats because they felt safer sitting at the back of the plane.

Disaster struck as soon as the plane took off, the pilot was blinded by the icy strips and low-visibility of the terrible weather. As the left the runway the plane clipped a fence, just as they were gaining speed. This tore one of the wings apart causing it to spin before the plane sliced in half. United's Harry Gregg, who was miraculously left without any harm done to him, went on a one-man rescue mission and dragged out Bobby Charlton's seriously injured body out of the wreckage.

Bobby Charlton was in great shock after the accident and needed several weeks to recover from the accident. The Munich Air Disaster claimed the lives of 23 passengers, including 8 Manchester United players, 2 of which were Davig Pegg and Tommy Taylor, the teammates that Charlton and Viollet had swapped places with.

Sir Bobby Charlton - Back to Manchester

Yes, he needed nearly a year to come back to the pitch with full effect but Charlton managed to put the disaster behind him and rebuild his career. He spent the next 16 seasons at United, becoming a legend helping the club to success. He also helped the England National Team to success through the 1966 World Cup. At this time he became knighted. The last two seasons before retirement, Bobby Charlton went on to play at Waterford United and Preston North End. His heart and soul remained at Manchester.

Conclusion

Currently Sir Bobby Charlton has scored the most goals in the history of Manchester United with 249 goals and 758 appearences. He has recently been overtaken in apperences by Ryan Giggs but still holds the most appearences in the league with 606. despite mainly playing as a midfielder, he still had a great eye for goal. Wayne Rooney is currently the only person standing between him and a new record.

Legends Profile: Pat Crerand

robi prosser — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:39:37 GMT

Born in the tough Gorbals district of Glasgow, Patrick Timothy Crerand joined Celtic in August 1957 at the age of 18, but in all his games for them, he won only one medal, a 1961 Scottish Cup runners-up medal. In February 1963,Crerand signed for Manchester United. Three months after his move to Old Trafford, Crerand won the first of his many United medals, an FA Cup winners' medal against Leicester City at Wembley. Crerand was still adjusting to the pace of the English game, but he was wise enough to intercept a long throw from Leicester City keeper Gordan Banks and he threaded a pass through a crowded penalty area, allowing Denis Law to do the rest.

"That was probably my best performance in a United shirt," Crerand said of the match later. Crerand was a tough tackler, a '60s Roy Keane, in the heart of the United midfield. He estabkished himself as one of the most constructive midfielders of United's triumphant decade. His superb vision and ability to send long balls around the field and go on probing runs made up for his lack of goals, as he became a key member of the united side that won the league championship in 1965 and 1967, and the European Cup in 1968. Nobby Stiles, Bobby Charlton and Crerand formed on of United's finest ever trios. crerand may of lacked pace, but his skill and enthusiasm made him popular with the supporters, who said. "When Pat plays well, United play well".

Crerand's unquestionable loyalty to Matt Busby and the club saw him give 110 percent in every game he played. At times Crerand was arguably to committed, and he could allow his temper to get the better of him. In Manchester United's unsuccesful 1966 European Cup semi-final second leg against Partizan Belgrade, for example, he was sent off for fighting.

Two years later in 1968, Crerand was ever-present in the side that reached the European Cup final against Benfica, at Wembley. It was there that Crerand enjoyed his finest moment with United, giving an umblemished performance in the 4-1 victory as United became the first english club to lift the European Cup.

During his time with United he played 392 games and scored only 15 goals.

Crerand retired from playing during season 1971-1972, spending a brief period as assistant manager of United under Tommy Docherty before taking over as manager of Northampton Town in 1976. Crerand later worked as a publican in Altrincham, South Manchester, before becoming a local radio commentator on United. Crerand's pro-United views, born out of long-standing loyalty and his contribution to the red cause, have given him legendary status among modern-day United fans.

These day Crerand work mainly for the MUTV channel.

Legends Profile: Dennis Viollet

ARGENTINA32 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:13:15 GMT

Dennis Sydney Viollet 1933-1999

Growing up in Manchester through the war years, and then the immediate post war years, Dennis became a prolific schoolboy footballer. His progression brought him to the attention of first the Lancashire County Schoolboy selectors, and after playing in the North versus South schoolboys game, the England Schoolboy selectors. He was a young player that had enormous potential to progress to the professional game, and during the six times that he played for England Schoolboys, there was no shortage of football scouts from England’s top teams sat there watching him perform with a hope that they could persuade him to sign for their club.

The opinion of that time was that he would sign for Manchester City, but Manchester United had other ideas, and Joe Armstrong was able to weave his magic and persuade the likeable young Mancunian to join United where Matt Busby’s youth policy was beginning to be implemented. On September 1st 1949, just three weeks prior to his sixteenth birthday, Dennis put pen to paper and became one of the original “Busby Babes.”
Turning professional at the age of 17, Dennis made his debut two years later against Newcastle United.

It was difficult for him to break into the first team as both Stan Pearson and Johnny Downie, United’s inside forwards, were on top form in a season which saw Manchester United lift the First Division Championship for the first time since 1911. However, that championship winning team was getting old, and the following season Busby experimented with different players – and especially after Tommy Taylor was signed and he tried to find the perfect foil for him. Frank Clempson, Eddie Lewis, and particularly Jack Rowley were all tried there.

The following season, 1953/54 was to be Dennis Viollet’s breakthrough season. He played in a couple of games earlier on, but then on October 31st 1953, in the famous game at Leeds Road, Huddersfield, when Alf Clarke christened the team Busby’s “Bouncing Babes” He was selected along with several other youngsters notably Edwards and Blanchflower. From that moment on he became first choice inside left and he forged a tremendous partnership with Tommy Taylor, one that was to produce a phenomenal number of goals between them. Their understanding became telepathic and they complimented each other so well. They could read each others play and dennis would profit from the many times big Taylor would hang in the air and nonchalantly nod the ball down into the space into which Viollet would ghost into. On the reverse side, Dennis was adept at slipping quick through balls between defenders from which would set Taylor free and it wasn’t very often that he missed.

A stylish player, with precise ball control, good vision, and the ability to pass well. He was a natural goalscorer of course and natural goalscorers 'see' situations that others can’t spot. He could read the game - the ebb and flow and pattern of it - and then decide where he HAD to be at the crucial moment. That just can’t be taught - you’ve either got it or you haven’t. If you haven’t got it, then you can never acquire it – it’s a born-with thing. Dennis had it in abundance. He was mercurial.

Dennis played a huge part in helping the “Babes” secure their first First Division title in 1955/56, and the following year scored 178 goals in 291 games for United. The partnership was destroyed at Munich, when Taylor was killed. Viollet survived, but with head injuries that kept him away from football for most of the remainder of that season.

Some of the boys of 58 lost their careers as a result of the crash. It wasn’t so with Dennis but It was always felt that he lost something special too. He lost the potential or the desire for true greatness that would and should have been his. He like other survivors played on through the dark days that followed Munich. However, even without his partner, Viollet continued to score goals. In 1959-1960 he scored thirty-two in thirty-six league matches, a league total for a season that remains a Manchester United record. Only Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and Jack Rowley have scored more goals for Manchester United.

In 1962, Matt Busby surprisingly sold 28-year-old Viollet to Stoke City for £25,000 where he joined a team being re-built by Tony Waddington where the majority of his appearances were in midfield alongside Stanley Matthews. In his time at Stoke he made 207 appearances and scored 66 goals and was awarded a testimonial just before his retirement in 1967.

Once his playing career finished, he had spells coaching at Preston North End, and Crewe Alexandra briefly in 1971.

In the late 70's Viollet was selected by his former United teammate, Noel Cantwell to serve as assistant coach of the New England Tea Men of the North American Soccer League. After three seasons in the Boston area, the team relocated to Jacksonville, Florida in 1981 where Viollet continued as assistant coach, ultimately becoming head coach. This led Viollet on to coach the Jacksonville University team in the early 1990's and A-League side Jacksonville Clyclones in 1995 before his death from cancer on in March 1999 aged 65.

Dennis Viollet was inducted into the first class of the USL Hall of Fame in 2002. The annual University of North Florida/Jacksonville University soccer match has been contested for the Viollet Cup since 2001.

Wrote in 2006 by a United fan fortunate enough to see Viollet in action -

“There have been so many players in my 55 years of watching Manchester United, some great, some not so great. Memories can fade quite quickly, some linger for a time and then fade away, but always with players of quality, the memory seemingly is as fresh today as it was those many years ago. Dennis Viollet fell into the quality category, for he was a player with presence and you NEVER forget the players that have that!"

Letter to robi-Carpy-Sapper-Casper-audouc-fans-moderators.

Pepe Chareetur — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:18:08 GMT

Some three weeks back it was a real pleasure to read the profiles of several of Manchester United's legends.

Posters went out of their way to gather information and write about these legends.

But since last week I've seen most of them disappear. Most certainly because they've been inactive. This again proves that no matter how hard fans will try to improve this forum their efforts won't be rewarded. (Rewarded--in the sense that the threads be kept for a quite lengthy period of time.)

I've written several times asking the moderators to hold on with the legends' profiles and allot more than a single page to this forum but my request has definitely fallen on deaf ears.

Talking about this forum, the word 'Legends' -- in a certain way-- refers to the past. Exceptions can be made for the ' present' players. But there are not many . Hence, it will be very appropriate to have these profiles as long as possible to enable visitors to this forum to enrich their knowledge about our past legends.

Frankly I am very disappointed with the way the moderators have been handling this forum, because there's hardly anything to read and if they persist in doing what they have been doing, then, posters will be reluctant to go that extra mile in acquiring information and spending hours writing and seeing their posts removed.

The ball is in the moderators' court!

Cheers!