[Jazz 16]

Over the last couple of months I have compiled a big list of records, first's,
events and interesting facts about our beloved club. It's a must know for all
United fans old and new. Even the most ardent and hardcore fans wont know
some of these.

I put them in no particular order and they jump from era to era, delving deep
into the history of our great club. I hope you enjoy the read and find it interesting.
Jazz

 

[Jazz 16]

Did you know?


- Busby almost played for United. Then manager Rocca phoned City to buy Busby but couldn't afford the £150 that City wanted for him. He later played for Liverpool.

- The ONLY team United beat away from home in the league during the entire 86/87 season was Liverpool. Whiteside 1-0 Boxing day.

- United keeper Alex Stepney once dislocated his jaw whilst shouting at his team-mates. Sounds a bit like Schmeichel lol.

- John Aston Jr. and Sr. were the only father and son to win a championship with the same club. United obviously.

- Crerand and Stepney were the only 2 from the starting line up in '68 that Busby spent money on transfers to bring in. The rest were home grown talent.

- Sheringham became the oldest scorer of a hat-trick when he scored 3 in 2000.

- Charlton, Stiles and John Connolly were the only 3 players in England's winning World Cup squad in 1966.

- David Herd managed to score on his debut in 5 different cup competitions for United.

- Lou Macari played over 70 minutes of the '76 Fa cup final with a broken toe.

- Fergie's first game in charge at United was a 2-0 league loss to the mighty Oxford united. How things have changed.

- On his debut, Steve Bruce broke his nose, gave away a penalty and got booked. He broke his nose a massive 6 times during his career which shows his courage.

- Starting in '99 sometime, United went 114 league games without there being a 0-0 scoreline. At least the fans got their money's worth.

- Ryan Giggs once played for the England schoolboys under the name Ryan Wilson.

- The old Stretford End and Stretford Paddock was used for the last time in 1982 for Whiteside's testamonial.

- United's first ever sub was Noel Cantwell in 1965 though he wasn't used. Law was the first to be subbed in Oct '65 for John Fitzpatrick.

- Clayton Blackmore appeared in every numbered outfield shirt from 2-14.

- Ray Wilkins was the first footballer United sold for over a million pounds. Good old Gary Birtles was the first we bought for a million. Ahem.

- United actually won the league in 1999 when they were in Gibraltor.

- Lal Hilditch was United's only ever player manager in 1926.

- United played in the first ever Charity shield match vs QPR. First game finsihed a draw but United whooped them 4-0 in the replay with a Sandy Turnbull hat-trick.

- United never finished above Liverpool in the league during the entire 70's. Things were grim back then but it's all good now.

- Harry Stafford is the only player too have captained Manchester United and their forerunners Newton Heath.

- The first ever game in Old Trafford was in 1910 and it was against?? Yes you guessed it, those pesky Scousers. For the record Pool won 4-3.

- A journalist at the game reported the stadium as "the most handsomest , the most spacious and the most remarkable arena I have ever seen.
As a football ground it is unrivalled in the world, it is an honour to Manchester and the home of a team who can do wonders when they are so disposed".

- A 16 year old groundsman had to go in goal for United in the Charity shield game in 1956. His name was David Gaskell.

- Denis Law scored an astonishing 7 hat-tricks in the 63/64 season. It was no surprise when he was named European Footballer of the year in '64.

- George Best appeared on the very first episode of 'A question of sport' in 1971.

- Beckham, Giggs and Cantona were the only players to score in that infamous grey shirt in the 95/96 season. United lost 4 and drew 1 of the 5 games in that shirt.

- The first goal scored by a United player in the Premiership was put away by Mark Hughes.

- Keeper Nick Culkin had the shortest playing career for United. In August 99 he came on for van der Gouw. He was on the field less than 2 minutes.

- United were deucted a league point after a brawl against Arsenal in 1990. Arsenal were themselves deducted 2 points and some say that's when the bitter rivalry really started.

- George best was once fined £50 for missing training on Christmas Day.

- The last time United played a competitive fixture on Christmas Day was in 1957, coincidentally just 2 months before the Munich air disaster.

- Steve Coppell played 206 league games ina row for United between 1977-81. This remains a record that will surely never be beaten in the modern game.

- Louis Rocca is famous for suggesting it change its name to Manchester United in 1902. He was also the man who tried to sign Busby.

- Kevin Moran became the first player to be sent off in the Fa Cup final in 1985. United still won the game though. Thanks Norm...

- Bergkamp was named after Denis Law and Ronaldo was named after former US president Ronald Reagan.

- George Best was United's top scorer for 5 seasons in a row. Ruud managed it for 4 seasons.

- Paul Ince was England's first ever black captain. He is also boxer Nigel Benn's cousin.

- Peter Beardsley, David Platt and even Robbie Savage were all once on United's books.

- Uniteds first Fa Cup game was vs Fleetwood. But FC United's first Fa Cup game ? was also against...... Fleetwood.

- Bobby Charlton was United's top scorer in 72/73 with a measly 6 goals.

- Schmeichel only let in one goal at home in the 94/95 season in the League.

- United have paid a British record fee for 4 goalkeepers-Reg Allen, Harry Gregg, Alex Stepney and Barthez.

 

[Jazz 16]

- Matt Busby bought the grand total of 0 players between 1953-1957. It's simply astonishing if you really think about it.

- George Best scored a record 6 goals in a game against Northampton. People often forget that it was Brian Kidd who scored the other 2.

- Chas Richards was the first ever player to score a goal for Manchester United. First of many for the club.

- Pallister played a record 62 games in one season (93/94). Safe to say he deserved his holiday that summer.

- Denis Law was the first ever player to miss a penalty in a shoot out.

- Ernest Mangall was the first ever manager to win a League title for United.

- Martin Buchan is the only person to have captained a winning FA cup team in both England and Scotland.

- United legend was the first player to ever play a competitive match with his dad. It was for Stockport county.

- David Beckham once turned up at a Spurs trial wearing a United jersey. lol

- In 1966 David Herd once scored an unusual hat-trick. Each goal was against a different keeper that day.

- Then manager Tommy Docherty left United after having an affair with the physio's wife.

- Goalie Alex Stepney was the penalty kick taker for the first few months of the 72/73 season.Scored a couple as well.

- Cantona was the first player to ever score a hat-trick in the Premier League. For Leeds though.

 

[Jazz 16]

- Mark Hughes' real first name is Leslie. Lou Macari's is Luigi.

- United went 73 games between 1988-1990 without a penalty.

- Neil Webb became the 1000th England international in 1987.

- United's first ever game in the football league was against Gainsborough Trinity.

- Dennis Walker was the first black man to play for United.

- Sir Bobby is accredited with first calling OT the 'Theatre of dreams'.

- Gary Bailey saved 3 penalties in the space of 8 minutes vs Ipswich in 1980.

- Bobby Charlton has scored a record 27 goals in derby games vs City.

- United scored an amazing 143 goals in the 56/57 league season.

- Archibald Leitch was the architect of Old Trafford.

- Busby was appointed manager of Scotland for the '58 World Cup, but couldn't make it cos of the Munich crash.

- Stan Crowther is the only man to have played with 2 teams in the FA cup in one season (Villa & United)

- Commentary of the derby was first broadcast to hospitals in '54. Patients were also given a free copy of the 'United Review'.

- When Fenerbache beat United in '96, it ended a proud home unbeaten record that had stood for 57 years.

- United have lost 2 Wembley finals to teams from lower divisions: '76 Fa Cup to Southampton and '91 League Cup to S.Wednesday.

- The great Ferenc Puskas offered to join United after the Munich disaster. However he didnt speak English and the move never materialised.

- Cantona was the first United player to be sent off in consecutive games. Swindon & Arse in '94.

- War hero John Scott (United player 1921-22) was awarded the Military medal during WW1.

- In the 1951/52 season, Jack Rowley scored 3 hat-tricks in just 22 days.

- Kevin Moran was tagged 'Captain Blood' as a result of having over 100 stitches in his head and face from injuries sustained during games.

- 3 United managers also managed Scotland at some point: Fergie, Busby, Docherty.

- Bobby Charlton played 75 consecutive FA cup games for United.

- In 1956, Liam Whelan scored in 8 consecutive games.

- Ruud scored 100 goals in just 131 games. Denis law did it in 139 games.

- Law is the only United player to have scored a hat-trick in each of the 3 European competitions. Overall he got 18 hat-tricks, which is a record.

- John Carey who captained United to the '48 cup final and '52 league won 7 caps for N.Ireland as well as 29 for the Republic.

- Carey was mr.versatile. He played in every position for United except outside left. He even played in goals.

- Keepers Schmeichel and Stepney have score for United. Harry Gregg may have scored a penalty as well.

- Charlie Mitten (1946-50) took and scored 17 penalties for United. 100% record.

- Neil Webb only scored 4 goals for United but they were all debut goals (League, league cup, Fa cup and Euro cup winners cup)

- In 1958 United became the first club to record a profit of £100,000.

- Beckham's goal vs Wimbledon was the longest goal scored for United. 57 yards.

- United were the first British club to pay a 6 figure sum for a player. Denis Law £115,000 from Torino in 1962.

- In the 1964/65 season, United only used 18 players in the league in the whole season.

- Walter Winterbottom who played for United from 1936-38, managed England from 1946-62, guided them to 4 successive World Cups.

- The first European night at Old Trafford was on the 25th April 1957. It was a European semi final, 2nd leg vs Madrid. 2-2 (Taylor & Charlton)

- 5 ex United players have managed Preston North End- Charlton, Stiles, Kidd, McIlroy and Ferguson.

- Actor Sean Connery was offered a trial at United but he told Busby that acting was more for him. No shit! lol

- United have the biggest win in Prem history - 9-0 vs Ipswich. Cole (5), Hughes (2), Ince and Keane.

 

[Jazz 16]

- Jack Warner is the oldest post war player to have played for United. He was 38. (Now Edwin)

- Gaskell was the youngest at 16 years and 19 days. Charity Shield 1956.

- Les Sealey's first start was in the '91 Euro final. his 2nd was in the '94 league cup final. He only did finals it seems.

- When United beat the Owls in '93 it was the first time since they introduced squad numbers that 1-11 had been used. Keane 16 came on as sub.

- The last player to have played the Manchester, Merseyside and Ibrox derbies was Andrei Kanchelskis.

- From 6th Dec '75 - 28th Feb '76, united played 18 games with an unchanged starting line up.

- Giggs, Keane and Schmeichel are the only 3 players in th ehistory of English football that have won 3 domestic doubles. (94,96,99)

- Robson is United's longest serving captain (82-94). Keane was the most successful.

- Bruce scored an incredible 19 goals in 90/91. It included 11 penalties.

- Arthur Albiston was the first United player to win 3 fa Cups (77,83,85).

- United's worst opening day score was a 5-0 loss to Everton in 1921/22.

- 4 companies have manufactured United's kit - Adidas, Nike, Admiral and Umbro.

- When fans turned up for a 'home' game at Maine Road vs Blackpool in 1947, they discovered that there were no match programmes that day. Printers strike.

- Cantona was the first player to win successive leagues with 2 different clubs. He also won it at Marseille in 91 and United again in 94, so 4 in a row.

- In May 1908, 4 City players left City for United in one day. The likes of meredith and Turnbull (who Ill be talking about later in history section)

- United were lucky to win their first FA Cup in 1909. We were 1 down to Burnley in the quarters with 15 mins to go and the ref abandoned the game due to bad weather. That same ref would go on to manage United later in his life lol.

 

[Jazz 16]

- Arnold Muhren was the first foreign player to score in an Fa Cup Final. Penalty in 1983.

- 4 United players have appeared in the 'Roy of the Rovers' mags. They were Best, Charlton, Edwards and Law.

- Ernest Magnall holds the distinction of being the only man to have managed both United(1902-1912) and City(1912-1924).

- 7 United players have captained England- Charlton, Wilkins, Robson, Ince, Beckham, Ferdinand and Rooney.

- United have played and lost in 2 cup finals, wearing the all black kit. Villa '94 & Arse in '05.

- Frank Stapleton is the only player to have played and scored in 2 Fa cup finals for 2 different teams. One was for United, the other against for Arsenal.

- Scholes scored 2 vs Port Vale on his debut. He was the first to do this since Bobby Charlton.

- James West is the only man to have managed Newton Heath and Manchester United.

- In Feb 1975 Ron Davies made his 10th and last appearance for United. Every game was as a sub and he never played a full game for them.

- In order for Bobby Charlton's testimonial to go ahead he had to sign for Celtic for one old penny.

- United vs Pompey, October 1950 marked the first time the oppositions line up got on the front cover of the United Review.

- United began to develop their Youth scheme in the 1930's. It was club secretary, Walter Crickmer's idea.

- 24th November 1951 was the first time the term 'Busby Babes' was used. It was in a MEN article concerning United's goalless draw at Anfield. That game marked the debuts of Jackie Blanchflower and Roger Byrne.

- United's fastest ever goal was scored by Giggs. 18th Nov 1995 against Southampton.

- United have won 3 cup finals in a blue kit - '48 Fa Cup, '68 European Cup and the '92 League Cup.

- The very first derby game was in 1891. Newton Heath (United) beat Ardwick (Citeh) 5-1. It was the first qualifying round of the Fa cup.

- United used 5 different keepers in the 52/53 season. They were Allen, Carey, Wood, Olive and Crompton.

- Gary Bailey won the inaugural Golden gloves trophy after conceeding just 22 in 39 games in 1981/82.

- United took part in the very first penalty shoot out in English football vs Hull in the Watney cup. United won.

- Only 3 england players have ever been sent off in the World Cup finals. They were Wilkins, Bex and Rooney. They were all United players when the got red carded.

- Andy Goram, Arnie Sidebottom and Noel Cantwell all played cricket for their country as well.

- Phil Neville broke batting records set by Mike Atherton, as a teenager.

-

That ends my 'Did you know' series. Hope you enjoyed the read and please feel free to add any others that you may know.
thanks
Jazz

 

[Jazz 16]

-Did you know Fergie has never lost an FA cup tie against lower league opposition.

 

[RN10]

Some really interesting stuff there, thanks jazz

 

[Jazz 16]

Some really interesting stuff there, thanks jazz

thank you mate
Finally someone appreciates it

 

[Skele]

thank you mate
Finally someone appreciates it

havent even seen this very cool thread

Thanks for sharing Jazz

File-Print

 

[Gary Is God]

Good Trivia

In 1891, a Newton Heath player, Alfred Farman, scored the first penalty in football history during the match between Newton Heath and Blackpool in the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Pretty good fact.

 

[sweet fa]

-Did you know Fergie has never lost an FA cup tie against lower league opposition.

FALSE . great facts though jazz , we all enjoy reading the utd trivia :thumbsup:

 

[Jazz 16]

FALSE . great facts though jazz , we all enjoy reading the utd trivia :thumbsup:

haha that one came back to bite me in the arse. How could I forget, I was there...
anyway cheers sweetie pie :thumbsup:

 

[Owenzy]

I never saw this thread before, nice work Jazz.

 

[haggler]

was ricky villa not an argie and did he not score a rather good goal in 81 cup final

or are these facts united only facts ??

 

[TFIA]

Jazz, did you know you need to get out more?

 

[LEGEND7]

that must have took the pi55

 

[Gary Is God]

Nice work Jazz, class stuff, some great ones that even stumped my mate who is a trivia boffin.

Who was the ref that went on to manage us?

 

[NoxiousD]

Nice one Jazz, top stuff, knew a fair few of those already but a lot of new stuff

 

[Jazz 16]

Nice work Jazz, class stuff, some great ones that even stumped my mate who is a trivia boffin.

Who was the ref that went on to manage us?

Herbie Bamlett. Did I write about him in this thread or somewhere else?
1909 quarter final vs Burnley. He was the ref who abandoned the game with 15 minutes to go. Hail storm or something like that.... United went on to win the replay and then the cup at Wembley a while later. Our first FA cup. Bamlett later went on to manage United

Nice one Jazz, top stuff, knew a fair few of those already but a lot of new stuff

No worries. I have another 'did you know' in the pipeline....non-United related. I've just been lazy about it. I'll throw it up soon.