On this day in 1961, a significant change occurred in English football with the abolition of the maximum wage. Prior to this, footballers in England were restricted to earning a maximum of £20 a week during the season and £17 in the summer. The Professional Footballers Association, under the leadership of Fulham’s Jimmy Hill, had been campaigning for the removal of this wage cap and had even called for a players’ strike scheduled for 21st January 1961. However, just three days before the planned strike, the Football League conceded, and the maximum wage was abolished. This change allowed Johnny Haynes, Hill’s teammate at Fulham, to become the first footballer in England to earn £100 a week. Interestingly, despite his efforts, Hill did not receive an increase in his £18 a week salary before retiring, and Haynes did not receive another pay rise during the remaining nine years of his playing career.
18th January 1964
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On 18th January 1964, Manchester United witnessed a historic moment as three of their greatest players, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, and George Best, played together for the first time. Known as the ‘United Trinity’, these players had individually made their debuts for the club on different dates: Charlton on 6th October 1956, Law on 18th August 1962, and Best on 14th September 1963. Their first match together resulted in a resounding 4-1 victory for Manchester United against West Bromwich Albion. The goals were scored by Law, who netted twice, Best, and Charlton. This trio would go on to achieve great success with the club, and their legacy was later commemorated with a statue outside Old Trafford, unveiled on 29th May 2008, marking forty years since United’s first European Cup triumph.
18th January 1973
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On this day in 1973, Manchester United made headlines with a significant transfer signing. Manager Tommy Docherty secured the services of Lou Macari from Celtic for a fee of £200,000. This transfer set a new record as the highest amount ever paid for a player from the Scottish League at that time. Macari’s move to Manchester United marked a notable moment in the club’s history, reflecting the increasing financial investments in football during that era.