UNTIL the Edwardian era, Manchester United had not made a big impact on English football. They didn’t play at Old Trafford, which became one of the most iconic football grounds in the game, until 1910 and in 1902, the club, then known as Newton Heath, was served a winding-up order. After this setback, the Manchester United that the world of football grew to love and respect was formed in April 1902 thanks to a group of local businessmen who all invested £ 500 in the club.
It was inevitable that a city of the size and importance of Manchester should have a relevant football club but the so-called “cottonopolis” ended up with two. Some cynics suggest United were going nowhere until City found themselves in trouble in the form of a bribery scandal involving Billy Meredith and other players. Amid this turmoil, City had to auction-off their players and Manchester United’s Ernest Magnall bought up their best assets, including Meredith, Jimmy Bannister, Sandy Turnbull and Herbert Burgess. This did not go down well with City’s supporters as most of the United-bound players had been in City’s 1904 FA Cup-winning side.
There was no doubt the City contingent improved United’s team and after a poor first half of the season, the introduction of Meredith and co. helped them put together a good run and finish in eighth position.
Although 1906 was the crucial year for building this United team, other key players had been at the club for a while. Goalkeeper Harry Moger came from Southampton in 1903, as did South African-born wing-half Alex Bell, who cost £ 700 when he joined from Ayr Parkhouse. Bell spent 10 years with United and then went on to win the league with Blackburn Rovers. Another debutant in 1903 was Dick Duckworth who graduated via the youth team and eventually played 250-plus games for United.
Full back Richard Holden joined the club in 1904 after playing for Tonge and served in the Royal Air Force in World War One. The most prominent signing that year was Charlie Roberts, a character who was involved in the establishment of a players’ union. Roberts was signed from Grimsby Town for £ 600 and won three caps for England. He moved from United in 1913 to join Oldham Athletic.
1906 saw a significant influx of players, starting with George Wall in July of that year, who cost £ 175 when signed from Barnsley. A speedy winger with strong dribbling skills, Wall spent a decade with the club, playing well over 300 games and scoring 100 goals. Then, in the last couple of months of 1906, Magnall also signed Sandy Turnbull at auction, a player who suffered a tragic end to his life in World War One, dying in France in 1917. Turnbull was a prolific scorer and netted the winner for United in the 1909 FA Cup final against Bristol City. Manchester-born full-back Harry Burgess also made the short move from City to United. He was capped four times by England and later played in Denmark and Hungary. He was forced to retire in 1910 through injury.
The most high profile signing was Billy Meredith, who arrived in October 1906 but had to wait until January 1907 for his United debut. Meredith was considered to be one of the greatest players of the early days of the Football League, winning 48 caps for Wales between 1895 and 1920. He often played with a toothpick lodged in his front teeth. Meredith was suspended from the game owing to his supposed involvement in the Manchester City bribery scandal. He returned to City in 1921 and eventually retired in 1924, aged 50 having played 740 games.
Jimmy Bannister, an energetic inside forward, partnered Meredith and also joined United in November 1906. Bannister’s career was brief with his new club, however and although he won the league in 1908, he moved to Preston North End in 1912. He played 63 games for United and scored eight goals. The other signing in 1906 was Alex Menzies, a Scottish centre forward from Hearts who was capped once by his country. He moved to Luton, before returning to Scotland.
In 1907, full back George Stacey was signed from Barnsley for a £ 200 and Jimmy Turnbull, a Scottish forward who had appeared for Dundee, Falkirk, Rangers, Preston North End and most recently Leyton, shifted north again to join United. He was a useful player whose scoring record – 45 goals in 78 games – was impressive.
In 1907-08, United lost just twice in their first 21 matches. Into 1908, their form dipped and they lost five of their last 11 league games, including a 7-4 defeat at the hands of Liverpool. Their earlier performances had given them a commanding lead at the top of the table and on April 11, despite losing at home to Notts County, the title was theirs. They finished nine points ahead of second-placed Aston Villa.
The 1908 United team’s influence lasted until 1921 when Meredith departed for his old club, Manchester City. From the first player’s debut, Alex Bell in January 1903, to Meredith’s last appearance in May 1921, was over 18 years.
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