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Manchester United Football Club

History of Manchester United FC

In 1878 workers at the Carriage and Wagon Department of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway formed the Newton Heath football team. The side quickly outgrew railway competition, and turned professional in 1885. A founder member of the Football Alliance in 1889, Newton Heath was elected into the football league in 1892.

Manchester United was formed following the bankruptcy of Newton Heath in 1902, and took up residence at the famous Old Trafford stadium in 1910. The Manchester United’s first major spell of success came after World War 2 when manager Sir Matt Busby launched the novel policy of producing players through the club’s youth team. The scheme paid dividends as Manchester United dominated domestic football in the mid 1950s.

In 1958, a plane carrying the players and backroom staff of Manchester United crashed in a blizzard on take-off from Munich-Riem airport. The Munich air disaster tragically claimed the lives of 23 passengers including eight players. Many feared the club would subsequently fold, but Sir Matt Busby recovered from his injuries to build another great team which won the Football League in 1965 and 1967 before becoming the first English winners of the European Cup in 1968.

Manchester United saw little success in the 1970s and ‘80s, but during the 1990s manager Sir Alex Ferguson employed a youth team policy similar to Busby’s to craft a formidable team. The team won eight championships in eleven years and in 1999 accomplished the remarkable treble of League Championship, FA Cup and European Cup (Champions League) – an as yet unrivalled feat. Ferguson’s side would also form the backbone of the England team for some years, featuring players such as Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, David Beckham and brothers Gary and Phil Neville as well as Welshman Ryan Giggs.

In 2005 American businessman Malcolm Glazer completed a hostile takeover of the club despite intense opposition and protests from many Manchester United fans.

Manchester United - Trophies and Honours

FA Premier League / Football League Championships: 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003

Football League Second Division: 1936, 1975

FA Cup: 1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004

League Cup: 1992

The UEFA Champions League : 1967-68, 1998-99

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1991

Intercontinental Cup: 1999

European Super Cup: 1991

FA Charity Sheild/Community Shield: 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003 (*as joint holders)

Betting on Manchester United

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