Throughout
the world, no matter where you find yourself, the name "Manchester"
has become synonymous with Manchester United Football Club, "Man-U"
or MUFC as it has become internationally known. Great footballing
names like George Best and Bobby
Charlton have become indelibly linked with the city which
they represented in football.
The names
of manager, Sir Alex Ferguson
and England Team Captain and former player, David
Beckham have become icons in the history of soccer football
and the club invariably appears at the very top of the Premier
League.
Manchester
United is now one of the most profitable companies in Great Britain,
and boasts probably the largest fan following of any club in the
world.
Brief History of Manchester United
Founded in
1878, United was originally called "Lancashire & Yorkshire
Railway Newton Heath", but known irreverently then as "The
Heathens", it became a professional football team in 1885
and adopted its present name in 1902. it came from modest beginnings
as a working mens' social club - in 1886 the team won its first
trophy, Manchester Senior Cup.
As part of
the short-lived Football Alliance, their main opponents were Ardwick
(later to become Manchester City F
C). The team's early fortunes, however, did not fare well, and
by 1902 they were declared bankrupt.
Only the efforts
of full back, Harry Stafford, to raise the money to get them out
of trouble saved the club. His fortunate meeting with local brewery
owner, John Davies, resulted in Davies buying the club, paying
off their debts, and initiating a fresh start for Manchester United.
It was Davies
who introduced the first red and white strips. Later in 1902,
at a suggestion by director, Louis Rocca, the club changed its
name to become Manchester United.
In 1903 United
employed their first true manager, Ernest Magnell, who was a fitness
fanatic who drove the team on to higher and higher achievements.
Soon they became notorious for the outstanding quality of their
football. Magnell had been responsible for signing up several
ex-Manchester City players, including Billy
Meredith, one of the greatest players of his day. Meredith
went on to lead the team to victory and the winning of their first
League Title, and a year later to win the F A Cup against Bristol
City.
The club moved
from its original ground at Bank Street to Old Trafford in 1910,
thanks to the benevolence of John Henry Davies.
Hit by disaster
when the team plane crashed at Munich Airport in 1958, it had
taken Matt Busby, the manager, ten years to rebuild a team after
losing eight players in the disaster. It was in 1968 that Busby's
European ambition was realised in their defeat of Benfica by 4-1
at Wembley Stadium.
The club led
English re-entry into Europe in 1990 after a five year ban resulting
from the Heysel Stadium disaster.
On 6th February
1958, the plane carrying the Manchester United football team,
crashed on takeoff on a snow covered runway at Munich Airport,
West Germany. Seven members of the team died in the crash, and
an eighth (Duncan Edwards) was
to die later from serious injuries. Eight accompanying journalists
and three club officials also perished in the crash.
United were
returning from a match with Red Star Belgrade after a 3-3 draw,
which had earned them a place in the European Cup semi-finals.
Matt Busby, the manager, along
with Bobby Charlton and defender
Bill Foulkes had survived the
crash. But it was to take another 10 years before Busby (and Manchester
United) could replace his "Babes" with a winning team, and recover
from the tragedy.
Illustrated
(above right) is the "Munich Clock" which displays, above the
entrance to Old Trafford, the date and time of the tragedy - the
clock stopped permanently at that hour as a mark of respect and
a perpetual memorial to those who perished.
MUFC
Information
VENUE
Old Trafford Football Stadium.
COLOURS
Red/White.
LOCAL
NICKNAME
The Red Devils, Man-U, MUFC.
ADDRESS
Sir Matt Busby Way (formerly Warwick Road)
Old Trafford Manchester M16 0RA
GENERAL
ENQUIRIES
Email: enquiries@manutd.co.uk. Tel: 0161 868 8000.
Ticket
Order Line: 0870 442 1999, weekdays from 9am to 5pm.
WEBSITE
www.manutd.com
DISABLED
ACCESS
South East Lower, 37 Wheelchairs, 37 Helpers.
FACILITIES
Executive Boxes, Fast Food, First Aid Station, Licensed Bar, Lift,
Soft Drinks, Toilets, International Suite, Licensed Bar, Lifts,
Soft Drinks, Toilets.
SPECIAL
BOOKINGS
Corporate Hospitality & Sponsorship Packages - Contact Commercial
Department Tel : 0161-872 3488.
Membership Office Tel : 0161-872 5208.
Telephone
: 0161-868 8631. Opening Times : Hourly Tours from 9.30am to 5.00pm. Open
Monday through to Sunday 9.30am to 4.00pm. Matchdays from 9.30am
to kick-off. Museum closes 30 minutes prior to kick-off on match
days. Megastore opens Mon-Sat from 9.30am-5.30pm, Sunday from
10.30am-4.30pm.
Charges : Museum & Tour : About £8.50 per adult, £5.75
per child, £23.50 per family. Museum only : About £5.50 per adult,
£3.75 per child, £15.50 per family. Children under 5 years go
free.
Educational Visits: School and College student parties at £2.00
per student - teachers go free.
Facilities : Coffee Shop, Legends' Café, the Red
Café, Souvenir Kiosk, wheelchair access, ample car parking.
On-site Megastore sells souvenirs
& memorabilia, as well as football equipment, books, magazines
and videos.
Getting There : Numerous buses from Central Manchester,
and local Metrolink train station at Trafford (400 yards). Advanced
telephone booking is strongly recommended.
The Tour: The tour includes - the Trophy Room, with cups
and honours dating back to 1908; the Roll of Honour, with players
names dating back to 1886; The United Years, a stroll through
the Club's history from Newton Heath to the present day; Kits
through the Ages, the Legends' Corridor, The Munich Disaster,
Learn how to be a Commentator, Virtual Old Trafford...and much
more.
MUFC
Supporters & Fans Organisations, Publications, Etc.
Official
Supporters Club
Membership Office - Tel: 0161-868 8450.
Man United
Disabled Supporters' Association (MUDSA)
Contact: PO Box 141, South DO, Manchester M20 5BA.
Tel: 0161-434 1989.
There are some 104 dedicated spaces at Old Trafford set aside
specifically for disabled supporters. Currently, wheelchair users
and blind people are not charged for seats.
Independent
Man United Supporters' Association (IMUSA)
The political voice and pressure group of Man United fans, set
up to protect fans' interests against big business. To join, contact:
IMUSA, PO Box 69, Stretford, Manchester M32 0UZ.. They have a
website at www.imusa.org, and can be emailed via: marks@breathemail.net.
Fans'
Forum
Set up in 2000 is an organisation intended to allow fans a legitimate
method of communication between themselves and Man United Management
and Directors.
Manchester
United Development Association
A supporters' organisation designed to provide fund-raising activities
for the Club. They provide the pools, draws, Cash Dash, among
other fund-raisers to improve the fabric and facilities at the
stadium. Contact - Tel: 0161-868 8600 or via the web at www.manutd.com/trafford/devassociation.sps.
Association
of Former Players
Raises cash for various charities and publishes "Legends"
a magazine about past players (magazine subscription is currently
£12 per annum). Currently has around 260 former Man United
players in membership. Contact/Subscription:
Association of Former Man United Players, PO Box92, Old Trafford,
Manchester M16 9XW.
United
Magazine "United" the official Club magazine, sells for
around £3.00 and sells around 75,000 copies a month.
Man Utd
Radio
Broadcasting on 1413 AM and receivable for around 5 miles from
Old Trafford with live match commentary on matches of the day.
Man Utd
Fanzines
- "Red News" - (£1.00). The oldest Man
Utd fans magazine. Humorous, detailed and gossipy.
- "Red Issue" - (£1.00). Sharp and cutting,
particularly about rival teams. Authored by supported, Richard
Kurt.
- "United We Stand" - (£1.50). Edited by
Andy Mitten.
- "Joe Royle's Head" - (£1.50).
Recent newcomer designed specifically for younger Man Utd supporters.
There are
currently around 750 websites devoted to Man United Football Club
- these are just a few of the major ones:
Banners
www.cwalton19.fsnet.co.uk/BANNERS.htm
Specialising in banners seen at Old Trafford.
IMUSA
www.imusa.org - the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association
a fans' pressure group (see above).
Shareholders
United
www.ShareholdersUnited.org. Pressure group website with latest
information on campaigns, general news and gossip.
M-U-F-C
www.m-u-f-c.co.uk. Independent website with message/bulletin board
and fans forum viewpoints.
Red Café
www.redcafe.net/home. Up to date information taken from reliable
Press Association sources.
Red Issue
www.redissue.co.uk. A very pro-Man United "reds" view.
Good local pubs review.
Red News
www.rednews.co.uk. Articles and features on Man Utd related issues
and culture.
Red Org
www.Red11.org. Facts, figures and statistics on Man Utd since
its earliest days.
United
Online
www.UnitedOnline.co.uk. Run by Polar Internet with material accumulated
from several other websites. Good source of up to date news and
views.
United
We Stand
www.uwsonline.com. The website of the same named Fanzine (see
above). News and opinion, mostly from Press Agencies and local
newspapers.
US Suporters'
Club
www.muscusa.com. That's right! There is an American Man Utd supporters
club! Lists bars and clubs where Man Utd matches are screened
in the States.
While
the contents of this web page are believed to be correct at the time
of publication, details and telephone numbers
may change over time. Please inform us of any changes or errors.
