Manchester United also scaled the heights after some lean times at die turn of the century. By 1901 the Newton Heath club was in a parlous state, both on and off the field. The team was languishing in the Second Division and facing crippling debts. A winding-up order was issued and the team had to rely on fund-raising through bazaars and the like in order to fulfil its fixtures. In 1902 things improved dramatically when some wealthy local businessmen pumped much-needed funds into the club. The Phoenix-like revival prompted a call for a new name. Manchester Celtic and Manchester Central were considered; Manchester United was settled upon.
Mangnall masterminds title win
Legendary manager Ernest Mangnall arrived the following year, and after three top six finishes in Division Two, United won promotion in 1905-06 and made their debut in the top flight the following season. The team that was promoted already boasted Charhe Roberts, one of the outstanding half-backs of his day. Apart from his dominance on the pitch, Roberts was noted for bucking the usual trend regarding length of shorts, preferring to wear his well above the knee. This act of rebelliousness, together with his vocal support of the Players’ Union, was said to be one of the reasons why he won only tliree caps.
Mangnall knew he had to strengthen the team for an assault on the championship. He signed Billy Meredith from neighbours Manchester City, one of the transfer coups of the period. Meredith, who had scored the goal which beat Bolton in die 1904 Cup Final was an established star but arived at United under a cloud. There had been allegations of illegal payments at Manchester City and Meredith himself was implicated in a bribery scandal. All that was forgotten two years later when Manchester United became champions for the first time. Ten straight wins early in the 1907-08 season, including a 6-1 thrashing of defending champions Newcasde, gave United a lead that proved decisive. As champions. United took part in the inaugural Charity Shield match, in which they faced Southern League winners Queen’s Park
Rangers. The match took place at Stamford Bridge, United winning 4-0 after a replay.
United relocate to Old TrafFord
The following season was disappointing as far as the league went, but it brought a first FA Cup success. In the Final United beat mid-table side Bristol City 1-0, but along the way they had accounted for Newcastle, Everton and Blackburn, who occupied tliree of the top four places in the league that year.
1909-10 saw United finish empty-handed but it was noteworthy as the season in which the club took up residence at Old Traflford. The move to the new stadium, which cost ?60,000 and could hold 100,000, was timely; for as United played host to Liverpool on 19 February 1910 to mark the begioning of a new era, part of the old Bank Street ground collapsed in a gale, hi 1910-11, United’s first full season at Old Trafford, they were crowned champions for the second time.
Teams from the Midlands and the North continued to dominate. Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackburn and Everton were the other clubs which won league titles between 1900 and 1915. In that final campaign before war brought a 4-year hiatus, one of Lancashire’s lesser Lights very nearly made it to the top of the tree. Oldham would have won the championship had they beaten Liverpool in their final match; they lost and Everton snatched the title by a point.
A record crowd of over 120, 000 gather outside the Crystal Palace ground for a view of the 1913 FA Cup Final between Aston Villa and Sunderland.
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