50 Stock Exchange flotation, 1991
United were not the first football club to take this route, but it
helped consolidate their position as the wealthiest outfit in the
country.
49 Thrashed by Barcelona, 1994
United harboured hopes of becoming European champions but
hampered by the rule that restricted foreign players and classed
non-English players from the British Isles as such they were put
firmly in their place by Romario, Stoichkov and Co.
48 Betting scandal, 1915
With United in danger of relegation from the top division, three of
their players conspired with four Liverpool players to fix the
match. All were banned for life.
47 Playing at home in Plymouth, 1977
Hooliganism followed United during the mid-1970s and, as punishment
for their fans behaviour in the first leg away to St Etienne, they
had to play the return at least 200 kilometres from Manchester, and
duly progressed after a 2-0 win at Home Park.
46 Louis Edwards scandal, 1980
Granada Televisions World in Action programme accused United
chairman Louis Edwards of suspect dealing in the meat industry and
bribing the parents of schoolboy players. The police and football
authorities began investigating but Edwards soon died of a heart
attack, leaving the inquires to peter out.
45 Whitesides winner, 1985
Norman Whiteside had already shown his liking for the big occasion
by scoring in the FA Cup and League Cup finals of 1983 and playing
in the 1982 World Cup finals. Facing Everton, the league champions,
in the 1985 FA Cup Final in a United side down to ten men, he
curled a brilliant shot home in extra-time to ensure a 1-0
win.
44 MUTV launched, 1998
To emphasise their ambition and commercial standing, United formed
their own television channel, three years before any other English
club. Chelsea TV followed in 2001.
43 Signing of Rooney, 2004
Wayne Rooney was English footballs hottest property for years so
United flexed their financial muscle to prize him from Everton for
a transfer fee of up to £29million.
42 Michael Knightons juggling, 1989
The prospective owner played keepy-uppy in the sunshine before the
opening-day hammering of Arsenal but the deal fell through amid
claims that he could not find backers.
41 Ray Woods injury, 1957
United were firm favourites to complete the first League and Cup
Double of the 20th century but Peter McFarlands violent foul on
Ray Wood after six minutes forced the United goalkeeper off. In the
days before substitutes and proper punishment for foul play, United
had to play 10 against 11 (instead of 11 against 10) and duly lost
2-1.
40 Holders drop the FA Cup, 2000
Apparently encouraged by the FA to play in the inaugural Club World
Championship in Brazil, United withdrew from the FA Cup having won
it the previous season. They were criticised for showing a lack of
respect to the famous competition.
39 Barcelona blown away, 1984
After losing the first leg of their Cup Winners Cup quarter-final
2-0 in Spain, United stormed back on a raucous night at Old
Trafford to beat Diego Maradonas side 3-0, with two goals from
Bryan Robson and one from Frank Stapleton.
38 Dochertys affair, 1977
Newspapers revealed that manager Tommy Docherty was having an
affair with Mary Brown, wife of United physio Laurie, so United,
embarrassed by the scandal, sacked him.
37 Giggs weaving run, 1999
United were a man down in extra-time of their FA Cup semi-final
replay against Arsenal when Ryan Giggs intercepted Patrick Vieiras
pass on the halfway line and swayed around several challenges
before blasting the winner and baring his chest. The goal gave
United the belief that they could achieve the treble.
36 Comeback at Anfield, 1988
The league table showed United were inferior to Liverpool
throughout the 1980s yet they raised their game when up against
their bitter rivals. Facing one of the great Liverpool sides, they
fell 3-1 behind but, with ten men, recovered to draw 3-3, extending
their league record against the Merseysiders to one defeat in 17
games. Gordon Strachan celebrated his equaliser provocatively,
pretending to smoke a cigar
35 Kung-fu fighting, 1995
Eric Cantona had a unique way of dealing with lifes problems so,
when a spectator abused him at Selhurst Park in the match against
Crystal Palace, he launched his feet into the mans chest and was
banned for eight months.
34 Agonising collapse, 1992
Nerves and a congested fixture list foiled Uniteds pursuit of a
first league title for 25 years. Defeats in late April at home to
Nottingham Forest and away to West Ham United and a draw away to
Luton Town, all in the space of five days, left Leeds United in
pole position. The failure only added to the sense of exhilaration
when the holy grail was finally reached a year later.
33 BSkyBs failed takeover, 1998
Fourteen years after Robert Maxwell proved unable to take control
of United, Rupert Murdoch tried his luck and seemed to have got his
way when the club recommended that shareholders accept BSkyBs
offer. But, after the deal had been referred to the Monopolies and
Mergers Commission, the Department of Trade and Industry blocked
it.
32 Robson signs, 1981
Ron Atkinson described Robson as pure gold when signing the
England midfield player from West Bromwich Albion and the player
repaid the compliment by helping to ensure United finished in the
top four throughout the managers five-year reign.
31 Fergie gives Beckham the boot, 2003
Angered by David Beckhams supposedly failure to mark an opponent
when Arsenal scored in their FA Cup win at Old Trafford, Sir Alex
Ferguson kicked a boot that flew at David Beckham, scarring his
forehead. It symbolised the managers frustration at the celebrity
circus surrounding the player and Beckham was sold at the end of
the season.
30 United turn on Wembley style, 1948
In what was considered one of the great FA Cup Finals, United beat
Blackpool 4-2 to help create their reputation for stylish football
that remains today.
29 Nike deal, 2002
The sportswear company agreed to give United £300million over the
next 13 years, cementing their position as Englands richest
club.
28 Giggs swaps sides, 1988
Ryan Giggs played at Manchester City as a schoolboy but he was
poached by United, who have been repaid with 15 years of flair,
consistency and success.
27 Saints Day, 1976
United reached their first FA Cup Final in 13 years in 1976 when
they met Southampton. While the game ended in a surprising defeat,
it established Uniteds habit of reaching this fixture five times
in ten years from 1976 to 1985 just as the game was being shown
around the world in more and more countries on television, thereby
increasing their worldwide following.
26 United almost third rate, 1934
Only a last-day win away to Millwall saved United from relegation
to the third tier. Such was their lowly status in the 1930s that
just 3,900 watched the match against Middlesbrough in 1931.
