League Championships History : Trophy No 1...1907/08!!

The 1907-08 championship-winning side

John Henry Davies, a brewery owner, took control of Newton Heath in 1902. He cleared the club’s massive debts and on the promise that this was a new start for them, he decided to change their team name too. Suggestions including Manchester Central and Manchester Celtic were rejected at the last hurdle, and soon the Heathens became known as Manchester United. By 1903 United were on the hunt for a new manager and looked no further than to Second Division rivals, Burnley, for a successor to James West. Ernest Mangnall joined Manchester United in October 1903. Essentially speaking, alongside Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, Mangnall is a vital cog in United’s history. Between them they have won all 19 of the club’s league titles.

By 1904 Manchester City were the real force in local football, culminated by winning the FA Cup of that season. Nevertheless it wasn’t without cost. City had aroused suspicion from the FA and an investigation found that the club had breach strict rules on the maximum wage – offering their cup winners as high as £7 in bonuses for their success. Each member of the City board was banned from the game for five years and many of the players also faced a lengthy ban. In order to save their assets, City arranged an auction for their star players, inviting club directors from the other Division One clubs. However many turned up realising they were too late, Mangnall had already signed Welsh winger Billy Meredith (a precursor to the likes of George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo), Herbert Burgess, Jimmy Bannister and Sandy Turnbull on free transfers.

Billy Meredith playing for United.

Once their bans had been lifted, they were all free to play for Manchester United. In the autumn of 1907 United were top of the league with 14 victories in their first 16 matches. Just losses to Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday prevented them from a perfect run up to the end of November. Since that point United never relinquished top spot and their maiden league championship had been achieved. Sandy Turnbull finished the season with 25 league goals in just 30 matches as United finished on 52 points. They had secured 23 victories (this obviously back in the day when wins were worth just two points), six draws and nine losses. They finished nine points ahead of second and third placed Aston Villa and Manchester City respectively.

In celebration of their first league title, John Davies paid for the team to go on a tour of Hungary. After beating Ferencvaros 7-0 United were attacked by local fans, with the police having to get involved. Mangnall vowed that United would never return back there – and they didn’t until September 1993 when a European tie saw them travel to face Kispest Honved.

Manchester United were up and running and it wouldn’t be too long until they tasted league glory once again.

-thanx to football-united-blogs.com

Selepas Man Utd menjuarai gelaran ke 19 liga di Engand and skrg dah mengatasi Liverpool yg menang 18 kali..aku rasa elok gak aku kongsikan artikel yg aku terbaca semasa blogwalking tentang berita2 mengenai Man Utd!! Artikel ni sungguh menarik minat aku..bukan saja dapat menambah pengetahuan aku tentang Man Utd tetapi secara tidak langsung dapat gak aku tahu sejarah2 lama dan takla aku hanya tahu pasal United dari 90-an onwards jer!! Betol tak?? Apalagi.. jom kiter belajo and baca sama2 artikel ni..and aku rasa artikel ni ada 19 bahagian kot..coz dia seperate by winning season..ekekeke!! So..this is the story about the first trophy United won back in 1907/08 season...enjoy!!GGMU..