Little Book of Manchester United by Ian Welch Page B
Authors: Ian Welch
Tags: Sports & Recreation, Football
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EREDITH, M ITTEN, M UNICH A IR D ISASTER
Managers
The two managers that stand out and who have contributed more than any of the other 13 managers are Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson. Both tireless in their efforts to gain the best out of their respective teams, they each reaped the rewards of effort and determination with their personal best wins. For Matt Busby, winning the 1968 European Cup was a triumph, while for Alex Ferguson it is winning the Treble in 1999.
It all began with Ernest Mangnall’s (1903-12) building of the new stadium at Old Trafford in 1910. He resigned from United and moved to Manchester City where he was again responsible for building a new stadium (Maine Road). Under his leadership United won promotion to the First Division in 1905-06 and won the FA Cup for the first time in 1909. Mangnall was replaced by John Robson in 1914 and despite World War I, Robson’s team remained in the First Division but were relegated after his departure when he was succeeded by John Chapman in 1921.
*Alex Ferguson watches from the bench during the Celtic v United Tom Boyd Testimonial at Celtic Park, May 2001.
Chapman endured a disappointing first season with United, but enjoyed promotion three years later when they went on to the FA Cup semi-finals, but were dashed by Mangnall’s Manchester City. In 1926, due to misdemeanours that were never made public, Chapman was suspended by the FA and he made way for Clarence Hilditch (1926-27). As United’s first ever player-manager, Hilditch’s time at United was brief, returning to his playing role.
He was succeeded by Herbert Bamlett (1927-31), who had originally been a referee. His career as manager was not as successful as that of a referee and he was replaced by Walter Crickmer (1931-32), who never officially became manager, but took charge of team affairs twice during his 38-year career as secretary. In 1932, Scott Duncan began his five years at Old Trafford. Despite his experience as a player, Duncan never really made it as a manager and their position at the time was, and still is, United’s lowest ever League position.
*Sir Matt Busby with the European Cup, July 1968.
The club was without a manager until Matt Busby arrived in 1945. He was assisted by Jimmy Murphy who played an enormous part in rebuilding the team after the 1958 Munich disaster. Wilf McGuinness (1969-70) took over for six months following Matt Busby’s retirement, but was quickly succeeded by Frank O’Farrell, the only Irishman to manage the club. He was dismissed after the team’s bad form in the 1972-73 season.
Tommy Docherty (1972-77) was replaced by Dave Sexton (1977-81) who had previously replaced him at both Chelsea and Queen’s Park Rangers. Injuries to the team in 1980 caused poor results and Sexton’s services were no longer required. Ron Atkinson took over in 1981, but again, due to poor form, the manager was replaced and Sir Alex Ferguson began his illustrious career with United in November 1986.
McGuinness
Originally a Busby Babe, Wilf McGuinness’s playing career was cut short when he broke his leg badly in a reserve match against Stoke City in 1960, forcing retirement at the age of 22. McGuiness, born 25 October 1937, became youth team manager in 1961 and became senior coach when Matt Busby announced his retirement in 1969.
*Wilf McGuiness, pictured when a United player, went on to manage the club.
A year later he was appointed manager but only held the post for six months. He returned to coaching the reserves for the following 12 months but then decided to take up a position as coach in Greek football to Aris Salonika and the Panachaiki Patras. He returned to England to manage York City, before spells with Hull City and Bury before retiring from football in 1992. He was a qualified physiotherapist and is currently an in-demand after-dinner speaker.
McIlroy
Matt Busby’s final signing in September 1969 was Samuel Baxter McIlroy, born 2 August 1954. The young
Managers
The two managers that stand out and who have contributed more than any of the other 13 managers are Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson. Both tireless in their efforts to gain the best out of their respective teams, they each reaped the rewards of effort and determination with their personal best wins. For Matt Busby, winning the 1968 European Cup was a triumph, while for Alex Ferguson it is winning the Treble in 1999.
It all began with Ernest Mangnall’s (1903-12) building of the new stadium at Old Trafford in 1910. He resigned from United and moved to Manchester City where he was again responsible for building a new stadium (Maine Road). Under his leadership United won promotion to the First Division in 1905-06 and won the FA Cup for the first time in 1909. Mangnall was replaced by John Robson in 1914 and despite World War I, Robson’s team remained in the First Division but were relegated after his departure when he was succeeded by John Chapman in 1921.
*Alex Ferguson watches from the bench during the Celtic v United Tom Boyd Testimonial at Celtic Park, May 2001.
Chapman endured a disappointing first season with United, but enjoyed promotion three years later when they went on to the FA Cup semi-finals, but were dashed by Mangnall’s Manchester City. In 1926, due to misdemeanours that were never made public, Chapman was suspended by the FA and he made way for Clarence Hilditch (1926-27). As United’s first ever player-manager, Hilditch’s time at United was brief, returning to his playing role.
He was succeeded by Herbert Bamlett (1927-31), who had originally been a referee. His career as manager was not as successful as that of a referee and he was replaced by Walter Crickmer (1931-32), who never officially became manager, but took charge of team affairs twice during his 38-year career as secretary. In 1932, Scott Duncan began his five years at Old Trafford. Despite his experience as a player, Duncan never really made it as a manager and their position at the time was, and still is, United’s lowest ever League position.
*Sir Matt Busby with the European Cup, July 1968.
The club was without a manager until Matt Busby arrived in 1945. He was assisted by Jimmy Murphy who played an enormous part in rebuilding the team after the 1958 Munich disaster. Wilf McGuinness (1969-70) took over for six months following Matt Busby’s retirement, but was quickly succeeded by Frank O’Farrell, the only Irishman to manage the club. He was dismissed after the team’s bad form in the 1972-73 season.
Tommy Docherty (1972-77) was replaced by Dave Sexton (1977-81) who had previously replaced him at both Chelsea and Queen’s Park Rangers. Injuries to the team in 1980 caused poor results and Sexton’s services were no longer required. Ron Atkinson took over in 1981, but again, due to poor form, the manager was replaced and Sir Alex Ferguson began his illustrious career with United in November 1986.
McGuinness
Originally a Busby Babe, Wilf McGuinness’s playing career was cut short when he broke his leg badly in a reserve match against Stoke City in 1960, forcing retirement at the age of 22. McGuiness, born 25 October 1937, became youth team manager in 1961 and became senior coach when Matt Busby announced his retirement in 1969.
*Wilf McGuiness, pictured when a United player, went on to manage the club.
A year later he was appointed manager but only held the post for six months. He returned to coaching the reserves for the following 12 months but then decided to take up a position as coach in Greek football to Aris Salonika and the Panachaiki Patras. He returned to England to manage York City, before spells with Hull City and Bury before retiring from football in 1992. He was a qualified physiotherapist and is currently an in-demand after-dinner speaker.
McIlroy
Matt Busby’s final signing in September 1969 was Samuel Baxter McIlroy, born 2 August 1954. The young
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