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KICK-OFF
4 Opening images to set the scene
6 Mapping out the exciting weeks ahead
8 Welcoming our new head coach Ruben Amorim
THE PLAYERS
14 Manuel Ugarte From Montevideo to Manchester
22 Andre Onana and the numbers that make him
28 Scholes at 50: bite-size tributes to a legend
38 Marc Skinner: 100 games and counting
44 Thirty United greats star in new book
46 A Dream Day for fans and players at Carrington
THE MATCHES
50 Previewing the big games coming this month
53 Unpredictable Ipswich away days of the past
60 United Women celebrate several milestones
64 Embedded with the Academy on a Euro trip
THE HISTORY
72 George Best sporting a ’tache... enough said
78 Key years, part three: Busby begins his reign
THE FANS
84 Catching up with our hardcore from Singapore
86 More globe-trotting Red Planet pioneers
88 Reader’s artwork finally gets a viewing
90 Portman Road: the fans’ stories
94 MMA star Brendan Loughnane on his Red DNA
96 Wake the brain and get ready for quiz time
98 Christmas gift inspiration from United Store
OUT ON A HIGH
You’ve heard of the new manager bounce? Ruben Amorim is thrown aloft by his players and staff after a superb result in his final home match as Sporting Lisbon manager – their 4-1 Champions League win over Manchester City. Ruben’s next stop, after one final Sporting game, was of course to be Manchester United’s next head coach…
STEPPING UP
At the time this issue went to press, it was two down and two to go for Ruud van Nistelrooy in his interim role in charge, prior to Amorim’s arrival. “I enjoyed every second of it,” he reflected after his first game of four, against Leicester. “Special, proud moment.” Good job, Ruud…
ALL THE YOUNG DUDES
The Reds’ future is bright, and this talented trio are three big reasons why. This great shot of Kobbie, Alejandro and Rasmus shows them in the sweet new adicolour range. Find it at United Store…
MAKING DREAMS
Manuel Ugarte is pictured with a wowed young fan at Manchester United Foundation’s special Dream Day. Lots more from Manuel later in the magazine (see p14), and there’s more to come on Dream Day as well (see p46)…
The month ahead
Diary entries during this edition
TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER
Inside United December 2024 issue on sale
SUNDAY 17 NOVEMBER
LEICESTER CITY v UNITED WOMEN Women’s Super League, 3pm
WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER
EVERTON v UNITED WOMEN Women’s League Cup, 7pm
SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER
CHELSEA v UNITED WOMEN Women’s Super League, 12pm
SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER
IPSWICH v UNITED Premier League, 4.30pm
THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER
UNITED v BODO/GLIMT Europa League matchday five, 8pm
SUNDAY 1 DECEMBER
UNITED v EVERTON Premier League, 1.30pm
WEDNESDAY 4 DECEMBER
ARSENAL v UNITED Premier League, 8.15pm
SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER
UNITED v NOTTINGHAM FOREST Premier League, 5.30pm
SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER
UNITED WOMEN v LIVERPOOL Women’s Super League, 12pm
TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER
Inside United January 2025 issue on sale
NEW BEGINNING
The restart after November’s international break not only marks the mini-reboot that comes with each of those pauses in the schedule, but of course will be page one in a new chapter, as Ruben Amorim takes charge of his first game. That adds a huge layer of interest to an away trip that already had a storyline, being the first time we have visited Portman Road to play Ipswich in over 20 seasons (more on revisiting that old ground later in the issue, see p53 and p90). The games then come in a rush for Amorim and his team, with a Europa League game against Bodo/Glimt – a first welcome to Old Trafford for him – the visit of Everton and then a game at Arsenal which, again, will now have even more attention paid to it. With a home game against Forest hot on its heels and the festive period under way, it’s a truly exciting and fascinating month ahead.
BACK ON THE GRASS
Some pieces of good news on the squad front around the time this magazine was going to press. Mason Mount full training with his team-mates at Carrington following his injury lay-off, and Malacia was also joining in sessions (pictured left – with a big smile, and not surprisingly) after his own lengthy absence. Neither player will be rushed, of course, and there will be work ahead, but it looks to be a timely boost for Ruben Amorim on his arrival. There have been positive words from Leny Yoro, as well (see opposite page) – fingers crossed the treatment room is gradually emptying out.
Yoro aims to please fans
“The fans they have been amazing. They always support me and they send me a lot of messages to support me through the injury. They look forward to seeing me, so I hope I will give them a good way to play and I’m just looking forward to being with them in the stadium.”
Leny Yoro thanks the United faithful for their support during his injury lay-off – hopefully the young French defender will have a full Manchester United debut in his sights before much longer
AWARDS
MEN’S PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Alejandro Garnacho (44%)
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Grace Clinton (38%)
The club gongs for the month of October, as voted for by supporters…
MEN’S GOAL OF THE MONTH
Casemiro v Leicester (68%)
WOMEN’S GOAL OF THE MONTH
Elisabeth Terland v Tottenham (24%)
EDITOR Ben Ashby
FEATURES EDITOR Steve Bartram
CONTRIBUTORS Joe Ganley, Steve Morgan, Joe Nelson, Mikey Partington, Harry Robinson, Helen Rowe-Willcocks, Nathan Thomas
CLUB PHOTOGRAPHERS Ashley Donelon, John Peters, Matthew Peters, Charlotte Tattersall
AGENCY PHOTOGRAPHY
Getty Images, Alamy
THANKS TO Andrew Ward, George McCaffery, MUTV, Manchester United Foundation
CONTENT SALES DIRECTOR Fergus McKenna HEAD OF COMMERCIAL
PARTNERSHIPS David Scripps
COMMISSIONING EDITOR Clare Fitzsimons
OPERATIONS MANAGER Nick Moreton
LEAD CREATIVE DESIGNER Chris Collins
SENIOR DESIGNER Neil Haines
SENIOR PRODUCTION JOURNALIST Roy Gilfoyle
SUBSCRIPTIONS
At the time this magazine went to press, after the Chelsea game, the Reds stood on the cusp of a goalscoring landmark: we had netted 5999 times at home in competitive games at that point. By the time you read this, we’d hope someone has picked themselves up a historical footnote with number 6000!
Alejandro Garnacho brought up a century of United appearances in the game against West Ham. That’s an impressive landmark at age 20, and they’ve come at a serious rate since he established himself in the first team – for instance, Garna had featured in an exceptional 66 out of 68 games since the start of last season (up to and including Chelsea)!
RUBEN WELCOME AMORIM
New Portuguese head coach begins work at United
after arrival from Sporting Lisbon
Following a tumultuous and fastmoving week as October turned into November, a new management era is set to begin at Old Trafford.
On Monday 28 October, following the defeat – an unfortunate one – at West Ham United, came the announcement that Erik ten Hag had left his position as Manchester United first team manager, after some two-and-a-quarter seasons in the role. In the same statement, it was confirmed that assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy would take charge as interim head coach, “whilst a permanent head coach is recruited”.
Four short days later – with Van Nistelrooy having overseen a rousing 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester in midweek – at 11.50am on Friday 1 November came another official club announcement.
“Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as Head Coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements,” it read. “He will join until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year, once he has fulfilled his obligations to his current club. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November.”
The incoming man’s considerable credentials were also outlined in brief.
“Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football,” the statement continued. “Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting CP, the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years. Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the team until Ruben joins.”
Fast-forward to the day this magazine was due to come on general sale, Tuesday 12 November, and – via a draw against Chelsea and home games versus PAOK in Europe and Leicester City in the Premier League (matches played after this issue of Inside United had been sent to press), completing Van Nistelrooy’s four-game interim stint – and the Ruben Amorim era had just begun.
The Portuguese had been busy tying up the loose ends of his extraordinarily successful reign in charge of Sporting Lisbon in his home country, and home city, prior to his move to Manchester.
On the same day it was announced that he would be United’s next head coach, he was
in the Sporting dugout masterminding a 5-1 Primeira Liga hammering of Estrela da Amadora. Four days later – in a result guaranteed to delight the United fans he was soon to be at one with – he watched his side unpick Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League. His final act as Sporting Lisbon manager was a league game at Braga, just one day before his scheduled start at Old Trafford.
Amorim’s arrival comes at the beginning of an international break, giving the 39-year-old (at that age, our youngest boss since Wilf McGuinness took the reins from Matt Busby in 1969) the best part of two weeks to settle in at United before taking charge of his first match, which will be at Ipswich Town on Sunday 24 November. In the days prior to that game there will be great anticipation and interest among fans as they get to see the new head coach begin work, including engaging in his first media duties in the role. Be sure to stay close to ManUtd.com, the app and all other club channels for everything you need to know in the opening stages of the new man’s reign. Welcome to the club, Ruben!
Ruben Amorim
Born: 27 January 1985, Lisbon, Portugal Age: 39
Playing career: Belenenses, Benfica, Braga (loan), Al-Wakrah (loan); Portugal national team (14 caps)
Management career: Casa Pia, Braga, Sporting Lisbon
As a player, he faced United four times in the Champions League, twice for Benfica (2011) and twice for Braga (2012) Began in coaching at lower league Casa Pia in Portugal
Moved to Braga and was promoted to the head coach role in December 2019, where he quickly won the Portuguese League Cup
In March 2020 he became Sporting Lisbon head coach. In his first full season (2020/21) he led Sporting to their first league title in 19 years
Won a second Portuguese championship in 2023/24, and also won the domestic League Cup twice during his time in Lisbon
Thank you, erik
Erik ten Hag leaves behind trophy memories and warm words of thanks
During his term at United, Erik ten Hag presided over 128 competitive games, with his greatest successes being firstly the League Cup won in his maiden campaign, beating Newcastle United at Wembley in February 2023, and most prominently the FA Cup final triumph in May 2024, defeating Manchester City 2-1.
Ten Hag’s legacy also includes a strong record in adhering to the club’s timehonoured principle of nurturing young players and giving them opportunities. He will always be closely associated with the blossoming of Alejandro Garnacho, whom Erik actively backed in becoming a first-team regular, and Kobbie Mainoo, a player given his senior debut by and who was elevated to firstteam level under Ten Hag. It was also on Ten Hag’s watch that the club’s milestone 250th Academy graduate, Ethan Wheatley, was given his moment in the senior team – one of seven youth graduates among the 26 players in total that Ten Hag gave first-team debuts to during his tenure.
The Dutchman will also be regarded well for his work ethic, for the standards and discipline he drove and expected, and as a man of honesty and integrity – not to mention the resilience that is required to take on the enormous role that is Manchester United manager, with all the attendant pressure and scrutiny the unique position brings.
When his departure was announced, several players expressed their thanks and said their goodbyes over social media, with the esteem in which Erik was held clear to see. Garnacho posted: “Thank you for everything, boss. I will always be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity and the confidence to play for this club. It hasn’t gone as well as we wanted, but I will remember the good times we had together and I wish you all the best in the future. Thank you very much Erik.”
Mainoo said to the manager who gave him his debut in professional football: “Thank you for your trust and belief in me and for giving me the opportunity to play for my boyhood club. I wish you all the best for the future.” The message from the captain Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, included a reminder of the good times enjoyed during Ten Hag’s reign: “Thanks for everything boss! I appreciate the trust and the moments we shared together, I wish you all the best in the future. Even knowing the last period hasn’t been great from all of us, I hope you fans can keep with you the good things the manager has done for our club!”
The open letter to fans that Erik released after his departure (see panel) showed that although he was sad to have left the club, he took away with him warm memories of his time here. Thank you and good luck, Erik.
Major finals: Three (League Cup 2023, FA Cup 2023, FA Cup 2024)
Highest league finish: Third (2022/23)
“Dear fans. Let me start by thanking you. Thank you for always being there for the club. Whether it was at a game far away or a tough match at Old Trafford, your support has been unshakeable.
“The atmosphere at Old Trafford has always been electrifying, thanks to you. I felt it many times. Also in away games, it gave the team and me an incredible feeling to hear the United chants taking over the opponents’ stadiums, whether the game was in England, Europe or during the summer tours.
“I always enjoyed meeting Manchester United fans throughout the world Walking the streets and being able to chat with fans in England, Europe, Asia, Australia, the USA – you inspired me and radiated a strong sense of unity. That’s what makes United supporters so special. I want to thank you for giving me this feeling and for your support.
“I also want to thank the staff in every department of the club for their unwavering support in good times and bad. We won two trophies –achievements that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Of course, my dream was to bring more trophies to the cabinet. Unfortunately, that dream has come to an end.
“I wish all Manchester United fans nothing but success, trophies and glory. Your support and the warmth I received from everyone at the club helped me feel at home. Thank you for this chapter in my life. Erik.”
Possibly the fondest memory, FA Cup victory over Manchester City earlier this year
The League Cup was the first trophy Erik brought to the club
Players The
“It is always full here and they are always singing. It is a responsibility but it motivates you, and it is a luxury to be able to enjoy playing here”
A strong showing kicks off with Manuel Ugarte telling us about his journey to Old Trafford, with other big names such as Onana, Scholes and Skinner packing some powerful pages…
Manuel Ugarte
MADE IN
In a compelling interview that you can only read first and in full here, United’s new battling midfielder revisits his inspiring journey from Montevideo to Manchester…
Interview Harry Robinson
To start with, can you describe your early days with a ball back in Uruguay as a child?
Well, honestly, I was so young I don’t remember! I played in City Park, it is a small neighbourhood club. I started with my brother and we grew up there together, and it was a beautiful experience that I enjoyed a lot.
There is something called ‘Baby Futbol’ in Uruguay, was this part of that?
That’s it! It’s football played by kids from six to 12 years old. They play every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, and it’s very characteristic of Uruguay and a good way to produce good players. The best thing about it is how it teaches competition.
A Uruguayan boy always wants to win. It makes local levels grow and has helped to produce good footballers, both in the history of Uruguayan football and currently.
So do you think the passion comes from ‘Baby Futbol’?
Yes, definitely, from a young age. As soon as you are born, they give you a ball. In Uruguay, football isn’t the only sport, but it is certainly the main sport, so it is part of the culture as well. Football is everything. It’s my life, and my friends’ lives too. That’s just how it is in Uruguay.
And the same is true for your family?
Yes, we are all fans and my dad played too – not professionally, but he played. And
“As soon as you are born they give you a ball. In Uruguay football isn’t the only sport, but it is the main sport, so it is part of the culture as well”
my brother started playing with me at City Park, the club near my house. In fact, when I started playing, it was with an older age group. My brother is a year older than me so I played with him. It was a great experience. We played every weekend and our dad took us every week. It was always seven versus seven or nine versus nine, and the best bit was playing with friends. That makes you enjoy it a lot, and everyone wants to win. It was a great childhood.
Did your dad always give you a lot of feedback?
We always say that my dad is my number
one fan. He took me to all the training sessions. The main thing we talk about together is football. He gives his opinion both as a father and as a football fan. We have had some great conversations.
After City Park, you signed for Fenix in Montevideo. Were you excited? It was in part because many of my friends went there too from City Park and we wanted to continue playing together. Fenix is a club that prepares you for first-team football. I spent some beautiful first years there, I enjoyed it a lot. It was there that I went to full-size pitches and 11 v 11 games.
I had two focuses: my studies and football. However, football began to demand more of my time as I was progressing so quickly. I never had to choose between the two, but football was doing so well so I began to leave my studies to one side. It was natural and I have no regrets. At 15 years old I joined the first team, which was amazing.
Is it normal to play so young in Uruguay? No, it is not normal at all. I could only train with the first team once a week as I had school, who only let me miss one day per week. After finishing school I began training every day with the first team. The game was in December 2016 against Danubio, and I came on in the 80th minute. It was incredible, and very exciting for all my family.
Was the attention that came with that difficult?
It was spoken about a lot in Uruguay, as it is not normal for a 15-year-old kid. So I am still very grateful to the coach, who is no longer with us, but I enjoyed the moment massively. It was spoken about
Manuel in action for Fenix in 2020, a team he started to make an impression with at only 15 years old
but Fenix isn’t a huge club, it’s a neighbourhood club, so it was easier. I then started to play a level below to get regular football but, in the end, I became captain at 17 under Juan Ramon Carrasco.
And now to Portugal, with their pasteis de nata, good coffee, good weather and good fish. It’s a dream for many. For you, at just 18, was it a big decision with your family? Was it tough? That’s right, I went at 18. Back then, it was right in the middle
of Covid-19, so you couldn’t travel much. I travelled just before New Year and went to Famalicao. People couldn’t go out, so we went to the hotel with my agent. There wasn’t anybody there at all, so I spent New Year there. This was difficult, as it was summer back in Uruguay and families get together and have barbecues together. I went to Famalicao and I didn’t know anything about Europe. At first, it was a little difficult. Then my family came to visit and I began adapting bit by bit. Luckily, my dad stayed with me for this time and that made it better.
So on the pitch, did it surprise you how well you adapted to Portuguese football?
I remember being amazed by the quality of the pitches and GPS. I enjoyed that [but] I was nervous about the matches at first. Then I realised I could play there and I felt comfortable.
Six months later you moved again, was that a surprise? Yes, it was so fast! I arrived in January and in June I was leaving for Sporting [Lisbon]. It’s one of the biggest clubs in Portugal and I was very proud. I enjoyed my time at Famalicao and also at Sporting, where I spent almost three years. Lisbon is amazing – the city, the people, the club, my team-mates. Everything.
Do you speak to Bruno about Lisbon?
Always. Bruno thinks about Sporting a lot. If you play for a club like Sporting and you leave, it is a warm place that treats you well and you make lots of friends. That helped me be successful. I felt comfortable. We had a great coach [Ruben Amorim] who helped me a lot, too.
Then, to Paris…
This was also amazing! Paris is a huge club that is known worldwide with the stars they have there – Kylian [Mbappe], Neymar, [Marco] Verratti. [Lionel] Messi had just left. At first, it was hard to believe it! Then, you begin to love the club and the people, and you understand how such a big club works. I enjoyed it a lot and learnt so much. You’re training with the best, which demands a lot. Marking Kylian helps you a lot! He was great. Very humble. I’m grateful for the experience.
Did this experience in Paris give you a taste for trophies?
Without doubt. Paris is a team that wins. This is a mentality that was there at Sporting as well, and is obviously here at United. Both the fans and the club demand trophies, and this is great.
How was the process of coming here?
Well, at first I was relaxed. Then, as the days passed I was desperate to get it done and join – but now I am here! It’s incredible. Before, I knew United were big but when you arrive… wow, incredible! There is no team like United.
So were your first impressions really positive, then?
Yes, I knew United were big but I was pleasantly surprised. After playing in this stadium, it’s incredible. I swear, I have never seen an atmosphere like this one.
In your first interview, you spoke about Old Trafford. How was that first game
here, the 7-0 win against Barnsley? Amazing. I enjoyed it a lot. It doesn’t matter the match or who the game is against. It is always full here and they are always singing. It is a responsibility but it motivates you and it is a luxury to be able to enjoy playing here. This club demands trophies. This carries with it a responsibility, and that is a great thing. We want to compete and win. It’s a responsibility, but one that is important to enjoy.
Do you understand that responsibility better each week?
Definitely. We all know what it means to be United, with the history we have. The history, the fans, the mystique.
“Paris is a huge club that is known worldwide with the stars they have there. You’re training with the best, which demands a lot. Marking Kylian Mbappe helps you a lot!”
At PSG Manuel experienced the pressure to win trophies, and it’s a feeling he relishes
“We all know what it means to be United with the history we have. The history, the fans, the mystique. I understand this responsibility”
I understand this responsibility and that starts with the day-to-day, being 100 per cent focused on the football and ready to win trophies.
Have you learnt more about the history since you signed?
Yes, United matches are always on in Uruguay so we all know the history they have. When you come here, and you are with people who are part of the history, for example, [Darren] Fletcher and Ruud [van Nistelrooy]. They transmit what it means to be United.
Which people have helped you settle in?
Well, Argentinians and Uruguayans are similar, so they get on well and share lots of customs. I spend a lot of time with Licha, and with Bruno, too, we speak a lot. I spoke with him before coming here. And now Diogo, and the Brazilians – Antony and Casemiro. It’s a great group, not just those people, and I am integrating more.
How did you speak to Bruno before?
On Instagram. He sent me a message. I’m very close with Facu Pellistri, who put us together. It was great. He told me it’s an incredible club and was very excited for me to come. I told him I was very keen to get the move completed and he said I’d realise how big the club really is. And it’s true! Within a week, I realised what it truly is.
And with Licha, have you shared ‘asados’ (traditional Uruguayan/Argentinian barbecues) at home?
Yes, I have had one with Licha! He didn’t cook though, it was a chef – next time he needs to!
Finally, you’ve moved a lot in a short career so far, but is United your long-term home?
Without doubt. It is a dream of mine to spend many years here. It already feels like home.
Manuel only truly understood the size of United after joining the club
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By Numbers
ANDRE ONANA
In our ongoing series celebrating United’s players in numerical form, we train our sights on goalkeeper Andre Onana, who has grown into a giant figure between the sticks…
Words Steve Bartram
100
Per cent positivity. In an early interview with Inside United, Andre explained the reason that Muhammad Ali had always been one of his idols. “It’s his mindset,” said the goalkeeper. “He had to pass through a lot of
game’s most famous goalkeepers, to his superb form for the Reds this season, Andre’s mindset has been arguably his most important weapon. “No matter what happens in life,” he said, “I've always said that it cannot rain forever, the sun will shine. And yet the sun will not shine forever, the rain will come. So just find a good balance, especially when you are a football player. When you have a bad day, a better day will come. It’s not when you are having a bad day that you feel it will never change. It will change but it’s not because you are having a good day that it will stay forever. Everything is temporary and you have to know how to manage that. When you are in a bad mood, take a positive. When you are in a good mood, take a positive. Just enjoy yourself and be happy, be with the people you love and always
A positive frame of mind helps Onana to keep perspective when testing times occur
Countries in which he’s lifted silverware. Ahead of last season’s FA Cup final against Manchester City, Andre laid out a simple, confident message: “To play in a final is always something special,” said the Cameroonian. “They only remember the winner, so we have to make sure we are the winner. We need to remember we are Manchester United.”
Onana was speaking with the lucidity and confidence of experience, since his career to that point had always revolved around major honours, wherever he had gone. After leaving Barcelona’s La Masia – an academy wellversed in producing winners – to join Ajax in 2015, Andre stepped up to first team duties in Amsterdam in 2016/17, a campaign which ended in Europa League final disappointment at the hands of United. After that swift, brutal taste of competing at the top, Onana and his teammates were soon hoovering up Dutch football’s biggest trophies, winning three league titles and two domestic cups before his 2022 departure to Internazionale. In his first season in Italian football, Andre lifted both the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, ensuring that, by the time he lined up for the Reds at Wembley last May, he knew exactly what was required to triumph on the biggest stage.
Months to acclimatise at Old Trafford. As Andre himself put it: “I arrived as the best goalkeeper in the world and ‘boom’ it went down. It was like, ‘What happened?’” The giant stopper suffered a string of uncharacteristic slips after his arrival from Inter, most notably during the Reds’ ill-fated Champions League group stage campaign, prompting relentless scrutiny across both traditional and social media. Weaker characters would unquestionably have wilted, but Andre remained philosophical and upbeat in his approach, later admitting: “That is how difficult football is sometimes. It depends if you want to stay down there or stand up and fight. I know what I did to arrive here. I know who I am. I decided to stand up and fight.” As the 2023/24 campaign progressed, there were flashes of brilliance from Onana – a point-blank stop from Erling Haaland’s header at Old Trafford, a last-gasp penalty save to preserve victory against FC Copenhagen, a super double-save against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane –and signs of a turnaround in his form steadily became unmistakeable. After the Africa Cup of Nations last January, Andre returned to Old Trafford revitalised and on-song, producing key interventions in major games just when the Reds needed him the most.
Lifting silverware is something our keeper has become accustomed to
Onana has gone on to show everyone why he has been so highly rated
Penalty saves and counting. Among those vital contributions in Onana’s short Reds career to date are four spot-kick stops, spread across 90-minute encounters and cup shoot-outs. His first penalty save for United could hardly have come in better circumstances for a goalkeeper: the last seconds of injury time, knowing that conceding would turn a victory into a draw, on a Champions League night at Old Trafford. One act to decide the outcome. As FC Copenhagen’s Jordan Larsson strode forward to take his kick, Andre plunged to his left and fended the ball to safety, protecting the Scoreboard End goal, sending Old Trafford wild and securing the outcome with literally the final touch of the game. More important, however, was Onana’s next spot-kick save, diving to his right to palm away Callum O’Hare’s effort for Coventry City at a point when the Reds, already reeling from blowing a three-goal lead during last season’s FA Cup semi-final, would have gone 3-2 behind in the shoot-out. Though he didn’t directly save the decisive miss from midfielder Ben Sheaf, Onana could claim a degree of involvement after his pre-kick antics clearly unsettled the Sky Blues skipper, who blazed over to hand United the decisive advantage. From the start of this season, the Cameroonian has been at it again, keeping out Bernado Silva’s effort in the Community Shield shoot-out before thwarting Southampton’s Cameron Archer in September while the game was still goalless, keeping the Reds on terms and laying the foundations for an important win.
Four spot-kick saves have only boosted our number 24’s popularity with team-mates and fans alike
Seconds between two ridiculous saves. During our recent Europa League draw at Fenerbahce, Jose Mourinho’s reaction said it all. Eyes bulging, arms outstretched, laughter wry, the Portuguese – known for his demonstrative streak – appeared genuinely stunned by Andre’s jaw-dropping double-save from Youssef EnNesyri. The Moroccan striker’s initial downward header prompted a brilliant low save from Onana, but the United no.24’s reaction thereafter was unbelievable. Having initially saved with his right hand, Andre was instantly back up on his feet and ready to go again, flinging out a big left paw to tip En-Nesyri’s three-yard follow-up over the crossbar. Even the famously partisan home fans were forced into applause by the mind-boggling double-stop, which prompted Mourinho to later stress, following the 1-1 draw: “Come on, he saved the result. My goalkeeper didn’t make a save, he made two impossible saves in 10 seconds. He was the most decisive player in the result. Of course he didn’t make 20 saves but he made two that were incredible.” Lest we forget, that heroic intervention in Istanbul came just a month after a similarly lauded one-two at Selhurst Park, where Onana kept out Eddie Nketiah’s low drive, then somehow managed to fling himself in the way of Ismaila Sarr’s point-blank rebound. “It’s confidence,” Andre shrugged afterwards. “It’s just believing in yourself and following the flow.”
ONE 2.57
Collective. Ahead of October’s Carabao Cup win over Leicester City, United supporters might have been puzzled to see Andre out on the Old Trafford turf during the warm-up. Having been given the night off by interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Reds’ first-choice goalkeeper opted to help prepare his understudy, Altay Bayindir, in readiness for the game. That sense of team spirit underlines Onana’s importance to the cause as United look to ignite a stuttering start to the season. “As players, when things are going wrong, we stay together because only together we can solve it,” he explained. “We showed already in the past that we can beat anyone. So we didn't start this season how we want, but together we can change everything. Everything in life is temporary. You will not always win and you will not always lose. So we have to find the good balance and move on because at the end of the day, it’s about winning games. That’s what we are training hard every day for and it’s important to stay together because if we are not together, then it’s better to not go on the pitch.
“All of us, we are men of principle because, at the end of the day, what we have learned in the past brings us to Manchester United. I’m happy to be part of this family, a big group with great guys, young players, there’s some amazing ability here. It will come, you know. Be positive and believe in yourself. It will come.”
A double stop in Istanbul left Jose Mourinho dumbfounded
Onana is a great goalkeeper, but also a great team-mate
FI
WAYS we FTY LOVe SCHOLES PAUL
In honour of the Ginger Prince’s milestone birthday on 16 November, we’ve put together a Scholesy smorgasbord that maps out his unique mix of midfield magic and Mancunian mundanity…
Words Joe Ganley
1
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Fans will remember the instant impact Scholes made on his first-team debut, but he was a star long before that, according to famous youth-team coach Eric Harrison. “We used to get a lot coming down to The Cliff to watch. This was a team with David Beckham, occasionally Giggsy, the Nevilles, Nicky Butt, Ben Thornley and all these fantastic players, but Scholesy was the darling of the crowd. He was absolutely lethal – he used to rip the net out when he scored.”
2
A NORTHERN SOUL
In 2018, Gary Neville was asked which success story from the famous Class of ’92 shocked him most and, surprisingly, named Paul. The key to Scholesy’s ascension to the first team? Diet. “All of a sudden, I think he stopped drinking beer, and stopped eating pies on a Friday,” winced the full-back. “The transformation in two or three years was unbelievable.”
3 GAME 1 PORT VALE 1
UNITED 2 (sep 1994)
In later years, Paul would become known for his midfield composure, but on his debut for United’s senior team, we saw the impudent, goal-alert forward that Eric Harrison and the adoring hordes at The Cliff had long venerated. A cheeky chip opened his account in a League Cup game against Port Vale, and he added a header in the second half. A matchwinner from the start. Three days later, he scored on his Premier League debut too…
4 AN INSPIRATION
Not that it was all straightforward. The small, stocky Middleton lad struggled with bronchial asthma in the early years of his career, until it was properly treated, proving that you don’t need to be a flawless physical specimen to become one of United’s greatest-ever players…
5 THE TACKLING
In the later years of his career, it was football cliché to poke fun at Scholesy’s late tackles. The gist being: yes, he’s a wonderful technical player, but here’s a clear flaw. But that tired take has been rubbished by many of his former team-mates, and the great man himself.
“Of course I can tackle,” he later smirked. “But if someone got me early in the game, it was always in my mind that I needed to get them back.”
6 TRIBUTE 1 SIR ALEX
FERGUSON
“When he joined us as a little runt of a lad at 13 years of age, he was about four-foot 10 or something. We had great doubts whether he’d grow. Fortunately he did. He was the absolute perfect player.”
7
THE ANTIBECKHAM
We love David Beckham here at Inside United, of course we do. But it has to be said that, as the world swooned over the picture-perfect Londoner in the 1990s, many felt refreshed by the corrective balance added by a blunt, straightforward northerner like Scholes. A famous T-shirt with Scholes’s image on it said: “Get Up. Go To Work. Play The Game. Get Showered. Go Home.” And we loved him for that unfussiness.
8 GAME 2 UNITED 3
JUVENTUS 2 (1997/98)
The 1999 3-2 win over the Italian giants has gone down in folklore as arguably United’s greatest-ever performance, but don’t sleep on the match at Old Trafford from two years earlier. This was the night Ferguson’s United finally arrived on the European scene, and Scholes was at the heart of it, scoring the goal that gave us the lead and ensuring Del Piero, Deschamps and Zidane received a right run-around.
9
1 DID YOU KNOW?
After opening his Premier League account against Ipswich on his league debut in 1994, Scholes scored in every Premier League season until his (second) retirement in 2013. Nineteen in a row!
10
THE RETURN
We’re jumping ahead here, but when Scholes did famously return from his initial 2011 retirement in a Manchester derby in early 2012, there was a problem. He had no boot deal. So he simply nipped to a retail park in Oldham and slapped down £50 on what he could find. Spying the chosen boots during the warm-up, Jonny Evans witheringly described them as “snide”.
12
2 DID YOU KNOW?
Like all right-minded folk, Scholes is a cricket enthusiast. In fact, he used to regularly turn out for Middleton CC during his summers off from football. When the club told him to knock it on the head to avoid the risk of injury, he reportedly adopted the nom de plume of ‘Arthur Askey’ and continued to sneak in the odd game. Don’t tell Sir Alex!
13 GAME 3 INTER 1
UNITED 1 (1998/99)
Scholesy silences the San Siro with a late goal that puts United into the Champions League semi-final. Not his greatest finish, but one of the most important.
11 GOAL 1 BRADFORD 2000
Scholesy casually volleys home one of the greatest Premier League goals of all time, direct from David Beckham’s corner.
14 THAT NIGHT IN BARCELONA
Even the most wonderful careers are not without huge disappointment. One of Scholes’s low moments came when he (along with Roy Keane) was suspended for the greatest night in the club’s history: the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Even now he says he feels like he didn’t deserve a winners’ medal. In our opinion, he’s wrong.
15 SCHOLESY ON SCHOLESY
“There was never any need to think about Barcelona, Real Madrid or AC Milan, because I was at the biggest club in the world anyway.”
16 THE STRONG, SILENT TYPE
It was often said that Scholes was shy, but someone who performed with the élan and authority that he did, in front of a packed Old Trafford, for nigh-on 20 years, could never be that. Watch the witty passes, the cheeky chips, the thunderous shots, and you realise that this was someone who was filled with inner steel and self-belief.
17 GOAL 2 PANATHINAIKOS 2000
Who could forget Scholes’s magisterial chipped effort against the Greek champions, to complete arguably United’s greatest-ever team goal after 32 passes?
18 HE SCORES GOALS GALORE...
When it comes to goals, Scholes’s 155 sneak him into the club’s top 10 scorers of all time. Among the midfielders in that uppermost of echelons, only Sir Bobby Charlton has a better goalsper-game ratio.
19 HIS NEW PODCAST WITH NICKY BUTT
The world doesn’t lack Manchester United-themed podcasts, so the news that Scholes and his best mate Nicky Butt were launching one wasn’t greeted with universal enthusiasm. But it’s brilliant. If you want to listen to two no-nonsense northern lads chat about elite football with humility and humour, check out Football’s Greatest Eras.
20 HIS HEROES
Never one to be seduced by fame and glamour, when asked for his footballing heroes, Scholes gave two names: Frankie Bunn and Andy Ritchie. Both were stars for Oldham Athletic – a club Paul watched as a youngster – though the latter (right) scored 13 goals for United in the early stages of his career.
21 HE’S A RED
Because he watched Oldham as a kid, an urban myth has grown that he supported the Latics. Scholes corrected that in 2011, saying: “I’ve always been United.”
22 THESE ARE MY PRINCIPLES
Paul did enjoy/endure a brief spell as Oldham’s manager in 2011, however. But in classic Scholesy style, he resigned almost immediately when it became clear he would not be allowed to manage in the way he had been promised.
23
3 DID YOU KNOW?
In 2004, Brazilian legend Pele selected Scholes among the ‘FIFA 100’ – a list of the greatest living footballers. Also included were George Best, Bobby Charlton and Eric Canton .
24
TRIBUTE 2 ZINEDINE ZIDANE
“He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play. You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get.”
25 GAME 4 UNITED 1
CHELSEA 0
(2005/06)
Following the departure of Roy Keane, Scholes steers an inexperienced United midfield featuring Alan Smith and Darren Fletcher past Mourinho’s Chelsea, ending the Blues’ 40-game unbeaten run.
26
BLURRED VISION
Shortly after that memorable win, in December ’05, Scholes suffered a knock to the head in a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City, picking up a problem in his right eye that would rule him out until the final 45 minutes of the 2005/06 season. But how he returned…
27 PIANO MEN
Scholes was fully fit for the start of 2006/07, and had a brand-new midfield partner. Michael Carrick was arguably his perfect midfield companion: together, they passed opponents into submission and provided calmness behind the riotous, rollicking power of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney further up the pitch. Later, Gary Neville said of the midfield duo: “Scholes and Carrick together was peaceful. It was like going into a bar and hearing a piano playing.”
28 THE CHANGINGMAN
The 2006/07 season was the arguably the start of the second phase of Scholes’s career, as he moved back into a deeper midfield position and learned to control and direct games. Many fans consider this later period – in which United won three consecutive leagues and reached the Champions League final three times in four years – as Scholes’s peak.
30 THE SCOOP
How did we get this far into a Scholesy tribute without mentioning his assists?! Maybe his most beloved set-up came in a thrilling 3-2 win over AC Milan at Old Trafford in the 2007 Champions League semi-finals. Faced with a gapless wall of legendary Rossoneri defenders, Scholes went skywards, shovelling the ball over Nesta and co for Wayne Rooney to score. Imagination, audacity and sheer cheek.
32 GAME 5 UNITED 4
BLACKBURN 1
(2006/07)
In the mid-noughties, it seemed like United might never recover the Premier League title, such was the dynamism of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. But the Reds broke the London club’s stranglehold in 2007, and Scholes’s nerveless equaliser in this vital victory over Blackburn was one of the key moments en route. This title was the first achieved post-Keane and, while Scholes was not as demonstrative as the incomparable Irishman, moments like this revealed an unflappable, quieter brand of leadership.
29 GOAL 3 ASTON VILLA 2006
A thunderous volley – perhaps the greatest in Premier League history –almost blasts one of Villa Park’s goal frames to bits.
31 SCHOLESY ON SCHOLESY
“I did all right, but I’ll never think I’m at the same level as Mark Hughes or Bryan Robson.”
33 4 DID YOU KNOW?
Only Roy Keane (11) has received more red cards for United than Paul Scholes (nine). Good midfielders need a bit of bite…
34 GOAL 4 BARCELONA 2008
Our no.18 banishes the ghosts of Turin ’99 by belting United into the 2008 Champions League final, via a screamer against a Barcelona team boasting Iniesta, Messi, Xavi and about a million other wizards. Unfailingly humble, Scholes later labels the goal “a miskick”.
35 MANCS IN MOSCOW
A superb one-two between Scholes and fellow Academy gem Wes Brown initiates Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League final goal against Chelsea. Paul is substituted late in normal time, but he finally picks up a Champions League medal after playing in a final.
36 TRIBUTE 3 DANIEL TAYLOR
“He doesn’t do interviews. He doesn’t walk red carpets. He doesn’t have a flashy car with smoked-out windows. You won’t see his autobiography in the megastore or a six-page spread in Hello! Scholes is a reminder of what footballers used to be like and what many of us wish they could be again. A reluctant hero, however, is still a hero.”
37 CHEEKINESS, PART ONE
Scholes loved outwitting players. If they got close, he’d flick it around the corner to a team-mate and run to meet their return. If players backed off and gave him space, he’d make them run for the remainder of the match. We could be wrong, but it seemed he took a real joy in messing with opponents’ heads and legs.
38 CHEEKINESS, PART TWO
He wasn’t just cheeky on the field, either. “Giggsy and Scholes would take my car keys three or four times per week,” recalled an exasperated Gary Neville, in Andy Mitten’s latest book Bring on United. “I was 35, captain and yet hid my locker number from them.”
39 GOAL 5 MIDDLESBROUGH 2000
Being a team-mate of Scholes did bring plenty of benefits for the elder Neville brother, however. When Gary played a three-yard pass to Paul, 35 yards out at the Riverside Stadium, his midfield colleague simply blasted it home with one of the truest strikes of a ball you’ll ever witness.
40 HE PUT UNITED FIRST
Scholes announced his international retirement in August 2004, nine years before he hung up his boots for United. He played a further 303 times for the Reds after that.
41 AN ENDLESS DEBATE
On social media, there’s a constant conversation about who is the greatest English midfielder of the Premier League era: Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard or Paul Scholes. But as far as we’re concerned, Barcelona legend Pep Guardiola has settled that, once and for all. “All respect to Frank, to Steven, but Paul Scholes is my favourite one.”
42 TRIBUTE 4 ANDRES INIESTA
Here’s another Barça hero, for good measure: “Football is a difficult game, but Paul Scholes made it look easy. I approached him after the final whistle on the pitch at Wembley. I thought it might be his last game and hoped to swap shirts. We swapped shirts and I took mine back home to Spain and put it on display in my house. I explained to my partner about Scholes and how good he’s been.”
43 DERBY DELIGHT
Only Wayne Rooney (11), Bobby Charlton (nine), Eric Cantona and Joe Spence (both eight) have scored more goals against Manchester City than Scholes. His last-gasp winner at the Etihad in 2010 is particularly fondly remembered by fans, and the player himself. He later said it was his favourite goal of all.
44 THE KISS
It’s not often you see a full-on smackeroonie in the Premier League, but Gary Neville delivered one to Paul Scholes after the aforementioned late derby winner in 2010. Gary was all of us, in that moment, providing an image that neatly symbolises just how beloved our former midfielder remains to this day.
45 A LOYAL SERVANT
Scholesy played 718 games for United from 1994 to 2013, and emerged into a trusted source of advice for Sir Alex Ferguson. He would also send a message on the boss’s behalf, on occasion. Here’s Wayne Rooney: “Scholesy put me out for eight weeks the day before a game. It was the day the gaffer did his press conference where I wanted to leave, so I’m sure the gaffer had a word with him before training!” Set the tone, Paul.
46 REGRET
Scholes didn’t always enjoy a friction-free relationship with Sir Alex, however. In 2001, he was fined for refusing to play in a League Cup tie at Arsenal.
“I still regret doing it,” admitted the player post-retirement. “I was quite lucky for that, really. It’s probably a sackable offence, you’d have to say.”
Or it’s a testament to Scholes’s genius that Ferguson opted for leniency rather than the ruthlessness which brought other United careers to a swift end.
47 THE BROMANCE
Scholes had close relationships with all of the so-called ‘Class of ’92’, but his professional bond with Ryan Giggs would endure the longest. The Welsh international’s United career (1991-2014) lasted even longer than Scholesy’s but, together, they helped power almost all of the golden era under Sir Alex Ferguson. They boast more than 1,600 appearances for United combined. And 24 Premier League winners’ medals. Reportedly, Giggs was the only team-mate Scholes would not “leave one on” in training. Giggs, for his part, later declared Paul as United’s greatest-ever player.
48 5 DID YOU KNOW?
Scholesy was named Premier League Player of the Month four times. The final award came in August 2010, when he was 35 years old. At the time of writing, only seven players have claimed more, Wayne Rooney (five) and Cristiano Ronaldo (six) among them.
49 TRIBUTE 5 SIR BOBBY CHARLTON
“I have to admit my favourite has always been Paul Scholes. I love his football intelligence and his conviction that he will always find a way to win. The more I have watched him the more I have felt: ‘This boy is Manchester United through and through.’ He’s always on the ball, always turning on goal, always trying to bring other people into the action, and if he ever loses the ball you have to suspect he is ill. I’m always disappointed when I don’t see his name on the team sheet. His absence makes me feel despondent. I wonder who is going to do all that clever stuff that cuts up a defence.”
50 SCHOLESY ON SCHOLESY
“I’m not really bothered how I’m remembered.”
SKINNER’S CENTURY
In a special interview marking his 100th match as manager of Manchester United Women, MARC SKINNER sat down to reflect on a selection of photographs capturing some of the key moments from his three seasons (and counting) in charge…
FIRST GAME IN CHARGE
United 2-0 Reading, 3 September 2021
“It was my first time back in England as a coach, I’d been coaching in America. I was excited. I think it was a Friday night, the start of the whole season, and I remember Kirsty Hanson scoring. It was a fantastic breakaway goal and it was a tight game. Reading was always a tight game. But it was an exceptional, brilliant night, and one in my life that I’ll never forget. [You’re looking pretty satisfied, with your former assistant, Martin Ho – it must have been pleasing to get that result in the first game…] It was fantastic. I feel that the energy, commitment that I’ve always given to the club was ever-present in that moment. It’s probably a good picture to show that. I’m a big believer in my staff and how we utilise each other’s skill sets.”
Interview Mikey Partington
Energy and commitment on the touchline as Skinner and assistant Martin Ho drive the team on to victory against Reading
FIRST GAME AT OLD TRAFFORD
United 3-1 Everton, 27 March 2022
“It was an iconic moment for me. I always loved that Old Trafford is called the Theatre of Dreams, from a kid growing up. To manage at the iconic stadium was just a dream come true, it really was. But as soon as the whistle goes, you are focused fully on trying to get the result. Looking at this photo, you can see I’m lasered into my task. It was a little bit weird because a coaching position from there [the dugout] down to the touchline was a little bit of a walk, you’ve got an up and you’ve got a down. So I was sitting on something down on the floor there, just so I could get up quicker to go to the pitch. But fantastic moments that I’ll remember. And you don’t always get time every day to remember them. I’m thankful that we’re doing this because I get to look back at fantastic moments. [Everton’s early goal wasn’t in the perfect script. You came back to win, so how much did you learn about your team that day?] That was probably an insight into what the future would be. That it’s never perfect, but you need to keep going at it and keep showing resilience and keep showing that mentality, and keep being together. Our biggest word as a team is togetherness, it’s our first word in our principles. In those moments, feeling that resilience and coming through, they showed me exactly what I was going to get in the future.”
The win against Everton in Skinner’s first game at Old Trafford showed him a lot about his team
Skinner enjoyed the chance to sit down and reflect on 100 matches with his team
“My overarching feeling is that I’m really proud of what we’ve done, and I’m really proud to be Manchester United manager. I’m at the biggest club in the world, without a doubt, and to achieve 100 games feels an incredible moment and something I’m extremely proud of”
Skinner
on his 100-game landmark
STATEMENT WIN
Arsenal 2-3 United, 19 November 2022
“I think it’s one of the most memorable games. This epitomised that season [2022/23]. This was my second and we just rolled through everyone. I think we lost three games in the whole year. It ended up being the draws probably not allowing us to win the league. You look how far we’ve come in such a short time, and it’s because we were together. When you get a togetherness I think you can beat anyone, and this was an iconic moment because we never gave up. Arsenal came back second half and pegged us back. We went 2-1 down and then we scored two late goals. I remember going over to our fans in the corner of the stadium and it was electric. It was a huge moment in our growth and our history. That team was a special team and for me, I’ll always remember that jersey because of that. That jersey is an iconic jersey for that.”
WEMBLEY LESSON
United 0-1 Chelsea, FA Cup final, 14 May 2023
“I’d been in an FA Cup final before and lost it, and so I knew what that feeling was like. In this one, it was particularly tough, because I felt that we’d performed really well against a team that were stacked in terms of experience, stacked in terms of success, and I look at that team and what they gave. There’s a moment I remember, it is burned on my memory – we tried to fix it for weeks and weeks afterwards. It was the throw-in where we switched off, and we learned from that moment. I remember looking at the players’ faces afterwards and they’re of course disappointed, they’re distraught. But we grew and I knew we’d come back. Did I think it’d be the next season? I didn’t, you never know. But you can see in this photo that everybody’s head is in it. They’re not looking around. They’ve just lost the final and yet their head is in it. That shows a lot. Body language to me is a key indicator of whether you’re going to be successful or not, and I think that as sad as that was, that moment, it built what was a historic moment that year later.”
A disappointing experience in the 2023 FA Cup final helped United strengthen for a successful tilt the following season
There was an electric atmosphere among the fans at the Emirates, especially when two late goals sealed a fabulous win over Arsenal
FA CUP SEMI-FINAL
United 2-1 Chelsea, 14 April 2024
“We hadn’t beaten Chelsea since I’d been here. So for us to go and do it, it was a now or never moment, right? We had to go and do it. And when you’re faced with those decisions, you just have to put your best performance in. Chelsea threw everything at us that day, everything. From our point of view, I didn’t feel like it was a good performance in terms of football with the ball, and we spoke about it as a team, but we sacrificed so much without the ball to defend. I remember Mary’s save, of course, an iconic moment. I remember blocks, I even remember midfielders pressing the ball on the halfway line from a deeper block because Chelsea threw everything at us. And for us, it was just a moment of a together group and one that wanted to make history. When you have those motivating factors, it gives you an edge, and that’s what I felt we had in that game. [How proud were you at the full-time whistle?] I think there’s a moment where I turn around to my staff and it was just relief. It was relief, and only because we know we can beat Chelsea, but doing it is something different to believing in it. I always feel every game, I judge our players on how they celebrate goals together. This is the perfect picture to judge a reaction. It was an iconic moment. I think the camera pans to us and I’m just hugging my assistant and you just spend a moment. But they come and go too quick. I’ve got to find a special way of holding them in my memory, because I suppose looking back at these, it does that. But yeah, it shows a great team that wanted to be together and create history for our club.”
“I want to win titles after titles here, and I want to make history here. That’s exactly why I get up every single day” Skinner on his big ambitions
FA CUP GLORY
United 4-0 Tottenham, 12 May 2024
“It’s hard not to get emotional about it because it’s not just winning a trophy. It’s the fans that you see. In our facility where we change and so on, we have on our wall this FA Cup-winning photo of our players with the fans behind. It’s huge and it’s beautiful. It’s like, what do we do it for? First, we do it for the fans, and then secondly, I’m sure our players do it for their memories and their families. And I think just to spend a moment, this is the perfect picture. This is one of the moments I think I’ll always remember because it was my assistant that came up to me. He saidI thought he was going to say something like: ‘We need to make some changes.’ And I was like: ‘Leave it, we’re okay.’ And then he said: ‘Look, do you remember last year? Do you remember your first one? You never took a moment to take in the environment.’ And this is the moment I took. I sat back and I watched our team, in front of our fans, make history, and that was an iconic moment.
“It’s something that I’m extremely proud of. There’s a moment where I lift the cup in front of the fans. I think that’s what football is at its best. It gives that to our fans. That’s the moment that I got to share with them and one that I want to recreate. I want to do it with the league, I want to do it with the other trophies, I want to do it in the Champions League. I’ve always been an honest character and maybe at the end of last season, my energy was low. You end up finishing fifth in the season and we feel that, I feel that. But we created a moment of history and then this year I just feel totally different. I feel so energetic. I feel like I want to do more, and I want us to be the best team in this country. And if I can get to my next 100 games, I hope that’s what I’ve done for the fans, I’ve produced more moments that they can share with their families.
“I’ve been to men’s finals, I’ve been to women’s finals, and when I see the uniqueness of the togetherness with the fans in women’s finals, and their daughters and sons and mums and dads just watching the game and enjoying it for being Man United fans, I’m thankful we were able to give that moment.”
Taking in a special moment as silverware was about to be claimed on behalf of the club and the fans
History was made against Chelsea earlier this year
Helping our young people tell their stories.
FOLLOW ALONG
CALLING ALL THE HEROES!
The Manchester United story is one you could never tire of telling. And within that grand narrative are woven the individual tales of many club legends through the ages.
A new book takes 30 of those special names in United history and – with cool illustrations from renowned graphic artist Stan Chow, and with a design style and tone aimed to appeal to younger Reds – explains who they are, what they have done, and why they are significant figures in club annals.
A vast range of United’s existence is covered, with the earliest star to appear in the book being Billy Meredith – who first played for the Reds as long ago as 1907 – and present-day favourites such as Ella Toone and Marcus Rashford also featuring. In between, there’s a rich roll-call of legendary Reds, including Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best, Denis Law, Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo to name a stardustsprinkled handful.
A new United book hails thirty heroic Reds and tells their stories, complete with iconic illustrations. Did anyone say… Christmas present?
Over nearly 200 pages the inspirational stories of each player are told one by one, with additional stats and facts, plus archive photography. It looks brilliant and makes a great read, too – tackled in small doses one player at a time, or for a bigger binge. Young fans will love it (the recommended reading age is 6-7 and
Ace art
Youngsters – and adults familiar with the work of Stan Chow – will especially love the artwork in the book. For each of the 30 players featured, Stan has provided an illustration in his trademark style. It makes for an iconic gallery of superstar Reds.
ROY KEANE
ELLA TOONE
MARCUS RASHFORD DENIS LAW
Graphic artist Stan Chow has provided the book’s brilliant illustrations
A DAY TO REMEMBER
Alejandro Garnacho has plenty of time for the young fans
Lisandro Martinez signs autographs
Bruno Fernandes meets, then gets a big hug (right) from, Xavier
Altay Bayindir is all smiles
Noussair Mazraoui helps make a memory
Behind the scenes at the Foundation’s latest Dream Day –an absolute buzz…
Twice a season, United’s Carrington Training Centre plays host to a very important day in the club’s calendar –Manchester United Foundation’s Dream Day.
It’s a heart-warming event that gives the players an opportunity to give back to deserving fans, and at the most recent occasion in early November the team – led by club captain Bruno Fernandes and interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy – spent time meeting young supporters with life-limiting illnesses.
The youngsters attending, aged between eight and 18, enjoyed watching the team train before mingling with their heroes, beaming with joy as they chatted and posed for photos during a very emotional day.
“Today is really important,” Bruno told us after the event.
“We know how much this means to the kids to be here with us –even if it’s only for a little moment to make them happy, it means the world to us.
“I think as a player, we always have a responsibility to our fans, and if we can help in any way to make their day a little bit better, then why not?” he added.
“It’s always good to hear their stories and to do things that will make them happy, so I’m really pleased that today I’ve met them and that the kids have loved it.”
Morgan (pictured above right), aged 14, couldn’t get enough of the once-in-a-lifetime experience: “It’s been fantastic. I’ve loved seeing all my favourite players and loved getting their signatures and photos.”
His dad, Paul, also commented on the impact Dream Day has:
“It’s really important that Morgan can experience something like this; it’s not every day that you get this opportunity, especially when you’re obsessed with football. To meet the players, have a chat with them, get a picture – it’s fantastic for us as parents to watch, see and enjoy. It’s dreams that we would love to give the children that we can’t always give them.”
For more information about Dream Days and Manchester United Foundation, visit www.mufoundation.org.
Andre Onana practises a celebration with Morgan... ... and Bruno gets in on the act too
Rasmus Hojlund adds to the Dream Day magic
The
matches
matches
“I have always been this type of player. To be daring, to always try and try again, and if it doesn’t work, try again and never give up”
_____________Alejandro
Garnacho
Catch up on men’s, women’s and Academy team details, look forward to what’s to come – and enjoy recalling our trips to a characterful ground we are due to revisit...
The men’s team’s month ahead, at a glance…
IPSWICH (A)
Sunday 24 November Premier League, 4.30pm
BODO/GLIMT (H)
Thursday 28 November Europa League matchday five, 8pm
EVERTON (H)
Sunday 1 December Premier League, 1.30pm
ARSENAL (A)
Wednesday 4 December Premier League, 8.15pm
NOTTINgHAM FOREST (H)
Saturday 7 December Premier League, 5.30pm
PORTMAN ROAD REUNION
The Reds reassemble after the international break with a first trip to Portman Road in 22 years. The Tractor Boys, guided by ex-United man Kieran McKenna, came up from the Championship for their first crack at the Premier League since 2001/02, and though they have competed gamely in the opening quarter of the season, results have been hard to come by, with no wins and five defeats in their first 10 games. We’ll need to beware them raising their game for the visit of United, however.
NORWEGIAN FIRST
The surprising stat that United have never met a team from Norway in competitive football will be put to rest with the visit of Bodo/Glimt. The reigning champs in their homeland were top of the Eliteserien at the time of writing, embroiled in a title battle – this match comes before their potentially vital final league game, in fact. They’ve made a fine start to their Europa campaign too, with wins against Porto and Braga, plus a draw. The Reds need all the points, though, after three UEL draws.
SUNDAY BLUES
United’s recent record against Everton (five wins on the bounce) and versus the Toffees at Old Trafford (unbeaten in the last 11) are solid pointers to look to as Sean Dyche’s men visit Old Trafford for a Sunday lunchtime engagement. Pointers are all they are, though, so all the hard work will of course need to go in against a team that began the Premier League season with four defeats – but went unbeaten in the next five. Patience and perseverance could be key to a result.
LONDON CALLING
Only a couple of days’ rest before a trip to London for one of the most difficult Premier League assignments of the season, on paper: away at last term’s runnersup, and a team which occupied fifth spot at the time of writing. The only blemishes on the Gunners’ Premier League scorecard at that point, after 10 games, were defeats at Bournemouth and Newcastle, and two of their three draws came in 2-2s with Manchester City and Liverpool. So, with their five wins including successful away raids at Spurs and Villa, all signs point to Mikel Arteta’s men remaining one of the heavyweights of the division at present.
So what do the Reds need to do in order to get a result in north London? Curtailing Arsenal’s attack will be on the to-do list, with Bukayo Saka perhaps the biggest individual threat down their right, looking to cut in on that dangerous left foot to supply or shoot. At the other end, getting amongst a defence as it looks to build from the back could offer one route to goal, with David Raya appearing prepared to take risks with his distribution. It will be tough, but a good test of where the Reds are.
TRICKY TREES
The third game in a sapping week at least offers home comforts. Nottingham Forest made an extremely impressive start to 2024/25, losing only one Premier League game in their opening 10 and notching an eye-catching 1-0 win at Liverpool, plus a 1-1 draw at Chelsea. It seems that Nuno Espirito Santo’s men travel well, then – key for United will be working out ways to get through a well-marshalled defence that only once in that time conceded more than one goal.
Reds will recognise the man in the opposition dugout
Bodo/Glimt can include Braga amongst their scalps already this season
Bruno Fernandes has enjoyed past encounters with Everton
The trip to Arsenal will be a big game on the December calendar
We’ll be looking for a repeat of last season’s Old Trafford win over Forest
United’s away supporters will be travelling to territory that they’ve not trod for more that 20 years – Ipswich Town’s PORTMAN ROAD is back on the map, so here we revisit some of our highs and lows at the venerable Suffolk stadium…
Portman Road. It might not be a name that instantly fills you with dread as an away Red. But delve into its past, and actually Ipswich Town’s stadium has – overall – not been an especially happy hunting ground. We’ve lost there more than we’ve won. We have a negative goal difference. Out of our last six matches there, we’ve only won two and lost three times. The purpose of this feature, though, is not to… well, fill you with dread. It’s to mark United’s return to a historic stadium that we have not visited for over 20 years. And despite that overall record and a few times going under the Tractor Boys’ wheels, there have been plenty of good times for Reds at a venue that has been going strong for well over 100 years. Let’s catch up on our Portman Road story…
Words Ben Ashby
Opening skirmishes
Ipswich share the same year of foundation – 1878 – as United do, though they didn’t begin competing in the Football League until the 1938/39 season. And though we first met as clubs at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fourth round in January 1958 (a 2-0 win courtesy of a Bobby Charlton brace, one of which was a trademark howitzer – only 11 days before the Munich disaster), it wasn’t until 1961/62 that we had our first experience of Portman Road. That was on 18 November ’61 and our maiden encounter in league football.
Brace yourselves… but newcomers Ipswich, having gatecrashed the top flight as champions of the second division, handed Matt Busby’s men, who were in a run of poor form at the time, a 4-1 beating. Ipswich striker Ted Phillips showed he could match Charlton when it came to rocket shots, hammering in one with each foot.
Peter Slingsby, the Manchester Evening Chronicle football correspondent reporting on the encounter for United Review, described Portman Road as “compact, completely covered”, and revealed the apparent fanfare that greeted the Reds’ arrival for the first time: “Our welcome at the station would have befitted royal visitors. For there were tremendous crowds to cheer the team into the East Anglian town, and the official party included three of Town’s directors headed by Mr John Cobbold, the club chairman.”
Royal welcomes aside, it was an inauspicious start on that patch of Suffolk soil – but we weren’t the only ones feeling their horsepower. Amazingly, relegation-fancied Ipswich (with Roy Bailey, father of future Reds keeper Gary Bailey, in goal) ploughed
on in extraordinary fashion (a 5-0 revenge drubbing at Old Trafford notwithstanding, featuring an Albert Quixall hat-trick) to win the first division title that season, the first and still only in their history. No wonder their manager Alf Ramsey was sounded out for the England job the following season, and he of course went on to win the World Cup (with special help from our own Bobby Charlton and Nobby Stiles).
We did gain a fair bit of heavy-hitting payback during the next two visits to Portman Road, mind. First, a rain-sodden 5-3 against the reigning champions in November 1962 (Denis Law bagged four: “That was a day it all went right for me,” he modestly recalled later in his autobiography, “with super service from Albert Quixall”). Next, 7-2 in September 1963 during Jackie Milburn’s short stint in management with Ipswich (another hat-trick for the Lawman, who said “this time I slotted three… I began to wish we could play them every month”), as our fortunes travelled in opposing directions, Busby’s rebuilt United on the way to domestic and European nirvana, Ramsey-less Town backwards to the second division for a spell.
Slippery seventies
It was during the 1970s that Ipswich did a good deal of the damage to our record against them at their stadium. After one final Sixties fling (1-0 to them in the FA Cup thanks to a late Tony Dunne own goal, in one of Bobby Robson’s early games as Ipswich manager), we actually began the next decade well with a couple of 1-0
Denis Law feasted at Portman Road in the 1960s – here he’s celebrating in trademark pose his first of (only) a hat-trick in the 7-2 win of September 1963
victories at Portman Road in 1970, in the FA Cup (where Mick O’Neill returned the favour with a late own goal to hand us victory) and in the league (Brian Kidd netted), both during Wilf McGuinness’s post-Busby spell as manager. But thereafter, in nine matches on Ipswich soil that carried us through what was a turbulent decade of decline and partial redemption for United, the home team sent the Reds home defeated on six occasions. There were 4-0, 4-1 and 3-0 losses during that run, which we will not linger on (though there were a couple more United wins during the 1970s, including a 3-1 victory in September 1971 inspired by two-goal George Best, and a 2-1 win in ’78 thanks to strikes from fan favourites Sammy McIlroy, a header, and Stuart Pearson).
Triple Baileys
United went into the 1980s with a record at Portman Road reading played 15, won six, drawn one, lost eight. And that iffy scorecard was about to take a nasty hit. In a game that you may well hear locals proudly and loudly recalling on 24 November if you are a Red in town for the match, on 1 March 1980 Ipswich, still under Bobby Robson (like Ramsey before him, another future England manager doing great things for them), racked up a humbling 6-0 scoreline against Dave Sexton’s United.
Ipswich fans have obvious reason to treasure their memories of that particular afternoon, but there’s actually a crumb of comfort
Garth Crooks netted one of his two United goals at Portman Road in December 1983
for United supporters to hold onto as well. The aforementioned Gary Bailey in the Reds goal, on the same turf his dad formerly graced, pulled off the remarkable feat of saving three penalties during that match (albeit one of them not counting as such, because Bailey saved an effort from Kevin Beattie only for the referee to order a retake – Bailey kept out Beattie’s second effort as well, on top of his earlier stop from Frans Thijssen). “There is no point dwelling too long on that match,” wrote Sexton in his programme notes following that game… which we won’t further. After a draw later that year, and another defeat in 1982, the Reds did at least rally to have much the better of the remainder of the decade. A 2-0 win in December ’83 featured a rarity in a Garth Crooks goal, the first of two he netted during a short spell as a Red on loan from Tottenham that season, while Bryan Robson and Viv Anderson were match-winners in the IP1 postcode in August ’85 (during our renowned – but ultimately fruitless – 10-match winning streak at the start of that season) and January ’88 respectively.
Gary Bailey made his dad proud by saving three penalties in one match on Ipswich turf (forget the result…)
Title deeds
It seems strange to think that, for all United’s dominance and success during the 1990s, with Alex Ferguson masterminding the conquest of all before him, in four games against Ipswich at Portman Road during the period… we walked away defeated three times.
Town raised themselves to record victories in the 1992/93 season (a January “blip”, as Alex Ferguson later described the 2-1 defeat, on the way to United becoming champions; Ipswich finished 16th), 1994/95 (they may have won 3-2, but they were relegated in bottom place while we came runners-up – Ferguson said of the game: “I can’t honestly believe today’s result … I think Ipswich scored from nearly all of their goal attempts”), and a League Cup third-round win in October 1997 while they were a division below the Reds (admittedly Ferguson shuffled his pack for this 2-0 reverse and there were three debut-makers that night in John Curtis, Phil Mulryne and Erik Nevland; United Review, in
its report on the game, bemoaned “the long and tedious trip to Suffolk, for players and supporters alike”!).
But the sole victory that United did record at Portman Road during the glorious ’90s was one to cherish: Ferguson’s reigning champions came from a goal down to their lowly hosts, and having lost Peter Schmeichel to injury inside the first half-hour, to win 2-1 thanks to a headed Eric Cantona equaliser and a second-half winner from Ryan Giggs. That victory all but sealed a second consecutive Premier League title (it was confirmed the following day) – and part one of the club’s first Double – and was arguably the best day in the Portman Road stands that United supporters have ever enjoyed.
We meet again
That leaves our most recent endeavours on Ipswich turf. A David Beckham equaliser (yes a free-kick, no not a classic) was needed to recover a 1-1 draw after an early Fabian Wilnis opener in August 2000. That was Town’s second game back in the Premier League after five seasons away at the time, and they were given a huge shot in the arm to hold reigning champions United – Ipswich went on to finish a highly creditable fifth in the table, while the Reds cruised on to win a third title in a row. “You won’t see such a thrilling game all season,” was Alex Ferguson’s verdict. “They fought like tigers and deserved the result.”
And last time out – over two decades ago now – a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty, hotly disputed by the Portman Road faithful, on the cusp of half-time in April 2002 condemned Ipswich to a 1-0 home reverse and hastened their relegation from the top-flight. Their absence from the Premier League lasted so much longer –fully 22 seasons – than they would ever have feared. But now they are back – and our trip east is back on the calendar.
Don’t let some of these tales of yore give you the wrong impression of our overall record against Ipswich, by the way. In 59 competitive matches we have won 29 times to Town’s 19, and hold a goal difference advantage of +25 – boosted by a few real hidings at Old Trafford, and one in particular. So if you are a travelling Red in Ipswich and you hear whisperings of that 6-0 defeat in 1980 – there’s always our 9-0 home win from 1995 as the ultimate trump card…
Eric Cantona heads the equaliser, from a delicious Andrei Kanchelskis cross, on surely our favourite trip to Portman Road in May 1994
Ruud van Nistelrooy was the match-winner on the last occasion the two sides met in East Anglia
united fixtures/results 2024/25
CLUB HONOURS
The individual landmarks have been coming thick and fast (for Marc Skinner, Millie Turner and Maya Le Tissier), while collectively the Reds continue to make strides…
MATCH CATCH-UP
After the season’s three opening wins, covered in our last issue, the Reds were at Leigh Sports Village for the first time in the league on Sunday 13 October to take on Tottenham Hotspur. An impressive 3-0 win, thanks to a brace from Elisabeth Terland and a penalty from Maya Le Tissier, made it four straight victories at the beginning of 2024/25 and moved United level with Chelsea at the top of the WSL table.
A week later, Marc Skinner’s side made the long journey to the Amex Stadium to take on Brighton. A record crowd witnessed a tight battle between the sides, with the points shared at the final whistle. It was a game of two halves, with United dominating and taking
MILESTONE MAKING united women
the lead in the first through Grace Clinton, who turned in Celin Bizet’s cross 10 minutes into the game. Our England midfielder almost grabbed a second just before half-time when her effort rattled the underside of the crossbar. The Reds’ first-half lead, though, was cancelled out by former Red Nikita Parris, who departed in the summer, as she headed in an equaliser shortly after the interval.
In the first match back in early November after the international break (which involved plenty of Reds – see panel above right), a new record LSV crowd for a United game of 8,348 watched Skinner’s side fight back late on to rescue a 1-1 draw against Arsenal to maintain the unbeaten start to 2024/25. Melvine Malard flicked home an 82nd-minute header after a corner to preserve a point.
Melvine Malard nods a header home from close range to earn a 1-1 draw v Arsenal
Words Helen Rowe-Willcocks
INTERNATIONAL REDS ROUND-UP
During the October international break, we had 12 players away with their national sides. Grace Clinton stole the headlines for the Lionesses in their second game against South Africa, scoring her second-ever England goal when she headed home fellow Red Maya Le Tissier’s cross in the 2-1 friendly win. Clinton was replaced by Ella Toone just past the hour mark and the born-andbred Red helped the Lionesses see out the win.
That trio were all at Wembley for the difficult 4-3 loss against Germany for Sarina Wiegman’s side. Toone was in from the start on that occasion, while Le Tissier was introduced in the final 10 minutes and Clinton remained an unused sub.
We were also well represented in Norway, through Celin Bizet, Elisabeth Terland and Lisa Naalsund. Bizet was the only player to get minutes in the 5-0 win over Albania, but Terland joined Naalsund in the starting line-up, with the latter scoring the second, in a resounding 9-0 victory over the same opposition a few days later. Bizet was introduced just after the interval.
Dominique Janssen played the whole game for Netherlands in their 15-0 friendly win over Indonesia and the 2-1 victory against Denmark. Similarly, Hayley Ladd played for Wales in their two-legged Euro qualifying play-off semi-final against Slovakia. After losing the first leg 2-1, Cymru took until the final 10 minutes of extra-time back at the Cardiff City Stadium to clinch a winner and progress to the final round. Ladd was joined on duty by goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel, who was on the bench for both matches.
Aoife Mannion was also in Euro 2025 qualification action, representing the
MARC AND MILLIE MILESTONES
On Sunday 3 November, Marc Skinner and Millie Turner were honoured at Leigh Sports Village for personal landmarks. Sporting director Dan Ashworth was on hand to present them both with shirts ahead of the clash with Arsenal. Skinner marked his 100th game in charge after joining in July 2021, while Millie played her 150th match in Red as one of our ‘originals’.
Skinner said: “My hope now is to double the milestone with the Reds, I want to keep pushing and keep dreaming big. I am extremely proud to be the manager of Manchester United. Here is to our future, here is to adding more trophies to our cabinet, and here is to continuing making history.”
Republic of Ireland in their two meetings with Georgia. She contributed to two clean sheets in those games – 6-0 and 3-0 wins respectively.
Simi Awujo helped Canada in their 1-1 draw with Spain when she came on just after half-time, while Emma Watson made a long-awaited return to international duty with Scotland following a lengthy injury absence. She came off the bench in both meetings with Hungary, as Pedro Martinez Losa’s side took one step closer to Euro 2025 qualification, winning by an aggregate score of 5-0.
LE TISSIER BREAKS RECORD
Captain Maya Le Tissier set a new Barclays Women’s Super League record in the clash with her former side Brighton. The 22-year-old became the youngest-ever player to make 100 appearances in the division, beating the record previously set by Manchester City winger Lauren Hemp. Congratulations on yet another landmark, Maya!
LOOKING AHEAD
With the home WSL game against Aston Villa having been played shortly before this issue came out, the Reds face a busy period of three away games in a week. First we travel to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City on Sunday 17 November, before a midweek game against Everton in the Women’s League Cup.
That game against the Toffees was moved from the Friday evening to Wednesday 20 November, after our re-arranged clash with Chelsea was scheduled for Sunday 24 November. The contest with the Blues was postponed last month due to Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League commitments. The action in the capital will take place at Kingsmeadow, and all the best build-up to both fixtures will be across our club channels.
After the final international break of the year, the Reds are back at Leigh Sports Village where they take on Liverpool on Sunday 8 December.
Clinton in action against South Africa
Celin Bizet helped Norway to two wins against Albania
Marc Skinner and Millie Turner enjoyed landmark occasions
Maya Le Tissier has gained a lot of experience in a short space of time
united fixtures/results
BALTIC EXCHANGE
Our Under-19s became the first Manchester United side to play in Lithuania when they went up against FK Zalgiris in the UEFA Youth League last month. Inside United joined the trainsplanes-and-automobiles trip to learn just what goes into these away journeys – also dropping in on the Lithuania Supporters’ Club to find out what it means to follow the Reds in the Baltics…
Words Harry Robinson
The journey to Lithuania begins some weeks beforehand for all involved at Manchester United. For the club’s Academy, it’s not a case of chartering a jet. In fact, with no direct flights between Manchester and Vilnius, the capital and host city for the Under-19s’ UEFA Youth League second round fixture, it’s not a simple trip at all.
Academy staff instead consider the options. One of their first ports of call is The New Saints, the Welsh side who played FK Zalgiris – the Lithuanian youth champions – in the first round of the Youth League’s ‘domestic champions path’, in which United are competing for the first time.
The Reds have played in the tournament before, but on the other side of the draw, which exactly mimics the senior UEFA Champions League, with the youth teams of those clubs qualifying for the senior competition facing off.
The domestic champions path features, as the name suggests, the champions of many UEFA countries. This year, that includes United (having won the Under-18 national crown last year), whose staff contact The New Saints in advance to ask about the route they undertook to Lithuania. This is, after all, a historic occasion.
A Manchester United team has never before played a competitive fixture in Lithuania.
There are flights from Liverpool or London. It’s decided that United will train on the Monday morning, travel to London, fly the following morning, and train in Vilnius the evening before the Wednesday-night match.
Sent in advance of the players is a kit van, stacked with everything the players and coaches will need while out there. The van takes 40-odd hours to get to Lithuania, taking the ferry.
MONDAY JOURNEY BEGINS
On the coach down to London, the debrief from the weekend’s game is still taking place. U18s lead coach Adam Lawrence, in his second season in charge, pores over a laptop with assistant Colin Little. They watch back moments from Saturday’s action – United had bested Sunderland in a seven-goal thriller. Shouts of ‘yes’ from the players competing at cards at the back of the coach occasionally interrupt. Others look over at the impromptu analysis session going on, eager to see their own involvements and where they could improve. On another table, the operations staff are planning future fixtures.
London approaches and the conversation turns to Lithuania. Little discusses his unexpected love for Gothic architecture and Vlad the Impaler. The bus pulls into the hotel and Lawrence reminds the players that it should be left as it was found. Bin bags are passed around.
The players have some time to relax before dinner, and also to change kit. United’s kit staff inform players and coaches which kit they should wear for which activities, always making sure the squad looks uniform overall. For dinner, it’s ‘leisurewear’.
After eating, Lawrence and Little discuss the key messages they want to get across to their players. “They have to understand that what they do now affects their performance on Wednesday evening,” Adam says. “They can get sleep on the plane but it’s not the same,” adds Colin. “It’s good but it’s not the same.”
United’s flight is early. They’ll be leaving the hotel at 4.30am.
“Keep it positive because today’s been a good day overall,” is Adam’s final thought. Then he tells the team: “The easiest way to think about it is what you do now has marginal effects on your performance on Wednesday night. You’re in that window.” The Academy doctor gives some tips. “Have a nice cool room, stay off electronics before bed. Warm milky drinks are good, but avoid anything like coffee.”
The sights of Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city and the venue for a unique match in United’s history
Preparation is on the training pitch, but also in everything the players do in the days leading up to a match
TUESDAY FLYING EAST
When they come down in the morning, two big suitcases are waiting to throw their washbags into. They arrive at the airport and, walking past yawning faces, these young lads have to maintain some focus. The United badge carries so much weight. People stare, uninhibited at this early hour. “It happens everywhere,” says Colin Little. “People stare at the badge, they want to talk to you.” A group of Welsh Reds do exactly that. They’re going to the game, an extraordinary commitment for a youth match.
The team fly to Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city, and take a coach to the capital. It’s a long journey and the afternoon is spent resting before the evening’s training at the LFF Stadium, where they’ll play the following night. Behind the scenes, a lot of organisation goes into the schedule. One of the operations staff travelled out the week before to meet with Zalgiris’s coaches and administrators, many of whom are United fans themselves and thrilled about the occasion. Training goes well. There’s an intensity about proceedings, helped by the floodlights, the empty seats around and the shining Champions League balls being popped about.
“It’s stepping stones, isn’t it?” says Little. “We talk about that quite a lot. So when the boys hopefully get to play in the real Champions League or at international level, this is a taste of what’s to come. Playing in Lithuania is a historic thing – it’s brilliant.”
After training, the young Reds head back to the hotel to eat.
United’s chefs and nutritionists back at Carrington are involved in what’s on offer, making sure the hotel provides the right refuelling meals.
MEETING LOCAL REDS
Inside United misses this particular meal, though – instead we head to share meat pies and a beer with the local official supporters’ club branch. Lithuania has a population of only 2.8 million but included among that number are plenty of United fans.
“Lithuania is a country of basketball, but there are some true guys who support football,” jokes club member Karolis. “Football is such a beautiful game, such a big game, the most popular in the world and of course, Manchester United is the club with a rich history. I love it.”
“In our Lithuanian culture,” Alex, the club’s founding president,
explains, “we are used to watching games – basketball or football – on the TV sitting on the couch. It’s very hard to overcome this culture. To come to some pub to meet some people you don’t know and watch the game – but when you come, you see this is another experience and everyone who comes is like, ‘Wow!’”
The supporters’ club is flourishing now, with their own bar, decked out with United scarves, shirts and flags, and with two massive TV screens to watch the games. One of the members spent several days toiling to decorate it in May ahead of the FA Cup final, for which 40 people crammed into the small room on a memorable occasion.
“For us, United is more than a team,” Alex says. “It’s a family for us. All these guys, in several years, became family. That is, I suppose, the biggest thing about why it’s so important for me.”
Many of those we speak to followed United after the 1999 UEFA Champions League final, although some supported the club long before. “In the 1990s it was quite hard to watch football,” Alex says. “The only thing we had was Champions League nights. No Premier League games were shown. The only channel that showed us football was Russian. Maybe in the late ’90s and the beginning of the 2000s, only then did Lithuanians start to show bigger football games. From those days, we have more supporters because they started to know something about those teams
Getting used to their surroundings, the United lads trained hard in the build-up to the big match
Just like pretty much everywhere else, Lithuania contains committed United supporters
like Manchester United.” And club member Arturas remembers: “I was living in a village and basketball is a religion. I grew up playing basketball and watching basketball, living life with basketball. All I imagined was basketball. And one day I saw a game between Bayern and Manchester and you know, it’s like ‘ZING!’”
And now, United are playing in their country. And it means everything. For some, just because it’s United, their team. But for others, it’s about United’s opponents as well. “Zalgiris is more than a club, too,” Alex says. “In the late ’80s it was [like] a protest against the Soviet Union. It was a big deal for us. The independent Lithuanian flag was shown in the stadium. There were demonstrations. So for us, Zalgiris is also more than a club. It’s a symbol of our hard-fought freedom. That’s why I think tomorrow you will see how our fans will support Vilnius Zalgiris, even the youngsters, because for them it’s very big. Very big.”
WEDNESDAY GAME ON
He’s right. The next day – Wednesday, matchday – United’s young players go for a morning walk through leafy Vilnius, a quiet capital city with an eclectic mix of architecture. Adam Lawrence is whistling ‘We’ve seen it all, we’ve won the lot’. They eat lunch, rest in the afternoon, have a pre-match meal and then head to the ground. It’s quiet there, at first, as the bright sunshine on red-andyellow seats gives way to a crisp night.
Then Zalgiris’s green-and-white support arrives and a party atmosphere envelops the small ground, which could fit into Old Trafford 15 times over. Trumpets, drums and flags. Brilliant noise, which soundtracks the full match despite an utterly dominant first 85 minutes from United. They hardly allow the hosts a touch of the ball as Gabriele Biancheri and Ethan Williams both score twice to establish a 4-0 lead. Williams’ second is a wonderful wobbling effort from outside the box that finds the top-right corner.
A frenetic finale ensues, with two Zalgiris goals sandwiching one from James Scanlon to leave the final score 5-2. United’s players are furious at themselves for giving up the clean sheet. They have earned a three-goal advantage away in Europe after a long journey, but they know the standards and Lawrence admits he’s happy to see their disappointment. The next day, he says, they’ll be able to take the lessons away and enjoy the good parts of the performance, of which there were so many.
Handshakes, pats on the back, thanks and then back to the hotel, where pizza and sandwiches are waiting. It’s a relaxed atmosphere. Everyone’s hungry, cheeks burning now they’re inside and out of the cold, tired after working hard. And it’s to bed soon after, ready for another early morning’s travel and back to Manchester with a three-goal lead ahead of the second leg. That will be easier – a short trip to Leigh Sports Village. But history has been made and those involved will always remember the experience.
Lifeblood
Li
The Under-19s’ trip to Lithuania is the subject of a short feature in the Lifeblood series of original films giving unique behind-the-scenes insight into the United Academy. Search ‘Lifeblood’ on the club website and app to access the series, including all four full episodes –and get a taste by scanning this QR code on your device to go straight to episode one.
The home fans made lots of noise throughout an entertaining game which United dominated
A professional dressing room before a professional performance
Five goals were celebrated on a very successful trip
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due to clashes, postponements etc. See ManUtd.com for latest fixture details
league international cup group C table
history The
“Matt Busby had visions of a fresh football horizon, something good for the people in a city he knew and loved…”
With a pictorial journey through the decades and a deep dive into Sir Matt’s new dawn, this part of the mag is all about taking you into United’s storied past...
Decades
In our regular gallery feature, we offer a historical Reds miscellanea via selected snaps taken from different decades, touching different times in the United story…
Inspiration for anyone growing a charity moustache this Movember – Georgie Best himself sporting some lip bristle, in September 1967. George could pull off any style, of course, and was always on top of Swinging Sixties fashion. Given he has a look of George Harrison here, perhaps the ’tache was inspired by The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which had come out that summer.
19 80s
What we said about Mark Hughes a couple of issues back, launching into a similar challenge, goes every bit for his team-mate Norman Whiteside. Here Big Norm is taking on two Everton players, Peter Reid and Ian Snodin, in a kung-fu fight for the ball. Despite all the effort going in, this one finished 0-0 at Old Trafford in February 1987. Whiteside later played for the Toffees, of course.
We’ve appreciated Ruud van Nistelrooy’s work as an assistant coach this season, and in the interim manager position. But 20 years ago, Ruud was doing what he did best on the pitch: banging them in. Here, he allows himself a feel of the back of the net – after all, he had put the ball in it four times. His famous quadruple came against Sparta Prague in November 2004.
1970s
Ask many of the fans for whom the 1970s was their formative decade as match-going Reds, and they may well tell you that it was the best era for supporters. Whether or not these two policemen thought so at the time this image was taken is neither here nor there – but you get a sense of the teeming majesty and sheer power of the Stretford End that they stand before circa 1975.
Harry Gregg seems to have the pitch all to himself in celebration, in a poignant image from the FA Cup semi-final victory over Fulham on 26 March 1958. “The miracle has happened,” reported United Review. “Manchester United, only weeks after the Munich disaster, have fought their way through to Wembley.” Gregg, of course, was one of those to survive the deadly crash.
Discover more
What’s crucial for your business?
For Manchester United, it’s crucial to stay connected. With the support of remote access from TeamViewer, the club transports the excitement of the stadium to its supporters around the world. With instant updates and uninterrupted broadcasting, fans stay connected with the team they love.
1990s
Recognise the face, even at barely 15? Pictured at the beginning of the decade that would do much to make him world-famous, David Beckham practises a fancy flick. Londoner David was playing for Brimsdown Rovers in Enfield back then, but in good time would be wearing the United strip for real – 230 times in competitive games that decade, in fact. A few trophies, too… ,
WATER MEETS SCIENCE
Also available at all Old Trafford kiosks and Megastore
anchesterUnited’shisto
PART THREE
VIA10KEYYEARS
In the third instalment of our 10-part series documenting the history of Manchester United via 10 key years, we jump through some three decades – times of toil, strife, conflict and another existential near-miss for the club – to a managerial reign that presented a fresh start at a post-War, forward-facing juncture: Matt Busby, appointed United’s new boss, began his rebuild in earnest with the resumption of league football…
Pride comes before a fall. Few maxims better sum up United’s plight between the end of Ernest Mangnall’s silverware-strewn tenure in 1912 and the post-WWII pitch-up of Matt Busby, the man who would change the face of the club –and English football – forever.
Those years, against the backdrop of two World Wars – the first of which claimed the life of Sandy Turnbull, goalscoring hero of two titles and 1909’s FA Cup win – were a dizzying cycle in which the rare ups were followed by downs so swift as to make
a rollercoaster look sluggish. Including secretary TJ Wallworth’s brief caretaker stint following Mangnall’s departure, this just a year after United’s second title win, Busby was the ninth man to have a crack at righting the ship.
The slide threatened in the years preceding the horror of 1914-18’s conflict came to pass. It might have been the ‘Roaring Twenties’ elsewhere; all too often at Old Trafford the noise was a chorus of disapproval. Relegation in 1921/22 under John Chapman, who’d replaced
Words Steve Morgan
A view of Old Trafford in 1922, one of several years in which United fans had to endure the prospect of relegation
Colourful 1920s character and hard case Frank Barson
BUSBY'S NEW DAWN
John Robson too late in the day to avert demotion, had been corrected, United’s first Scottish boss leading the Reds to promotion in 1924/25. That success was predicated on a miserly defence featuring infamously fearless former blacksmith Frank Barson, behind which custodian Alf Steward conceded just 23 goals.
But it was a highlight among thin gruel, as United’s fitful 1920s gave way to a fresh decade of existential doubt that echoed the early transitional years from Newton Heath to Manchester United.
Though Joe Spence toiled manfully as United’s main attacking threat – ‘give it to Joe’ the popular terrace cry during much of his 14 seasons – United’s return to the top table yielded a highest finish of ninth in the six campaigns that preceded a truly calamitous 1930/31.
It began badly and just got worse: Herbert Bamlett’s charges lost the first 12 league fixtures. That solid defence of yore had evaporated – 115 goals flew past unlucky Alf. United were nailed to the foot of the table with only seven wins, picking
In his days as a City player, Matt Busby got to know Manchester and its people well
Busby captains Scotland against England in a wartime international in February 1944 – the following year his footballing journey would take him back to Manchester at war’s end
Gibson’s guarantee
Struggling in the second tier, with spiralling debts, eye-watering mortgage repayments on Old Trafford and players unpaid in Christmas week of 1931, United were once more reprieved by a local entrepreneur, James Gibson. Approached by Walter Crickmer and Louis Rocca – the man instrumental in Busby’s arrival – Gibson, partner in a Manchester clothing firm, loaned the club £2,000, enough to cover three weeks’ wages. If, he said, the United public displayed enough appetite for the fight,
his guarantee would stand, saving the club from extinction.
On Christmas Day, 33,123 duly turned up to see the Reds defeat Wolves 3-2 – the previous home gate had been 4,697.
The sports-loving Gibson, buoyed by the show of strength, vowed to carry on the fight and became chairman. As turning points in the club’s history go, it proved as pivotal as Busby’s appointment. It was indeed Gibson, at a board meeting in 1931, who first floated the notion of a junior section – with Manchester United Junior Athletic Club (1938) pre-dating Busby’s arrival.
James Gibson came to United’s aid with crucial funds – and stayed
Gibson’s long contribution is commemorated by a plaque on Sir Matt Busby Way near Old Trafford
The United that Busby inherited included a bomb-wrecked Old Trafford –symbolic of the rebuild ahead
up just four points away. Only 3,930 assembled for the season’s last rites, a madcap 4-4 draw against Middlesbrough. Off the pitch there was another hard stare into the financial abyss. Once more United found a saviour in the form of a local benefactor. Just as John Henry Davies had at the turn of the century, James Gibson’s largesse – the Gibson guarantee of 1932 (see panel, left) – would ease the pain.
It was no quick fix. After flirting with relegation to the third tier in 1933/34, dramatically defeating Millwall 2-0 to ensure survival at the Londoners’ expense, United were promoted as champions in 1935/36 – beaten just once after Christmas – only to fall immediately through the trapdoor again. Under the auspices of the stalwart Walter Crickmer, they dusted themselves down to return at the first time of asking in 1937/38. This time they survived comfortably enough, finishing 14th, before the slide to war curtailed 1939/40’s action with just three games played. Having illuminated the early years of the 20th century, that new dawn had faded. Once the last word in style, the decimation of Old Trafford during the Blitz of March 1941 seemed grimly emblematic, a completion of the fall from grace. United had already long been a cheap laugh in many a music-hall comic’s act. It was
no laughing matter for what was left of the diehards.
a fresh horizon
The enforced break in 1939 was a fork in the road. The resumption of football with 1946’s FA Cup and a league season divided regionally between north and south offered a fresh start and the first lines in one of football’s most thrilling fairytales.
The football world elsewhere in 1946...
On his discharge from the forces to accept the post of Manchester United manager offered in a speculative letter from the club’s old fixer Louis Rocca in February 1945, Busby inherited a shell of a club. An FA Cup winner as a player with crosstown rivals Manchester City – where Old Trafford’s ruin meant United were now playing in exile – he had visions of a fresh football horizon, something good for the people in a city he knew and loved. Here was a blank canvas on which to work. And on it he would paint a masterpiece.
On 31 August 1946, as the Football League resumed in full, Busby oversaw the first of 480 victories in 971 league encounters spanning 23 years, as Jack Rowley hit the winner against Grimsby Town. United finished 1946/47 second, the best finish since Mangnall’s champions, and a sign of things to come…
Sheffield United and Birmingham City took the respective honours in Football Leagues North and South, as teams from the top two divisions competed for regional dominance Derby won the FA Cup, overcoming Charlton Athletic 4-1 in extra-time
In one of English football’s darkest days, 33 people died at Bolton Wanderers’ Burnden Park, as crush barriers collapsed during their second-round clash with Stoke City on 9 March Attendances for the 43 games marking August’s return of a full league programme reached close on a million, though a severe winter freeze brought 140 postponements in three months and a season that finished in mid-June…
Johnny Carey (left) defends against Brentford in an action shot from April 1947, in Busby’s first full campaign – the season would end in an encouraging second-place league finish
Matt Busby’s first formal address to United fans, in his programme notes for his opening league game in charge – 31 August 1946, and a 2-1 win over Grimsby Town, played at ‘home’ at City’s Maine Road
“1994 was my most memorable visit to Portman Road. A load of us went down. I was sat among the Ipswich fans. You just got in where you could, and there were United fans scattered all over the ground…”
Anthony Murphy
Singapore supporters, an artistic superfan, trips to Ipswich, your holiday snaps – this section is all about the rich mix of Reds who share a passionate love for the club…
MUSC FOCUS
In this month’s edition of our regular official supporters’ club round-up, we focus on a dedicated band of United fanatics in Singapore, and welcome a new local branch…
Reds Around the World
SINGAPORE
Dinesh Jaswani of the official Singapore supporters’ club gives us the lowdown on their branch, always up at any time of day or night, gathered together to watch United games…
NAME: Manchester
United Supporters’ Club Singapore (MUSCS) FOUNDED: 2011 NATIONALITY: Singapore MEMBERS: 250
When and how did your supporters’ club start?
Supporters in Singapore formed United for United (U4U) on 28 February 2010. Initially a group of friends united by their passion for the club, it officially became Manchester United Supporters’ Club Singapore (MUSCS) in the summer of 2011. The club celebrated its official launch in October 2011 at Durty Nelly’s Singapore.
Tell us about your members…
We have around 250 every season with a paying membership. Most also support teams from other leagues. The popular teams would be Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Juventus and AC Milan. But due to the time zone and media coverage, the other leagues do not have a higher dominance in coverage and broadcasting rights in Singapore. Hence, the Premier League is highly watched.
Describe a typical matchday…
Our members gather at Harry’s Boat Quay on matchdays. The bar usually gets full about
10 to 15 mins before kick-off as we fans chat about the line-up while enjoying an ice-cold pint. Games are usually shown here between 10pm to 12am, so it’s a real commitment to come and be with fellow fans.
What was your best-ever day?
Robin van Persie’s deflected injury-time freekick in the incredibly dramatic 3-2 derby win over Manchester City in December 2012. We had almost 200 fans packed shoulder-to-shoulder
An organised group of fans have been gathering to watch United games since 2010
A pilgrimage to a place they usually only get to see on TV
Interview Joe Ganley
and erupted when his goal was scored. Fans were cheering non-stop that night.
United last played in Singapore in 2019 – how did it feel to have United visit your country?
It was incredible! We held special membersonly contests and giveaways for meet-andgreet passes, and worked with most brands for priority access for our fan club. Almost 80 per cent of our members got to meet at least one United player across the island over the three to four days that the team was here. Such joy.
What’s the best thing about being in the supporters’ club?
The club fosters a close-knit community among United fans in Singapore. We hold regular meet-ups, watch parties and events to create a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
What’s the best thing about Singapore, for those who have not visited?
Wow, there’s lots to share! Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, with a rich tapestry of ethnic groups including Chinese, Malay, Indian and various expatriate communities. This diversity is reflected in the country’s festivals, cuisines and cultural practices, making it a vibrant and inclusive place. Despite its urban landscape, Singapore is known as a ‘City in a Garden’. The city features numerous parks, gardens and green spaces, such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, which provide a refreshing contrast to the bustling cityscape. The food scene in Singapore is incredibly diverse and renowned globally too.
Tell us something about Singapore that we don’t know…
The process of ordering coffee or tea in a kopitiam [coffee shop] involves a unique set of rituals and phrases, often passed down through generations. The choice of drink and its preparation method can be a point of pride and a reflection of personal taste.
Who do you think members of the supporters’ club would identify as the greatest United player ever?
I think it’s between Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo. For Giggs, it’s the numerous titles and his record of most appearances.
Ronaldo’s extraordinary goalscoring ability and athleticism left such a lasting impression on fans.
Which club does your branch consider United’s biggest rivals, and why? Liverpool! The rivalry is always strong! Matches are often highly charged, with fans keenly following and supporting their teams with loyalty. These games always make the headlines here.
How will United do this season?
The aim is securing Champions League qualification or aiming for domestic cup success. We just want to win games, qualify for Champions League football and also not have lots of injuries.
Local supporters’ club launches
A new branch of Manchester United’s official supporters’ clubs network has been formed, aimed exclusively at season ticket holders and United members in the areas
that surround Old Trafford. Reds in the M16, M32, M50 and M17 postcodes that encircle United’s stadium have been invited, and an introductory evening was held at Hotel Football on Tuesday 22 October.
Group chair Carly Lyes, who is also the local fan representative on the club’s Fans’ Forum, said: “We want to ensure local fans feel the benefits of living on the doorstep of the greatest club in the world, and to support local families in the area to bring through the next generation of Reds. Over the coming months, we will hold various meetings, social events and opportunities for fans to get involved.”
Welcoming Web3
Manchester United fans have formed a unique supporters’ club based around The Devils – a series of digital collectibles that were released in 2022 in conjunction with club partner Tezos. The fan group, named ‘Devils Collectors’, is the first to stem from Web3 – a new iteration of the internet that allows for ownership of digital assets. Many owners of the 7,777 Devils used their collectible to access a private channel within United’s official Discord server, where a vibrant community was fostered – and its members approached the club with the aim of becoming an officially recognised supporters’ group.
“What makes it special is that it’s the first of its kind, where an official Manchester United digital collectible is the key to joining,” said lead contact Keith Leonard. “The ‘Devils Collectors’ community continues to grow, including men’s and women’s team season ticket holders as well as members from every continent, forming a tight-knit family of fans united through their love and passion for United.”
The Singapore group of fans is a close-knit community
Dinesh and fellow fans pay a visit this season
red planet
More readers at leisure and on their travels, proudly posing with a copy of Inside United – join in the fun by sending a snap!
CARL AUSTRALIA
“My husband Carl Keating pictured at Uluru/Ayers Rock in Australia with his monthly Inside United magazine, taken while on a visit to see our daughter Danielle in Sydney,” says wife Alma, who was also on the trip Down Under. Classic landmark.
JEFF & CLAIRE
MEDITERRANEAN
“This picture was taken on board Cunard’s Queen Victoria ship, somewhere on its way from Split in Croatia to Valletta in Malta,” say Jeff and Claire, season ticket holders in the SAF stand. Jeff is holding the magazine and Claire is in the red dress, as they celebrate the 60th birthday of Australian cousin Paula (in the gold top on the right of the image) during a ‘red and gold’ gala night on board. Completing this fantastic shot are Mel (red waistband, left), Sue (red necklace), Graeme (red tie), Jeff (next to Graeme) and Graham (next along at the back… if we’ve got all the names right!).
EZRA MANCHESTER
Pictured doing the official museum and stadium tour at Old Trafford is avid United supporter Ezra, seen pitchside, in the dugout and in the dressing room. The nine-year-old from Backwell, near Bristol, was visiting the Theatre of Dreams for the first time with dad Robert, a lifelong Red. Ezra’s current favourite player is Bruno, and his all-time great is Bryan Robson.
SUKIE TENERIFE
Pictured celebrating his 60th birthday in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, is Stretford End season ticket holder Sukie Sidhu, from Halesowen in the West Midlands. Sukie has been a Red for 51 years, his favourite current player is Alejandro Garnacho, and his all-time hero is Sir Alex Ferguson “for providing me with so much happiness during his time as manager of United”. Love it, Sukie – “Up the Reds” indeed!
Red Planet needs YOU
Red Planet is all about the IU readers. We want you to send in your shots – with the magazine, of course – from holidays, travels, United matches, at famous landmarks and interesting locations, even with players or celebs... anywhere in the world, really! The more the merrier, far and wide. So please send your contributions to magazine@manutd.co.uk and let’s see you!
BETTER LATE
More reader
artwork –
and a piece that is finally being seen in this
Flashback to 1992. United under Alex Ferguson are building towards a watershed league title. This magazine is publishing its first ever issue. And 12-yearold Richard Shaffer is a keen Reds supporter with a flair for art.
Young Richard decided to draw a picture of his hero Bryan Robson, and after several hours of work came up with the piece that you see here (above). Richard sent his artwork to the new official club magazine –then called simply Manchester United – but his drawing was not used and was returned to him at his home address in Prestwich, north Manchester.
Thirty-plus years on, inspired by the reader art published in last month’s edition of Inside United, Richard has decided to have another crack at getting his artwork printed – and we’re happy to make that a success this time!
Richard (right) with his dad Geoff and brother Andrew
THAN NEVER!
magazine three decades on from originally being sent in!
Whatever else has changed down the years, Richard has remained a loyal United fan, and still has the same seat he sat in back when he made this drawing of Robbo – and that seat is even included in the drawing.
“I started going to United when I was seven in 1987. Dad lifted me over the turnstile for the first year, where I sat on his knees, then he got an extra season ticket. So I’ve sat in the same seat ever since, for 37 years now. It was right next to the Sharp Electronics sign on the halfway line in the North Stand (G Stand as it was in those days). We were relocated to the same place when the stand was rebuilt. I have my name on the seat due to having it for over 25 years. I still go every week with my dad, and brother too.”
Thanks for your drawing, Richard, we’re pleased to show it off finally! Reader artwork is always welcome – email magazine@manutd.co.uk
Mighty mash-ups
This is not the first time Richard’s creative expression in the name of United has made it into an official club publication.
“I have one particular hobby,” he explains. “I have done large picture collages for each season since 1995, made up of picture cuttings from your magazine, and with cuttings of reports from newspapers too.” These rich and unique records of each season earned Richard a spot in the club’s matchday programme United Review in 2019 (above). His hope one day is to have all his collages put on display for fellow Reds to pore over and enjoy.
Richard’s 1998/99 season collage
Another of Richard’s early drawings
The first issue of the magazine was published in December 1992
ROAD L E S S
It’s been many a year since United fans hit the highway for Ipswich – here two
“I love grounds like Portman Road... I’m looking forward to it”
DAVE PYE has taken the winding way to Ipswich numerous times, and will be doing so once again this November –his memories include a blown head gasket in ’94!
“It’s a pain in that it’s a long way. But times have changed a bit – roads are better these days. Back in those days it seemed like a never-ending road. You got to the turn-off for Norwich and you still had miles and miles to go to Ipswich!
“My first trip was ’93, and we didn’t do that well. We lost 2-1 there in ’92/93 [January 1993]. Apart from that ’94 game [winning 2-1 in May 1994], we lost there the season after [3-2 defeat in September 1994] and we lost in a League Cup game too [2-0 in October 1997]. It was a bit of a strange place to go for getting a result.
“But it was a ground I would look forward to going to because, as a kid, Ipswich were one of those teams that stuck in your mind. Under Bobby Robson, when they were successful in Europe, it
was a team that you knew all the players from, like Alan Brazil, who came to United, and Eric Gates and Paul Mariner. A bit like that era with Villa and Forest, they were a provincial team doing well in Europe. And obviously Arnold Muhren, who came to United, had been there as well.
“Going to Portman Road, you felt like you were going to a pretty historic place. Watching it on telly now, it doesn’t look much different, apart from maybe the two ends. The away end is still in that top tier. A traditional old English ground, really. I might sound a bit of a Luddite, but I prefer to go to somewhere like that, or to the old Dell. Some of the newer grounds are soulless. Times move on and clubs want to move to better stadia, but I love grounds like Portman Road and the older grounds. I’m looking forward to it. Kieran McKenna’s done a good job there. We have a funny relationship with Ipswich – we had the 9-0, obviously, and then we had a pretty poor record down there. It seemed like Chris Kiwomya scored every time we played them!
Spot the Reds among Ipswich fans at Portman Road in 1993 – we lost 2-1 that time, despite Brian McClair’s late goal
TRAVELLED
seasoned supporters remember their 1990s Portman Road experiences…
GASKET CASE
“That game in ’94 was dead weird for me. I was at the University of Sheffield at the time. I lived in a house with a Nottingham Forest fan. He was home and away like I was. So in that house of 12 people, every weekend when all the rest of the students were chilling out, me and him were getting in our cars. He was going to watch Forest and I was going to watch United.
“That year, people like Collymore helped Forest win the Championship to come up. The day before, they were playing Peterborough away. So I went to Peterborough to watch Forest with him. I was staying in Peterborough and going to Ipswich the next morning. But then I broke down as I was setting off. I still made the game but really last-minute. It was meant to be a weekend of seeing two teams virtually win the championship, and that’s how it turned out. We won, and even though I had to get the car towed back because the head gasket had gone, United made it a little bit sweeter.
“You can’t say Ipswich are a huge club, but they’ve got a big history. Bobby Robson is one of my heroes, and a lot of that comes from when I went to Eric’s debut at Benfica in ’92 [Cantona’s first appearance in a United shirt, on 1 December 1992 in a friendly]. I went with Andy Mitten and a few of the other lads. We watched the friendly against Benfica and the next day we went to Sporting Lisbon, where Bobby Robson was manager.
“We went to the ground and went to reception, and blagged that we had an appointment with Bobby Robson. And he came out! ‘All right lads, you here for the game? Let me show you around.’ Ever since then, I had even more of a liking for him. What he did at
Ipswich at the time... he’s rightly got a statue there. They had Alf Ramsey too. It’s a historic club, and they were in the doldrums for a while.
“McKenna went there and people questioned whether he was cut out for it. He took the plunge, and fair play: back-to-back promotions is amazing. I think most United fans really wish him well. To do what he’s done on a shoestring there... I bet there’s not many Ipswich fans who don’t think very highly of him.”
Dug-outs weren’t as plush in the 1990s, you know!
Both Dave and Anthony (see overleaf) were among the happy sunlit Reds at Portman Road in May 1994 to witness a comeback that took us to the brink of another title
Interviews Joe Ganley
“It was a celebratory day”
ANTHONY MURPHY recalls Sunday 1 May 1994 – a happy afternoon in the Suffolk sun as the Reds came back to beat Ipswich 2-1 and pretty much confirm the league title…
“Iwas there in ’94 and that’s probably my most memorable visit to Portman Road. It was also the day that Ayrton Senna died – that was a massive thing in the news, that dominated the backdrop at the time. There was a load of us that went down. I was sat among the Ipswich fans. You just got in where you could, and there were United fans scattered all over the ground.
“We knew that if United won we would be pretty much a shoo-in for the title. The T-shirts had already been done up for it. I had a holdall full of T-shirts with me and they were absolutely dreadful! They had this image of Alex Ferguson holding the Premier League trophy, but he looked more like [Coronation Street character] Derek Wilton. But they sold by the bucket-load outside the ground after United had won.
“I think Cantona got the equaliser, after United were losing for a time during the game. It didn’t mathematically seal it, but pretty
much settled it as much as it could. We only needed a point after that. It was a celebratory day. The Ipswich fans around us were fine, but there were plenty of United fans anyway. There was no violence. That was probably the last season where United fans felt safe going in any ground and making themselves known when United scored. Previously United had been like the loveable losers for the past 20 years, who won the occasional cup. But the real envy and bitterness towards United started around the summer of ’94, I would say. We went from likeable losers to horrible winners, which still stands to this day, really. That attitude still persists.
“I’ve not been to Ipswich since. It’s a long, long way to come home – especially if we’ve lost 6-0, like we did in 1980! We drove in ’94. We went down in a Ford Orion; I remember the car, a fantastic motor. We went to the game on home tickets. United were winning 2-1 when we went outside to work on the shirts. We knew the shirts would fly out, and they did.
“It was a fantastic day, of course. The following day Blackburn lost at Coventry, which confirmed the title. Jimmy White was losing the world snooker final that day too. It’s amazing what you can remember! The T-shirts paid for my holiday and my record collection all through that summer. It was a great time to be 21.”
Alex Ferguson stalks the Portman Road touchline, knowing a second title in two seasons is within touching distance
Eric Cantona wheels around towards United’s erupting supporters after a vital equaliser in May ’94...
… and Ryan Giggs is jubilant after sliding in to net the winner!
UNITED My
The MMA athlete – who fights for the title at the PFL World Championship in November – on his Red DNA, plus Scholes, Cantona and Rooney...
BRENDAN LOUGHNANE
How and when did you become a United fan?
When I was younger it was a full Manchester United bedroom. Manchester United wallpaper, the wooden bed, they were my earliest memories. Going to Old Trafford as a kid. Playing football all day and night until the streetlights came on. That was the rule. Headers and volleys in the back garden. Just a typical Manchester lad, growing up following the team.
Playing in the streets, which player did you pretend to be?
That’s such a good question. I was always R9 [the famous Brazilian Ronaldo]. R9 was the guy in my era. I used to like a bit of Scholesy as well. I was always a Scholes or R9. They were my guys.
Can you remember the first game you went to?
I can’t remember the exact one but I reckon it was maybe when I was 10 or something. My latest one was the Liverpool game [in September], which didn’t go our way. I am not in England too often now, I only come back a month or two a year. I went to the Liverpool game and I was disappointed.
You mentioned Ronaldo and Scholesy. Was Scholesy someone who was a hero, or were there others who stood out when you were younger?
You know what it was, I liked the local lads. The ones who are from where I’m from. It always meant more. The Wes Browns and even the Ravel Morrisons – these people I could relate to because they are from my area. Later on,
Interview Joe Nelson
Brendan became PFL featherweight champion in 2022 and is now aiming for a second world title
“Eric Cantona... what a guy!”
We hit Brendan with a shot he should have seen coming – who is his ultimate Red?
“Wow. Favourite United player of all time. I should have known you were going to ask me this but now I’m on the spot! Eric Cantona, what a guy. What an all-round character. Wayne Rooney, definitely one of my favourites. And again Scholes. Scholes, Rooney and Cantona, I don't know which one of those three, but definitely one of them for sure.”
it was Rashford and Lingard, local people I could relate to more. Coming through Fletcher Moss [the renowned junior team] – I played for Fletcher Moss myself a little bit – you could relate to them because they are from the same area and the same streets, and you know the family members. We are all south Manchester guys. It was nice to see people from your estate getting into the first team.
Do you think that’s how our young kids in the area feel now, looking at the likes of Marcus and Kobbie?
Yeah, definitely. It’s a massive inspiration. Playing headers and volleys in your back garden and you know that Lingard’s mum lives round the corner, and now he is playing in the first team. We all grew up together. Not just that, the list goes on and on. That’s one thing that has always been good about Manchester United – they have always put on local talent. Even with the rich history of the club. They could have bought players from all over the world and they could have a straight line-up of Italians and Spaniards and different nationalities, but they keep the local talent very well.
Which club do you enjoy United beating the most?
It’s always good beating the Scousers, isn’t it? It’s a toss-up between City and the Scousers. They are both just as refreshing.
Are there any goals that stand out to you as favourites?
The one where Wayne Rooney shoved the referee and then went
and scored an absolute screamer off the crossbar [against Newcastle, April 2005]. That was absolutely… come on, Wayne Rooney, once he got angry he could take on 11 men all by himself. Legendary.
What’s your all-time favourite United moment or memory?
It’s got to be the Treble. What else? Legendary.
If we could transport you to any era, is there a player or team that you’d love to see?
I didn’t get to see Cantona live, so probably Cantona. He was just before when I started going to games. He just had an aura about him. I saw Ronaldo, Rooney. I saw Scholes and Giggs and Ferdinand. Cantona had this nostalgia about him and he was just that guy. It would have been great to see him live.
How would you sum up what it means to be a United fan?
I just feel like being from the area, it is deep within our DNA. You are Red or you are Blue. I travel the world a lot and in different countries and states, and the first thing when you say you are from Manchester is ‘Red or Blue?’. It’s insane. It has taken over our city, football. I picked red from a kid and I still am.
(biog
Brendan Loughnane
Manchester-born Brendan is a mixed martial artist with a 17-year career, and has competed in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) since 2019 as a featherweight
He grew up in Withington, close to Old Trafford, and as a youngster knew Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard’s families
In 2022 he won the PFL featherweight championship by defeating Bubba Jenkins in the final
At the time IU spoke to Brendan, the 34-yearold was in Thailand training for a second PFL featherweight world title bout – he takes on Timur Khizriev at the 2024 PFL World Championship in Riyadh on 29 November
Eric Cantona and Paul Scholes are two of Brendan’s favourite United players of all time
Brendan feels a connection to the local lads who make it into the United first team
panel)
IU Quiz The
Twenty more teasers, starting with five Reds lurking among the letters, featuring some hot mullets, and ending with a spot-test on the season so far…
Quizmaster Ben Ashby
1-5. Wordsearch
Find the surnames of the five Reds pictured below, all of whom feature somewhere in this issue of the magazine…
This month’s opposition
Questions on teams United play against while this issue of IU is on sale…
(Words can go in any direction, including diagonally and reading backwards, and letters can be used more than once)
6. Who was the striker who famously bagged five goals when United racked up a 9-0 win over Ipswich in March 1995?
7. Prior to our game with Bodo/Glimt, we have never played a team from Norway in a competitive game. True or false?
8. Which current United player has scored in three of our last four games against Everton (all victories), all three goals being penalties?
9. Which of these London roads are you most likely to set foot on if you were an away Red visiting Arsenal? a) King’s Road b) Camden Road c) Holloway Road
10. Who is this, a Nottingham Forest player from 1985 to 1989, signed by Alex Ferguson to become a United player from 1989 to 1992 – then he went back to Forest?
Picture round
Who are these five United players all sporting mullets during a photocall ahead of the 1988/89 season?
This season
We’re a decent way into the 2024/25 campaign now, so a recap on some of what’s happened…
16. The 2024/25 season is our 100th in the top division of English football. True or false?
17. Which of our new summer signings was first to score a goal? It came against Fulham in our Premier League opener…
18. Who had a red card overturned after being wrongly shown it in the game against Tottenham Hotspur?
19. Which Southampton player did Andre Onana save a penalty from in September?
a) Cameron Archer b) Adam Armstrong c) Maxwel Cornet
20. Who is this describing their goal in the 2-1 win over Brentford?
“I know he has a very good cross and I have to be ready at the back post. When he crossed it, I shot first time and I scored, so I’m happy.” 1-5
Wordsearch: (Manuel) Ugarte, (Andre) Onana, (David) Beckham, (Paul) Scholes, (Matt) Busby; 6. Andy Cole; 7. True; 8. Marcus Rashford; 9. c) Holloway Road; 10. Neil Webb; 11. Mark Hughes; 12. Brian McClair; 13. Steve Bruce; 14. Jesper Olsen; 15. Colin Gibson; 16. True; 17. Joshua Zirkzee; 18. Bruno Fernandes; 19. Cameron Archer; 20. Alejandro Garnacho
13. This tough defender scored a few himself…
12. Another striker, initially, bought from Celtic
11. A spectacular goalscorer (163 in total) over two spells…
15. A versatile player at the club at the same time as namesake Terry…
14. This Danish winger has the best mullet of them all…
GIFT IT RED
And finally, it’s now that time of the year when we’re looking for Christmas presents. Here are a few ideas from United Store – exclusive products Reds won’t find anywhere else…
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS FOR UNITED MEMBERS
KITTING OUT
Any of the 2024/25 kits would make a United fan happy – home red for true colours, away blue for heritage, third white for style. If you scout about on United Store you’ll also find retro tops and lots of other cool gear, including winter coats and our Paul Smith range.
OTHER BAUBLES
A kit would be a generous present, but there are loads of other options. Here we have United pyjamas, Christmas jumper, bobble hat, stocking, Lego Old Trafford, snow globe and the club version of Monopoly. There’s a lot more inspiration to be found at United Store, too – go to store.manutd.com or scan the below QR code. Members get a discount of 10 per cent at United Store, by the way – on everything.
