The season is 1973-74 and
Manchester United have been in steady decline since they became the first
English club to lift the European Cup in 1968.
After winning the title
in 1967, they were pipped to the post by Manchester City a year later. But 1969 saw them finish 11th and Matt Busby decided to retire from the
manager’s role and move upstairs to become General Manager. Reserve team coach, Wilf McGuinness was
chosen to replace him from June 1969.
Under McGuinness United finished 8th in 1969-70 but by
December 1970 they were languishing in 18th place and it cost
McGuinness his job. McGuinness could
consider himself a little unfortunate in that he had lead United to both League
Cup and FA Cup Semi-Finals but the board expected more.
Busby was then brought
back to take over temporary control for the rest of the season and 24pts from a
possible 38 propelled them to another 8th placed finish. United then cast their net outside the club
for a permanent replacement and Frank O’Farrell was plucked from Leicester
City.
United were top by
Christmas 1971, but won just 5 games in the second half of the season losing 11
and ended up in 8th again. On
16th December 1972 United were 3rd from bottom of the First
Division and travelled to Selhurst Park to meet bottom club, Crystal
Palace. They were hammered 0-5,
O’Farrell was sacked and the club’s directors announced George Best would never
play for the club again, as he had gone missing once too often.
Scotland manager, Tommy Docherty was appointed three days
later having retired from international management. He restored Best to the team but United were
a club in decline and they finished 18th, just 7pts from the
drop. Their lack of ability in scoring
goals was all the more evident as Bobby Charlton was the club’s top scorer with
a pitiful 6 goals. The team had scored
just 44 in 42 league matches and conceded 60.
Only 2 other sides gave away more goals that season.
United were clearly a
club in free-fall and to make things worse Bobby Charlton retired at the end of
the season. Off too were Best and Dennis
Law. Law had made just 11 appearances
that season, and his goal in the opening day defeat at home to Ipswich Town,
was his only one of the season. He then
moved to neighbours, City. They were
knocked out of the FA Cup by Wolves at the Third Round stage, and also suffered
the embarrassment of being dumped out of the League Cup at Old Trafford by Bristol Rovers.
Squad
Goalkeepers
Alex Stepney (aged 30, 42 appearances, 2 goals) Tommy Docherty
signed Stepney from Millwall, when he was manager of Chelsea, but he only made
1 appearance before moving to United in 1966.
Made his debut at the start of 1966-67 season. Was part of the side which won the League in
1967 and the European Cup in 1968.
Eventually left the club in 1978 after making over 400 appearances.
Defenders
Jim Holton (aged 22, 34 appearances, 2 goals) Born in Scotland,
Holton started his professional career at Shrewsbury before moving to United in
1972. Big favourite with the crowd he
eventually moved to Sunderland in 1976.
Played in Scotland’s World Cup team in 1974
Martin Buchan (aged 24, 42 appearances) Another Scot, he started
his career at Aberdeen before Frank O’Farrell made him United’s record signing,
£120,000 in February 1972. Later
captained the club to FA Cup success in 1977, and played for the club up to
1983.
Steve James (aged 24, 21 appearances, 2 goals) Made his League debut in 1968 as replacement
for Bill Foulkes. Tommy Docherty clearly
didn’t rate him and he moved on after the 1974-75 season.
Tony Young (aged 21, 29 appearances, 1 goal) Made his debut as a
substitute against Ipswich in September 1970 and was originally a promising
midfielder. He later converted to
full-back and had two good seasons up to 1974 but was replaced by Stewart
Houston.
Arnie Sidebottom (aged 20, 2 appearances) Probably more famous as a
cricketer playing for Yorkshire, and possibly even more famous as being Ryan’s
dad. He combined a cricket and football
career making just 16 appearances for United before moving to Huddersfield in 1975.
David Sadler (aged 27, 2 appearances) Joined United in 1963 and was
part of the side which won the League championship in 1965 and 1967 as well as
the European Cup in 1968. Eventually
moved on to Preston during the 1973-74 season.
Brian Greenhoff (aged 20, 36 appearances, 3 goals) Came through the
United youth system to make his debut at Ipswich in September 1973. Played in the side which won the FA Cup in
1977 and eventually moved onto Leeds in 1979.
Alex Forsyth (aged 21, 19 appearances, 1 goal) Glasgow-born and
made his debut for Partick Thistle in 1971 before moving to United in December
1972. Moved to Rangers in 1978
Clive Griffiths (aged 18, 7 appearances) A product of the youth
system at Old Trafford, he made his debut in October 1973 at Burnley but never
commanded a regular place and moved to Tranmere in 1975 before making a career
in USA
Stewart Houston (aged 24, 20 appearances, 2 goals) Yet another
Scot, he started at Chelsea but never really broke into the team and moved onto
Brentford in 1972. Signed for United a
year later and spent 7 seasons there.
After his playing career he was Assistant Manager at Arsenal and manager
of QPR in the late 90’s.
Midfield
Gerry Daly (aged 19, 16 appearances, 1 goal) Born in Dublin, Daly
started his career at Bohemians before being signed by Docherty in 1973. Spent 4 years at Old Trafford before moving
to Derby County
Willie Morgan (aged 19, 41 appearances, 2 goals) Another Scot, he
began his career at Burnley in 1960 and went onto play in over 230 matches
before moving to United in 1968. Played
in Scotland’s World Cup side in 1974 and moved back to Burnley in 1975.
Mick Martin (aged 22, 16 appearances) Born in Dublin, he also
started at Bohemians before Docherty too brought him to Old Trafford in
1973. Spent just 2 seasons there before
moving to West Brom and then Newcastle.
George Graham (aged 29, 24 appearances, 1 goal) He started his
career at Aston Villa in 1961 then moved to Chelsea 3 years later where he fell
out with manager, Tommy Docherty. His
transfer to Arsenal was where he was most successful, winning the double in
1971. He moved to United in 1972. Spent a couple of seasons there before moving
onto Portsmouth and then Crystal Palace.
Sammy McIlroy (aged 19, 29 appearances, 6 goals) The last youth
player signed by Matt Busby and was another player expected to replace George
Best. He didn’t live up to that status,
but gave the club 11 good seasons with over 340 appearances. Also played for Northern Ireland in the 1982
and 1986 World Cup Finals.
Ian Storey-Moore (aged 28, 2 appearances, 1 goal) Played over 270
times for Nottingham Forest before making his debut against Huddersfield in
March 1972. An ankle injury cut his
career short and he played his last game for United in September 1973.
Paul Bielby (aged 18, 2 appearances) A product of United’s youth
policy, he never quite made it at senior level and moved to Hartlepool later in
the season.
Jim McCalliog (aged 27, 11 appearances, 4 goals) Born in Glasgow,
he began his senior career at Chelsea in 1963, moving onto Sheffield Wednesday
two years later. Won an FA Cup
runners-up medal in 1966 then moved to Wolves in 1969. Docherty signed him and he made his debut at
Birmingham in March 1974. Moved to
Southampton a year later and set up the winning goal for them in the FA Cup
Final against Man United in 1976.
Strikers
Trevor Anderson (aged 22, 12 appearances, 1 goal) Belfast-born, was
hailed as the ’new Best’ when he made his debut at Southampton in March
1973. He never lived up to this hype and
was released by Docherty in early 1974.
Spent the next 5 years at Swindon and Peterborough before returning to
Northern Ireland to play for Linfield.
Lou Macari (aged 24, 35 appearances, 5 goals) Began his career at
Celtic where he spent 3 seasons, before moving to Man Utd to make his debut in
January 1973. In all, Macari spent 12
seasons at Old Trafford although he only won one cup winners medal, despite
appearing in 4 finals.
Peter Fletcher (aged 20, 5 appearances) Began his career at United
but only lasted one season before moving to Hull City. Later played for Stockport and Huddersfield.
Brian Kidd (aged 24, 21 appearances, 2 goals) Kidd broke into the
United side in August 1967 when it was at it’s peak. He scored in the European Cup Final win at
the end of his debut season, on his 19th birthday. At the end of this season he left to join
Arsenal as a replacement for Ray Kennedy.
George Buchan (aged 23, 4 appearances) Martin’s younger brother,
joined from Aberdeen in 1973 but only made a few substitute appearances before
joining Bury at the end of this season.
George Best (aged 27, 12 appearances, 2 goals) One of the finest
footballers to ever kick a ball, Best made his debut for United at home to West
Brom in September 1963. Instrumental in
2 League championships and a European Cup success, but by 1973 had become
erratic, inconsistent and ultimately unreliable. January 1974 at Loftus Road was his final
appearance in a United shirt in a competitive match.
So the scene was set for
a testing season ahead. They had a trip
to Highbury to meet last season’s runners-up, Arsenal. In the
corresponding fixture the previous season ex Arsenal favourite, George Graham
had made his debut for United. He was in
the team again this time round and again on the losing side as goals from Alan
Ball, Ray Kennedy and John Radford saw United beaten, 0-3.
Four days later at Old
Trafford, United turned things round as Steve James scored the only goal in a 1-0 win
over Stoke City. The following weekend things continued to
improve as Jim Holton and Sammy McIlroy scored in a 2-1 home win against QPR.
Belfast born, McIlroy, had made his debut in the Manchester derby in
November 1971 under the management of O’Farrell. Scottish born Jim Holton was a player
Docherty had brought in and his form during the previous season had earned him
a first full Scotland cap in the summer.
Any hopes the United fans
had of a better season this time round were soon dashed with 3 straight
defeats. Leicester City (0-1) and Ipswich
Town (1-2)
won on United’s travels and then when they met Leicester in the return fixture at Old Trafford they were beaten
again, 1-2
with United’s goal scored by their keeper, Alex Stepney. Stepney, one of only two remaining player
from their European Cup triumph in 1968, had been chosen by Docherty to be the
team’s penalty taker.
September was a poor
month with just 2 wins in 7 games. QPR was the first and then West Ham were beaten at Old Trafford
with Brian Kidd scoring twice. Kidd, the
other survivor from Wembley 1968 had scored in that famous European Cup
success. Two 0-0 draws at Leeds and at home to Liverpool
finished off the month with United in 14th
October
October began with
another defeat on the road at Wolves
(1-2)
and then a defeat at home to Second Division Middlesbrough in the League Cup.
They were beaten at home 0-1 again at the weekend when Derby County were the visitors.
A week later Birmingham
visited Old Trafford and Alex Stepney became the joint top scorer for the
season when he netted another spot-kick in a 1-0 win. That game gave the Old Trafford crowd their
first view of the season of George Best.
He was in the team the following week too, as the month ended with a 0-0 draw
at Burnley and United were lying in
16th. They had failed to
score in almost 50% of their games and it was clear to everyone that goals were
going to be hard to come by.
November
3rd November
and Chelsea were the visitors. A 2-2 draw saw two United players score their first
goals for the club. Brian Greenhoff had
made his debut at the start of the season and he was now starting to get a
regular place. Tony Young made his debut
as a substitute in September 1970, but it wasn’t until 1972-73 when he was a
more regular starter. This would be his
one and only goal for the club in a 6 season career. The game stood out as United were 0-2 down
with just 2 minutes to go, before Young and Greenhoff grabbed a point .
United then went to White
Hart Lane to face a Tottenham side
who themselves were struggling. George
Best was on the scoresheet for the first time that season, but he couldn’t
inspire his side and they lost 1-2. United
poor away record continued as they travelled to the other end of the country
and were beaten 2-3
at Newcastle. The playing staff was taking on a more
Scottish flavour, possibly to match their manager, and two of the five Scots in
the side that day scored. Lou Macari had
been signed from Celtic the year before, after 57 goals in 100
appearances. His first season saw him
score 5 times, including on his debut, but this was his first goal of the
season. George Graham was the other
scorer and this too was his first of the season.
United dropped into the
bottom 5 as they were held at home by Norwich
City. The East Anglian club were
below United yet managed to gain a valuable point. United’s 18th position was
actually an improvement on this time the previous year, but the locals were
beginning to get restless.
December
December began as
November had ended, with a 0-0 draw at home.
Southampton were the visitors
and may have felt they should’ve won, given they were in 8th place
at that stage, although their season was to take a dramatic downturn as they
were eventually relegated.
Coventry were the visitors for a third consecutive home game and
United still couldn’t register a win.
Willie Morgan and George Best were on target. This would prove to be the last goal George
Best ever scored for United, it was his 179th goal in a glittering
career.
4 games during the
Christmas period saw United win just once, when Ipswich visited Old Trafford on 29th December and Macari
and Sammy McIlroy scored in a 2-0 win.
Before that they were beaten 0-2 at Liverpool
and 1-2
at home to Sheffield United. The Liverpool game saw a rare appearance for
Yorkshire fast bowler, Arnie Sidebottom, father of Ryan.
1st January
didn’t bring much change for the United fans as QPR won 3-0 at Loftus Road. United were now in the relegation zone and
still to win away in 10 attempts, and had fewest away goals in the
Division. Three days later George Best
failed to turn up for training again, Docherty promptly dropped him and he
never played a competitive game for United ever again.
January
A welcome distraction
from the League saw United entertain Third Division Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup Third Round. Lou Macari scored the only goal of the game
to spare the home side’s blushes. Back
in the League they had hopes of registering their first away win when they
travelled to Upton Park to meet a West
Ham side, one of just 2 clubs below them.
Unfortunately, their optimism was misplaced as they lost 1-2 and dropped
a place nearer the bottom. Things didn’t
really improve when Arsenal held them to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford when Steve
James scored.
The month ended with the
visit of Ipswich Town to Old Trafford in the FA Cup. But any dreams of a cup run to distract
attention from their poor league form, faded in a disappointing 0-1 loss.
February
Coventry inflicted the 9th
away defeat in 11 for United as they won 1-0 and then the League leaders, Leeds
United, visited Old Trafford. Leeds were
8pts clear at the top, unbeaten all season.
Second half goals from Mick Jones and Joe Jordan gave Leeds a 2-0 win as
United’s defensive frailties were all too much in evidence, in front of a crowd
of over 60,000.
Manchester United were
now bottom of the First Division. 1pt
from their 5 league games in 1974, and just 1 win in their last 15 games. Brian Greenhoff and Stewart Houston scored
in a 2-2 draw at Derby. It ended a run
of 6 straight away defeats, and lifted them 1 place in the table and off the
bottom. They avoided defeat at home to
Wolves in their next game too, drawing 0-0 but the two teams above them,
Birmingham and West Ham, also picked up points.
March
United began the month
with their first win of the year, when they travelled to Brammall Lane and Lou
Macari got the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win. This was United’s first away win of the
season, but Birmingham and West Ham won again and this was going to be a real
scrap to get out of this one.
Ten days later came the
first Manchester derby of the season. 51,000
at Maine Road witnessed a boring 0-0 draw was livened up when Mike Doyle and
Lou Macari were sent-off. Both players
refused to leave the pitch and so the referee, Clive Thomas, took both teams
off until the two players accepted their dismissals. He did this by requesting the police detained
the two in the dressing room!
United then went to St.
Andrews to play, what was at the time, a massive game against Birmingham their
fellow relegation-threatened battlers. Birmingham’s
Joe Gallagher scored the only goal of the game and United had failed again at
the crucial time. This defeat left them
7pts from safety with only 10 games to go.
A second successive
defeat came a week later when Tottenham won 1-0 at Old Trafford. Ralph Coates scored the goal and there seemed
to be little to stop the rot for United.
Manchester United were now bottom of the First Division. One of the biggest clubs in the world were
now looking up at everyone else.
They went to Stamford
Bridge having only scored 1 goal in their last 5 games. Within 7 minutes Willie Morgan gave them the
lead. Midway through the second half,
Gerry Daly and Sammy McIlroy scored in quick succession and amazingly United
were 3-0 up. It had been 6 months since
they scored 3 goals in a match, and although Bill Garner grabbed a goal back
their 3-1 win gave everyone in the club a boost.
March ended with United
still bottom. They had two games in hand
on Norwich but were still 3pts adrift.
Birmingham and West Ham were in good form, as the Blues had won 5 of
their previous 7 and the Hammers had won 5 of their previous 9.
April
United’s poor home form continued
when they drew 3-3 with Burnley. Just 1
win in 10 at Old Trafford was undermining any hopes they had of survival, and
as this was one of their games in hand, they had missed a valuable opportunity
to make up ground. The following weekend
they had a crucial game against the team immediately above them, Norwich
City. Goals from Brian Greenhoff and Lou
Macari gave them a 2-0 win at Carrow Road.
The win was enough to haul them off the bottom, but they were still 5pts
from safety.
Birmingham and Southampton
both played games on successive days over the Easter period, with Birmingham
picking up just 1pt and Southampton were beaten twice. United finally won a home match as Jim
McCalliog scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Newcastle. This was the first time since their 3rd
game of the season when they had won 2 in a row, and was their first home win
of the year. They were now just 3pts
from safety with a game in hand on Southampton and Birmingham.
Easter Monday saw them
again at home as Everton visited.
Stewart Houston and two goals from Jim McCalliog gave United their third
win in a row as they won 3-0. Was the
great escape really on? They were
unbeaten in 5 and now moved up to 20th as Birmingham didn’t
play. Southampton drew against West Ham
and United were now just 2pts from safety with 4 games to go. Next up was Southampton.
Three of United’s final
four games were away from home, but they had won their 2 previous away matches
and had lost just once in 6 away games.
Mick Channon scored for Southampton and Jim McCalliog was again on the
scoresheet for United as they grabbed a draw.
McCalliog had scored 4 goals in his last 3 games and the irony of his
goal for United against Southampton was that within 2 years he would be in the
Southampton team who beat United to win the FA Cup in 1976.
The result was better for
The Saints than United but with Birmingham picking up a point they were still
in danger. United were still 2pts adrift
and still with a game in hand. Two days
later Southampton were beaten at Burnley and then the next night Birmingham
thrashed QPR, 4-0. On the same night
United were at Goodison Park against an Everton side pushing for a place in
Europe. Mick Lyons scored the only goal
as United lost 0-1. This was a
devastating loss after a run of 6 games unbeaten. Next up, the Manchester derby.
27th April
1974 became one of the bleakest days on the football pitch for United. Manchester United had been in the First
Division for the last 36 years, winning the title 5 times during that
period. It was a game United simply had
to win, but even then it might not be enough.
Almost 57,000 packed Old
Trafford to see former United hero, Dennis Law, turn out for City. A goalless first half just added to the
tension and when they found out that Birmingham, Southampton and West Ham were
all leading it just made things worse.
In the second half there were chances at both ends as McIlroy had a shot
cleared off the line and at the other end, Tueart hit the bar. Tueart went close again, but with barely 5
minutes to go Francis Lee took the ball into the United area and scuffed his
shot. The ball bobbled to Law, just on
the 6-yard box with his back to goal, and he backheeled the ball into the net. An audacious finish which Law refused to celebrate. The once revered ‘King’ of Old Trafford had
just consigned his former team to Second Division football in what was likely
to be his final appearance at Old Trafford.
City eventually won 1-0
and with Southampton and Birmingham both winning, Manchester United had been
relegated. The last time that had
happened was 1937 when they an identical playing record of won 10, drawn 12 and
lost 20.
There was still a game to
go, which was a trip to the Victoria Ground to meet Stoke City. United lost 0-1 and had lost their last 3
matches by that scoreline. They finished
the season in 21st place, with only Norwich City scoring fewer
goals. They had the worst scoring record
at home in the division with only 2 other clubs losing more home matches. When you consider their top scorer had found
the net just 6 times, it is easy to identify their problems.
Manager, Tommy Docherty
did not pay the price for the failure and he was to get them back up the
following season and then lead them to two Wembley finals in the FA Cup winning
one of them against Liverpool in 1977
