While languishing in the second division, United took an important step by hiring their first proper manager, Ernest Magnall, in 1903. A charismatic publicist who knew how to work the media, he created the first successful Manchester United squad. The team set a record by going 18 games undefeated from September 1904 to February 1905. Following a series of signings and winning promotion in 1906, United finished second in the league and reached the FA Cup quarter finals, beating Aston Villa 5-1 along the way. One of these signings was former Manchester City man Billy Meredith, who became the star of the team. He was a legendary winger and possibly the greatest player of the era. Magnall also signed his team mates Herbert Burgess, Alec “Sandy” Turnbull, and Jimmy Bannister after a scandal broke out at Manchester City, forcing them to sell most of their team. They even tried to sign Dally Messenger, an Australian rugby player who was recognised as the greatest footballer in any code in his day. They didn’t, but their other signings paid off, and United won their first league championship in 1908, along with the Charity Shield (the first one ever), largely on the back of the forward line comprising of Meredith Bannister and the Turnbull brothers.

​

In the 1908-09 campaign, United finished top of the table, 9 points of clear of Aston Villa. The clubs participation in the league seemed uncertain before the 1909-10 season. The Players Union was formed in 1909, with the aim of granting players freedom of movement and the same employment rights as other workers. The FA disagreed with this and told all players in the league to relinquish their memberships of the union, which they did – except for Manchester United. They stood up to the FA and were dubbed “Outcasts FC”, going on strike until their demands were met. In retaliation, the FA banned them from the league, but luckily a compromise was reached just before the start of the season.  

 

Cup glory followed the same year with Manchester United defeating Bristol City in the final, Turnbull scoring the only goal of the game and Meredith being named man of the match. United knocked out the likes of Brighton, Everton, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley and Newcastle United to reach the final. That year, United were given a massive boost by being lent £60,000, an immense sum at the time, to finalise their move to Old Trafford. They played their first game there on February 19th, 1910, but Liverpool spoiled the celebrations with a 4-3 win. United won the league again in 1911, pipping Villa on the last day of the season, and also reclaimed the Charity Shield. Magnall left the club to manage Manchester City in 1912 and what followed were some of the clubs darkest days, slipping to 13th, attendances plummeting to 15,000 and three players being banned for life for conspiring in a betting scandal with Liverpool players.

Achievements: English First Division – Champions x2
                            FA Cup – Winners x1
                            FA Charity Shield – Winners x1

Star player: Billy Meredith, DoB 13 July 1874, Chirk, Wales, nickname: The Welsh Wizard

At 12 years old, Billy Meredith began work as a coal miner in the town of Chirk. His eldest brother Elias was a train driver, and Meredith used to hop onto the trains he drove and travel to other cities to see teams such as Everton play, which sparked his interest in football. He eventually played for Northwich Victoria when he was noticed by several Football League clubs. Considered to be one of the earliest football superstars, Meredith was an extremely fit and dedicated footballer, putting in brilliant performances for both Manchester United and Manchester City. His key skills were dribbling, shooting, crossing and passing, and he was instantly recognisable from his habit of chewing a toothpick during games. Against his mothers wishes, he signed for Manchester City but kept working in the pit as well, travelling back and forth for games. In 1894 he scored two goals against Newton Heath, who later became Manchester United, in the first ever Manchester Derby. He captained City to their first major honour, an FA Cup in 1904. In 1906 he was busted bribing an Aston Villa player to lose a match and the club kicked him out. This is when he joined their rivals, Manchester United. He helped set up the Player’s Union around this time, which was awkward when United faced Bristol City in the 1909 FA Cup final who were captained by England skipper Billy Wedlock – a staunch opponent of the union. Meredith eventually became disheartened by Manchester United, and after being dropped from the first team he demanded a transfer. He returned to Manchester City and played his last game aged 49 years, 245 days, both United’s and City’s oldest ever player. He then coached the short-lived Manchester Central FC before running the Stretford Road Hotel, despite being a teetotaller. He died in 1958, two months after the Munich air disaster. Meredith was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2007.