OT 100 Moments & The Old Trafford Story - Centenary Special Thread

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OT 100 #40: Robbo signs



Bryan Robson's arrival as United's British record signing was formalised on the Old Trafford pitch on 3 October 1981, ahead of a devastating display against Wolves...

"My hair was almost standing on end as I watched my new team in action. They absolutely murdered Wolves. I was thinking, sitting there watching United's stunning performance, 'How am I going to get into this team?'"
- Bryan Robson

The Background: One of the stars in Ron Atkinson's West Brom team of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Bryan Robson was one of England's hottest properties in 1981. Liverpool and United both went in for the talented young midfielder, but the Merseysiders' reluctance to bid more than £1million left the door ajar for the Reds. Their £1.5million bid secured Robbo's services, and an enduring bond between player and club was born.

The Occasion: Now manager at Old Trafford, Atkinson's love for the razzle-dazzle, showbiz side of the game led to Robson completing the signing of his contract on the OT turf, shortly before kick-off between United and Wolves. Flanked by his new manager and chairman, a somewhat hirsuite Robson penned his deal and headed straight up to the stands. Whether naturally on song or galvanized by the presence of the expensive new-boy, United tore the visitors apart, winning 5-0 through a Sammy McIlroy hat-trick, and further goals from Garry Birtles and Frank Stapleton.

The Aftermath: Robson made his debut four days later, in a League Cup defeat at Tottenham, and went on to enjoy one of the most distinguished careers in United history. 'Captain Marvel' made 461 appearances and scored 99 goals, and continues to command legendary status among United supporters, as well as an ambassadorial role for the club.

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OT 100 #41: Home rule



The 29th home fixture of an epic 1982/83 season saw United take on Luton Town, bidding to protect a season-long unbeaten record...

1982/83: United's OT record
League: P21 W14 D7 L0 F39 A10
FA Cup: P2 W2 D0 L0 F3 A0
League Cup: P5 W5 D0 L0 F14 A2
UEFA Cup: P1 W0 D1 L0 F0 A0

Overall: P29 W21 D8 L0 F56 A12

The Background: Never before had Old Trafford seen an entire season without a United defeat. Across an entire league campaign, plus runs to the finals of the FA Cup and League Cup, and a UEFA Cup draw with Valencia, the Reds had posted 20 wins and eight draws. The final home game of the campaign welcomed struggling Luton Town to M16.

The Occasion: United's record was never in doubt, as the Hatters were blown away without a hint of resistance. Paul McGrath bagged the only brace of his United career with two close-range finishes, while top goalscorer Frank Stapleton bagged goal number 18 of his joint most prolific season.

The Aftermath: Although an impressive league campaign finished with defeats at Tottenham and Notts County, the Reds went back to Wembley for the second time in two months. Liverpool had edged the League Cup Final after extra time in March, but United overcame Brighton after a replay to win the FA Cup Final.

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OT 100 #42: Catalan coup



“The best atmosphere I experienced at Old Trafford,” was Bryan Robson’s description of the soil-shaking din which soundtracked United’s European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final clash with Barcelona on 21 March, 1984...

What The Papers Said

"United made the mountain they had to climb look like a molehill. They got their three goals with time, strength and stamina to spare on a night of drama that has seldom been equalled at Old Trafford."
- Bob Russell, The Daily Mirror

The Background: The Catalans arrived at Old Trafford with a 2-0 first leg lead, after United had passed up plentiful chances in Camp Nou. Bryan Robson, in particular, carried the burden of the defeat, and he promised to atone for his misses by scoring in the second leg. Regardless, few gave United any hope beforehand, especially with the mercurial Diego Maradona in the visitors' ranks.

The Occasion: The Reds set about their visitors like a pack of starving dogs. Remi Moses hounded Maradona into sulking submission, Norman Whiteside and Frank Stapleton snapped away upfront and the back five remained fiercely impervious throughout. But at the heart of everything was Robson. After 22 minutes, he’d delivered his pre-match promise with a diving header. Shortly after half-time, Captain Marvel pounced on a goalkeeping error from Javier Urruti to slide United level. When Frank Stapleton smashed in a close range shot a minute later, the Reds were home and hosed.

The Aftermath: At full-time, hundreds of jubilant fans cascaded onto the pitch, hastening the exit of United’s leaden legged players, most of whom could summon one final burst of energy to dash for dressing room sanctuary. Robson, however, wasn’t so fortunate. Initially surrounded by a couple of supporters, he was soon at the centre of a hundred, carried shoulder-high and unable to do any more than pump a celebratory fist at the adoring Stretford End. “My name was being sung and my back slapped till it hurt,” he said. “But it was one of those nights you dream about and treasure for the rest of your life.” Alas, United's run was halted at the semi-final stage by Juventus, who followed a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford with a 2-1 second leg victory in Turin to progress at the Reds' expense.

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OT 100 #43: Bright Spark



Ron Atkinson's United made a record-breaking start to the 1985/86 league season...

Reds' record-breaking run

17/08/85 - United 4 Aston Villa 0
20/08/85 - Ipswich Town 0 United 1
24/08/85 - Arsenal 1 United 2
26/08/85 - United 2 West Ham United 0
31/08/85 - Nottingham Forest 1 United 3
04/09/85 - United 3 Newcastle United 0
07/09/85 - United 3 Oxford United 0
14/09/85 - Manchester City 0 United 3
21/09/85 - West Brom 1 United 5
28/09/85 - United 1 Southampton 0

The Background: United's long quest to regain the First Division title was seemingly set to end in 1986. The Reds made a blistering start to the league season, winning their first nine in a row, and Southampton arrived at Old Trafford on 28 September, 1985 aiming to end the run.

The Occasion: While Chris Nicholl's side were admirably tough to break down, United created and passed up a string of chances, before Mark Hughes thundered home a close-range finish to give the Reds all three points, a 10th straight victory and the best chance in almost two decades of bringing the title back to Old Trafford.

The Aftermath: A series of injuries to Bryan Robson derailed United's season, and the Reds slipped to 10 defeats in the final 27 league games. That collapse allowed champions Everton and neighbours Liverpool to make for the line side-by-side, and the latter took the title with 10 wins from the final 11 games.

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OT 100 #44: Boss makes his bow



Alex Ferguson ushered in a new era at Old Trafford with his first home game in charge of the Reds on 22 November, 1986, when his United hosted QPR...

The Background: Although the Reds had taken just one point from Ferguson's opening two games, at Oxford and Norwich, the new manager's debut programme notes laid bare his mantra. "Taking over a club of magnitude of Manchester United is an awesome prospect," he wrote. "But ultimately a football club is a football club and I shall simply try to run things at Old Trafford in what I believe to be the right way. I am not really interested in what has happened here in the past. I don't mean any disrespect to the great achievements of Manchester United over the years. It's simply that now there is only one way to go, and that is forward."

The Occasion: Baby steps though they were, the way forward began with a narrow victory over Jim Smith's visitors. The Reds were yet to score in two games under the new manager, but that duck was broken when Danish international John Sivebaek curled home a 20-yard free kick on 33 minutes. While there were nervy moments for a team still coming to terms with the shift change of Ron Atkinson to Ferguson, the Reds held on for a vital victory.

The Aftermath: For Sivebaek, it would be the zenith of his United career. The Dane was sold to St Etienne the following summer, but remains content with his place in United folklore. "The manager was delighted afterwards," he recalls. "It is always nice to be in the history books and to score the first goal for a new manager - one that wins the game - was great." The Dane's solitary Old Trafford season ended in an 11th-placed finish. Some 23 years on, his former manager is still going strong.

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OT 100 #45: MK's cameo



Michael Knighton
The winds of change invariably whisper through Old Trafford during pre-season, but few summers have known as much upheaval as in 1989...

The Background: Michael Knighton was presented to the press as the club’s new owner and chairman the day before the Reds welcomed champions Arsenal to M16. Old Trafford buzzed with expectation before kick-off, and the clamour grew when Knighton took to the field - in full United strip and tracksuit top - and began ball juggling. By the end of his cameo, the property magnate had won the crowd, as well as his battle with an imaginary goalkeeper, as he hoofed the ball into the Stretford End goal.

The Occasion: The unlikely sideshow galvanized both support and players for the main event, and Steve Bruce headed the opener after just two minutes. David Rocastle levelled, but United were rampant. The Sundays Times’ Brian Glanville mused: “Such was the effect of his performance, Knighton may have thought perhaps he should come on to the field again at half-time.” Even without further capering, United retook the lead when Mark Hughes tore past David O’Leary and thundered in a low shot. When Webb lashed home from distance and McClair added a magnificent late fourth via the crossbar, some 47,000 faces beamed as brightly as the August sun.

The Aftermath: The afternoon promised much, but Arsenal’s drubbing proved the zenith of a league season in which United finished 13th. A successful FA Cup campaign hinted at the silver-lined future in store, but Knighton would play little part. His bid for ownership was shelved, and he settled for a place on the board and permanent residence in Old Trafford folklore for his showmanship. “I don't regret it, not one bit,' he said in 2008. “It made everybody happy - for 64 hours or so I was a hero.”

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OT 100 #46: Ryan's debut



Every legend has a beginning, and the unparalleled senior career of Ryan Giggs began with his senior debut on 2 March 1991...

"It should have been a celebration, but it felt more like a wake. It was widely described as one of our worst performances of the season. The Gaffer said we were second to every ball and lacked imagination. He was spot on."
- Ryan Giggs recalls his debut

The Background: United were crippled by injuries and amid a wretched run of form when Everton arrived at Old Trafford. Manager Alex Ferguson padded his squad with a young pup named Ryan Giggs, who had been catching the eye in the club's Youth and Reserve teams. Only recently turned 17, the whispy winger took his place on the bench alongside Russell Beardsmore.

The Occasion: Mike Newell fired the visitors ahead after 33 minutes, and United's plight worsened when Denis Irwin picked up a hamstring injury two minutes later. A reshuffle was required, with Giggs introduced and paired upfront with the diminutive Danny Wallace. Within four minutes, Dave Watson headed home the visitors' second, and the veteran Toffees defender spent the rest of the afternoon terrorising his junior opponent. "All I can really remember is getting kicked by Watson," recalls Giggs. "The ball was played up to me and he came straight through me from behind. That was his way of saying 'Welcome to the big boys' league.'"

The Aftermath: The Reds went on to finish sixth in the First Division, but finished runners-up in the League Cup and won the European Cup Winners' Cup. Giggs made just one more appearance in the 1990/91 campaign, scoring the winner on his first start against Manchester City, and has since gone on to become a legendary club figure with over 800 appearances and 150 goals to show for an epic, and ongoing, United career.

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OT 100 #47: Super Kings



In unusual circumstances, United's first appearance in the UEFA Super Cup took place on home soil, on 19 November, 1991...

UEFA Super Cup Final
Tuesday, 19 November 1991

Manchester United 1 (McClair)
Red Star Belgrade 0

United: Schmeichel; Martin, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin; Kanchelskis, Webb, Ince, Blackmore; McClair, Hughes

The Background: By virtue of United's win over Barcelona in the European Cup Winners' Cup Final, and Red Star Belgrade's penalty shootout victory against Marseille in the European Cup Final, the two sides met in the UEFA Super Cup. As war brewed in Yugoslavia, UEFA decreed the tie would be a one-off final at Old Trafford.

The Occasion: Watched by a paltry crowd of just 22,110, United were led a merry dance for much of the game by an incredibly skilful, fast flowing Red Star side. “Anyone who was at that game must still be wondering how we managed to win it,” Sir Alex Ferguson admits. “I know I am. In the first half, Dejan Savicevic was absolutely sensational and it was a miracle that we came in level at half-time." Brian McClair's deployment as a withdrawn striker in the second half stemmed the tide, and the Scot even popped up to pinch a close-range winner just after the hour. "They battered us, then somehow I managed to get the winner," recalls the striker. "It was a robbery."

The Aftermath: Red Star's much-fabled side had its brightest talents cherry-picked by European giants, while United would have to be patient in continental terms. Although the Premier League title followed within two years, it was 1999 before the Reds ruled Europe. In two subsequent Super Cup Finals, against Lazio (1999) and Zenit St Petersburg (2008), United have lost out by the odd goal each time.

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OT 100 #48: Terraces go



On 2 May 1992, Old Trafford hosted its final game with terracing behind the Stretford End, as it prepared to enter the Premier League era as an all-seater stadium…

The Background: After the tragedy of Hillsborough and the recommendations of the subsequent Taylor report, Old Trafford was required to become all-seater. United decided that, as soon as the 1991/92 season had finished, work would begin to replace the stadium's standing areas. Just six days after the heartbreaking, title-tipping defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, Old Trafford hosted Spurs to round off the season and say farewell to the terraces.

The Occasion: Tough as it was, so soon after seeing the First Division title snatched away by Leeds, those on the Stretford End sought to make the most of the occasion by providing a rousing atmosphere throughout the 90 minutes. On the field, the Reds registered a first win in five games, thanks to a Mark Hughes brace and a 25th goal of the season from top scorer Brian McClair.

The Aftermath: For United, the Premier League era began with home games attracting a gate of just over 30,000 per game as the Stretford End underwent its total facelift. For the final three games of the 1992/93 season, those gates had swelled to just over 40,000. By the start of United's first title defence in 26 years, OT's capacity was at an all-time low of just under 45,000. In the intervening 15 years, the addition of extra tiers to the North Stand, Stretford End, Scoreboard End and quadrant development have taken the current limit to 75,797.

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OT 100 #49: Class of '92



United hadn't won the FA Youth Cup since 1964, but the Class of '92 brought the club's youth system back into prominence...

1991/92 FA Youth Cup
Second Round
Sunderland 2 United 4
(McKee 2, Savage, Gillespie)

Third Round
United 2 Walsall 1
(Thornley, Savage)

Fourth Round
Manchester City 1 United 3
(O'Kane, Thornley 2)

Fifth Round
United 2 Tranmere 0
(Giggs 2)

Semi-Final
First Leg: United 3 Tottenham 0
(Giggs 2, Jordan OG)

Second Leg: Tottenham 1 United 2
(Butt, Thornley)

Final
First Leg: Crystal Palace 1 United 3
(Butt 2, Beckham)

Second Leg: United 3 Crystal Palace 2
(Thornley, Davies, McKee)[/i]

The Background: With the first-team's late-season collapse still painfully fresh in the memory, a crowd of just 14,681 supporters travelled to Old Trafford on 5 May, 1992 to see the club's youth team contest the FA Youth Cup Final, second leg against Crystal Palace. Nicky Butt's brace and a David Beckham goal had given the Reds a 3-1 first leg advantage.

The Occasion: United's coronation was rarely in doubt. Skippered by Ryan Giggs, the Reds led through Ben Thornley and Simon Davies before being twice pegged back by the visitors. Colin McKee headed the second half clincher, however, to seal United's 6-3 aggregate triumph and ensure that Eric Harrison's side won all eight games throughout the competition.

The Aftermath: Of the 11 who started the second leg against Palace, only left-back George Switzer failed to make a first team appearance for the Reds. While Kevin Pilkington, Chris Casper, McKee, Davies and Thornley all eventually left in search of regular senior action at other clubs, Gary Neville, Beckham, Butt and Giggs - along with Phil Neville and Paul Scholes, graduates a year later - went on to make over 3,000 United appearances between them.