Glory, Glory Man Utd. Harry Harris
autumn of 1907 United were top of the league with 14 victories in their first 16 matches. Losses to Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday prevented them from a perfect run up to the end of November. Since that point United never relinquished top spot and their maiden League Championship had been achieved.
Although Liverpool beat United 7 – 4 on 25 March 1908, Manchester United went on to win the title by nine points. Top scorers were Sandy Turnbull (25), George Wall (19), Jimmy Turnbull (10) and Meredith (10).
Mangnall had created an impressive team that was solid in defence and exciting in attack. The former Southampton player, Harry Moger, was a reliable goalkeeper who played in 38 league games that season. Dick Holden (26) or George Stacey (18) competed for the right back position whereas Herbert Burgess (27) was the left back. It has been argued that the halfback line of Duckworth (35), Roberts (32) and Bell (35) was the heart – beat of the side. Meredith (37) and George Wall (36) were probably the best wingers playing in the Football League at the time and provided plenty of service for the inside trio of Sandy Turnbull (30), Jimmy Turnbull (26) and Jimmy Bannister (36).
The championship winning team included four players purchased from Manchester City at the Queenʼs Hotel auction in October 1906. Sandy Turnbull finished the season with 25 league goals in just 30 matches as United finished on 52 points. They had secured 23 victories, six draws and nine losses, finishing nine points ahead of second and third placed Aston Villa and Manchester City respectively.
Unitedʼs website describes Meredith as the clubʼs “first footballing legend”. In a glowing tribute to the player, it adds: “They donʼt make them like this anymore – but they didnʼt make many like this then, either.”
Meredith was a spindly Welshman, wizard of the dribble, champion of playersʼ rights and the gameʼs first household name, who ruled the left flank in Unitedʼs first title triumphs of 1908 and 1911, and the inaugural FA Charity Shield in 1908, as well as the 1909 FA Cup. Meredith was allowed to take the FA Cup to Chirk after Unitedʼs victory. United beat Bristol City 1 – 0 in the final at Crystal Palace, with the winning goal scored by Sandy Turnbull.
In a fascinating article by Brendon Williams, from the BBC Wales News website, Nigel Roberts, author of The History of Chirk FC 1876 – 2002, states that Meredith remains a legend in his hometown, where two commemorative plaques bear his name. He said: “The people of Chirk are to this day extremely proud that the one – time mining village played such an important role in the life of legendary Billy Meredith. His memory, even after a century, lives on in Chirk and even the younger generation are aware of the history of both Chirk FC and Billy Meredith. During the research for my book, the Billy Meredith era was probably the most interesting period as football moved from amateur status into professionalism and of course all the controversies that came with it.”
Meredithʼs talents, and popularity among both sets of Manchester fans, saw him living the life of a ʼʼhero to the Edwardian working class,” according to the National Football Museum. The museumʼs website says Meredith was, “celebrated and often caricatured in popular cartoons, Meredith gained popularity akin to that enjoyed by music hall stars. Like them, he revelled in entertaining the public and often chatted to spectators when play shifted away from his wing.”
Mark Wylie, curator of Manchester Unitedʼs museum, said Meredith was a man who “knew his own worth”. Meredith believed his worth to be more than the £4-a-week wage ceiling for professional footballers in the early 20th Century. According to Mr Wylie, Meredithʼs match – fixing allegations led to Manchester City being punished for paying their players too much. As a result, key players had to be sold, and Meredith was among those who signed for United.
It was the start of a campaign by Meredith to gain better terms for footballers, and he was instrumental in re – founding the playersʼ union. Such was his passion for the cause, he even went on strike during his playing days at United. Mr Wylie said: “It caused a huge furore. The Football League were saying they shouldnʼt wear Playersʼ Union badges. Eventually the League came to recognise that a union should exist. Today, that union is the Professional Footballersʼ Association. He was an inspiration to other players to join the union, when they saw one of the best players of the day was a member.”
Kenneth Allanson, a relative by marriage, agrees Meredith was a man who knew his worth, “He was a very direct man, very opinionated. He knew he was the best and heʼd say so. I remember asking him his thoughts on Stanley Matthews in his prime. He said: ʼOh, Matthews, heʼs no good – how many goals did he score? Do you know how many I scoredʼ?”
Recalling his only meeting with Meredith, Mr Allanson said: “Billy Meredith was my father-in-lawʼs uncle. I do recall my father – in – law saying he used to train with Billy Meredith as a youth, and it was his job to put a handkerchief in the box so Billy could practice his corner kicks. He would get it there every time. It would have been some time in the 1950s when I met him. I was 20 – something and I suppose Billy Meredith must have been about 80.” Mr Allanson said Meredith was a “likeable chap” adding, “I remember him saying that if people think itʼs a dirty game now, they should have seen it in his day.”
In celebration of their first League title, John Davies paid for the team to go on a tour of Hungary. After beating Ferencvaros 7 – 0 United were attacked by local fans, with the police having to get involved. Mangnall vowed that United would never return back there – and they didnʼt until September 1993 when a European tie saw them travel to face Kispest Honved.
As champions, United played in the first – ever Charity Shield in 1908. They duly won the trophy, beating Southern League champions QPR 4 – 0 thanks to a hat – trick from Sandyʼs namesake, Jimmy Turnbull.
According to the National Football Museum, Meredith fell out with management at Old Trafford by 1921, “leading to his transfer to Manchester City, whose supporters revelled in the return of their former idol. Now in his 40s, Meredith was still an automatic choice for Wales, as he had been for two decades. In total, Meredith won a record 48 caps for his country, culminating in a famous victory over England in his last match in the red of Wales”.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.