Got this from Knol..
5 BEST OF TIMES
Wednesday 26 May 1999
The greatest night of all was surely the most dramatic. The 1998-99 season brought great success. On the last day of the Premiership season, United beat Tottenham 2-1 to become champions. The following weekend, they beat Newcastle 2-0 in the FA Cup Final to secure their third double in six years. Just four days later, United met Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League final in Barcelona. It wasn’t a very memorable game – until the end! United went behind early on and could easily have fallen further behind as they pushed for an equaliser. As the game went into stoppage time, the German supporters began to celebrate. Then, in the ninety-first minute, Sherringham equalised. Both teams began to plan for extra time. In the ninety-third minute, Beckham took a corner from the left, Sherringham headed on and Solskjaer scored. Seconds later, it was all over. United were European champions for the first time since 1968 and it was the first ‘treble’ ever.
Wednesday 29 May 1968
Probably the most emotional night in Manchester United history was 29 May 1968. After the destruction of his ‘Busby’s babes
‘ team in Munich in
1958, Matt Busby had built a new side. In the mid-1960s, this side enjoyed considerable success. United competed again in the European Cup. In 1965-66 they reached the semi-finals, in 1967-68 they got to the final. Playing Benfica at Wembley, United scored first only for Benfica to equalise. Then, as extra time approached, United almost lost. Goalkeeper, Alex Stepney, made a great save from Benfica’s Eusebio. In the second minute of extra time, George Best, with some typical individual brilliance, put United in front again. Two further goals followed. United won 4-1 and became the first English team to lift the European Cup. For Munich survivors Matt Busby, Bobby Charlton and Bill Foulkes, it was an emotional end to a journey begun many years before.
Saturday 19 February 1910
It’s uncertain exactly how many supporters shared the Old Trafford party on 19 February 1910. Estimates vary from 45,000 to 80,000! Certainly, a good number was present to celebrate the opening of the new stadium. A piece of land had been bought by the Manchester Brewery Company and leased to Manchester United. A new stadium was built to replace the old ground at Bank Street, Clayton. The project took two years to complete and, on 19 February 1910, the first game was played. The division one game against Liverpool was lost 4-3, but it was still a great day. Open terracing swept around the new ground on three sides and there was a stand on the fourth. The ground boasted many ‘modern’ amenities including tip-up seats and a plunge-bath for the players. On completion, it was one of the best grounds in the country, and its opening was a great day in Manchester United history.
Saturday 1 February 1958
By the mid-1950s, Matt Busby had built an exciting young team, capable of beating anyone. Manchester United were champions in 1955-56 and 1956-57. In 1957-58 they had taken time to reach their best, but by the early weeks of 1958 were playing fast, flowing football. On 1 February they played Arsenal at Highbury before a crowd of 63,000. By half-time they were 3-0 in front and went on to win the match 5-4. Duncan Edwards was immense, Morgans and Scanlon were unstoppable, and a young Bobby Charlton showed outstanding promise. Arsenal played their part in a thrilling game, but the historic day belonged to Manchester United. The victory typified ‘Busby’s babes’. Supporters celebrated – never imagining that this great team would never play in England again.
Saturday 24 April 1948
When football began again after the second world war, United supporters were desperate for better times. It had been a generation since they had last won a trophy. The young Matt Busby was appointed as the new manager. Busby brought in Jimmy Murphy as his assistant and, together, they created a new team. The team contained both youth and experience and, in the first two post-war seasons, finished runners-up in the first division. In 1947-48, United also enjoyed a good cup run. They reached the final at Wembley, where they played Blackpool, Three second-half goals, in the space of 13 minutes, were sufficient to defeat Matthews, Mortensen et al. At last, after thirty-seven years, United had a day to celebrate.
5 WORST OF TIMES
Thursday 6 February 1958
The darkest, by a long, long way, was
Thursday 6 February 1958. Just the day before,
Busby’s young team had won a place in the semi-final of the European Cup. Returning from Belgrade, they had to stop in Munich so that the plane could re-fuel. It was snowing and there was slush on the runway. On the third attempt at take-off, the plane left the runway, hit a nearby house and burst into flames. Twenty-three people died, including eight members of the Manchester United team. The disaster shocked the football world. A team at the height of its powers had been decimated. For Manchester United it was the darkest of dark days.
Tuesday 11 March 1941
It wasn’t until 1910 that Manchester United moved into a home in keeping with its aspirations. The first game at
Old Trafford was against Liverpool and was watched by a huge crowd. Most stood on the open terracing as there was only one stand. Throughout the following decades the stadium was slowly improved. Further stands were built and greater cover afforded. When football ceased in 1939, the team may not have been doing that well, but Old Trafford was in good shape. Then, on the night of 11 March 1941, the ground was bombed. The main stand, the club offices and the team dressing rooms were all destroyed. When the war ended, and league football re-commenced, Old Trafford was still in ruins. It wasn’t until 1949 that the ground was fit to be used again.
Saturday 27 April 1974
The years after the 1968 European Cup win weren’t easy. The team aged. Bobby Charlton retired, Denis Law moved to Manchester City on a free transfer, and George Best self-destructed. The 1973-74 season was a struggle. With two games to go, relegation threatened. It was the Manchester derby at Old Trafford. Towards the end of the game, with United hanging on for a point, Denis Law received the ball from Francis Lee and back-heeled it into the United goal. United lost. With just one game remaining, they could no longer escape. Their neighbours and former captain had put them into the second division. It was a dark day.
Saturday 26 December 1931
The 1930-31 season was a disaster. United lost their first twelve games and never recovered. They ended the season bottom of the league, losing twenty-seven matches and conceding one hundred and fifteen goals. They were relegated from the first division and their manager, Herbert Bamlett resigned. The next season didn’t begin much better. They won only one of their first seven games. The season’s first match at Old Trafford attracted only three and a half thousand spectators. By the end of 1931 they were in severe financial difficulty and faced bankruptcy. On Boxing Day, they played Wolves at Molineux and lost 7-0. Were the lights about to go out for good?
Wednesday 25 January 1995
An away game to Crystal Palace should have been straightforward. United were near the top, Palace near the bottom. At 1-1, Cantona had his shirt pulled and responded by kicking his opponent. It was spotted by the linesman and Cantona was sent-off. Taunted by the home supporters as he left the field, he suddenly launched himself into the crowd with a kung fu-style kick at one of the Palace fans. Manager,
Alex Ferguson, had to wait until he got home to view the incident. He was shocked, along with everyone else in football. United immediately suspended Cantona for the rest of the season; the Football Association extended the ban to eight months. Cantona delighted United supporters in many ways, but he also gave them one of their darkest nights
) and then a engineering meeting in an hour(where i stare aimlessly into mid air). I’m tired I guess. I found this to be the only way to let go. I’m kinda inspired by a “nut” who finds it relieving to write daily posts. I already feel good. Premature?
Add to that a thoroughly undeserved English grade plus an unbelievably boring Physics lecture-you have a normal bad day.(Try thinking about it)
