Brand Story Significant Historical Events Manchester United Restaurant & Bar Corporate Philosophy Legend

Brand Story

Manchester United Football Club was first formed in 1878, albeit under a different name-Newton Heath LYR (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway). It became a professional football team in 1885 and adopted its present name-Manchester United in 1902. It came from modest beginnings as a workingmen’s social club. In 1886 the team won its first trophy, Manchester Senior Cup.

In the early years, Newton Heath was severely plagued by financial problems, and by the start of the twentieth century, it seemed they were destined for extinction. Fortunately, The club was saved by a local brewery owner, John Henry Davies, who had decided to invest in the club, in return for some interest in running it. This led to a change of name and “Manchester United” was officially born in April/May 1902.

The pre-war years saw the league championship at Old Trafford twice whilst the FA Cup was won in 1909. However, since the Second World War, Manchester United had been far more successful under two renowned managers.

The first was Sir Matt Busby who arrived in 1945 and assisted the team to winning 5 league championships and 2 FA Cups. However, tragedy befell on Manchester United in 1958 when their young team known as the ‘Busby Babes’ was decimated in an air crash in Munich while returning from a European Cup tie in Belgrade. Busby himself was almost killed in the disaster, and his team, which showed great potential to domination English football for years to come, was no more.

Hit by disaster when the tea plane crashed at Munich Airport in 1958, it had taken Matt Busby, the manager, the years to rebuild a team after losing eight players in the disaster. It was in 1968 that Busby’s European ambition was realised in their defeat of Benfica by 4-1 at Wembley Stadium.

He led a new team including the greats like Bobby Charlton and George Best to become the first ever English team to lift the European Cup, beating Benfica 4-1 in the finals.

Then in 1986, Scot Alex Ferguson Was appointed and through his leadership, he led the team to win the FA Cup in 1990. This heralded a start of good times, which were continued with the European Cup Winners Cup success a year later. But in 1992, Manchester United lost the again, 26 years after their previous title win.

The following season saw Manchester United better by winning the double (beating Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup final). They were the first club to achieve the ‘double double’ in 1996 as Ferguson continued to bring trophies galore back to Old Trafford. The greatest of all was the 98/99 seasons, which saw them achieve the unthinkable-the treble of league, FA Cup and European cup. This earned Ferguson a knighthood and he followed it up with two more back-to-back league titles.

Indeed, a club formed from humble beginnings has risen, through the tragedy of Munich, the glory of 1968 and on to the ultimate achievement of the incomparable Treble, to it current position of the world’s greatest football club. There is no club in the world that stirs emotions like Manchester United. Manchester United Restaurant and Bar, an extension of the Football Club, is illustrated with passion, depth and imagery captured from the club’s rich history and strong sporting character.