Read Online Little Book of Manchester United by Ian Welch - Free Book Online
Authors: Ian Welch
Tags: Sports & Recreation, Football
Ads: Link
player was a big United fan and George Best, a fellow Belfast lad, was his hero. McIlroy made a dramatic first-team debut for United three months after signing as a professional. The match was against Manchester City at Maine Road and he scored his first goal as a professional in front of a crowd of 63,000, having a hand in the other two in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
He was the third youngest player to be given an international cap, playing for Northern Ireland against Spain at the age of 17. After being seriously injured in a car crash in January 1973, he missed many games of the following season, but quickly established himself as a first team regular during 1973-74. Unfortunately, the team was relegated during that season but McIlroy bounced back with the side that won the Second Division Championship at the first attempt. By this time, he was also playing regularly for Northern Ireland, giving a resourceful performance as a midfielder while notching up an impressive goalscoring record.
*Busby’s final signing, McIlroy in action for United, September 1978.
He appeared in three FA Cup Finals for United and later collected a winner’s medal when United defeated Liverpool at Wembley in 1977. In October 1981, he was dropped from the first team to make way for newly-signed Bryan Robson but he responded by scoring a hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers. McIlroy made more than 400 appearances for United before being sold to Stoke City in 1982. He moved back to Manchester to join City three years later after a very short spell at Bury.
McIlroy clocked up 88 caps for Northern Ireland before he retired from playing. He subsequently managed several English football teams and the national team, gaining most success with Macclesfield Town. He is currently the manager of Football League Two side Morecambe.
Megastore
In the East Stand at old Trafford lies the Megastore. Spread over a monumental 18,000 square feet, the Megastore boasts that it is the biggest shop devoted to football to be found. There are some incredible interactive features including TV screens showing the team in action to a huge screen where promotional clips from any of the videos on sale can be watched.
*The Manchester United Football Club Megastore.
On each pillar throughout the store famous players who wore the number seven are represented by a huge picture, including Bryan Robson, Steve Coppell and Eric Cantona – obviously, there are more recent holders such as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Megastore is open every day, but hours are limited on matchdays. The Megastore sells virtually anything you can think of from mugs, scarves, away shirts, Nike training and leisurewear to women’s clothes and replica shirts.
Meredith
A giant of the game during the late 1890s and early 1900s, Billy Meredith joined United in 1906. As a slightly framed man, the Welshman, born 30 July 1874 and nicknamed ‘Old Skinny’, did not give the appearance of a footballer. However, his skills and his ability on the pitch gave him celebrity status long before being a celebrity was common.
He was renowned for playing with a toothpick sticking out of his mouth which he said helped him to concentrate – in fact, a newspaper cutting from 1909 claimed he was unable to play without it. Before joining United, Meredith was suspended in 1905 during his time at Manchester City for allegedly bribing an Aston Villa player. Meredith denied the charge but other financial irregularities were then found at Hyde Road and the FA dismissed several directors and banned several players for 12 months.
*Billy Meredith in action during the first ever FA Charity Shield match against Queens Park Rangers in 1908.
Although his ban was quashed in December 1906, Meredith had already been transferred to United and he played an instrumental part in turning them into one of the top clubs of the time. United won the League Championship in 1908 and 1911. In 1907, the Players’ Union was
He was the third youngest player to be given an international cap, playing for Northern Ireland against Spain at the age of 17. After being seriously injured in a car crash in January 1973, he missed many games of the following season, but quickly established himself as a first team regular during 1973-74. Unfortunately, the team was relegated during that season but McIlroy bounced back with the side that won the Second Division Championship at the first attempt. By this time, he was also playing regularly for Northern Ireland, giving a resourceful performance as a midfielder while notching up an impressive goalscoring record.
*Busby’s final signing, McIlroy in action for United, September 1978.
He appeared in three FA Cup Finals for United and later collected a winner’s medal when United defeated Liverpool at Wembley in 1977. In October 1981, he was dropped from the first team to make way for newly-signed Bryan Robson but he responded by scoring a hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers. McIlroy made more than 400 appearances for United before being sold to Stoke City in 1982. He moved back to Manchester to join City three years later after a very short spell at Bury.
McIlroy clocked up 88 caps for Northern Ireland before he retired from playing. He subsequently managed several English football teams and the national team, gaining most success with Macclesfield Town. He is currently the manager of Football League Two side Morecambe.
Megastore
In the East Stand at old Trafford lies the Megastore. Spread over a monumental 18,000 square feet, the Megastore boasts that it is the biggest shop devoted to football to be found. There are some incredible interactive features including TV screens showing the team in action to a huge screen where promotional clips from any of the videos on sale can be watched.
*The Manchester United Football Club Megastore.
On each pillar throughout the store famous players who wore the number seven are represented by a huge picture, including Bryan Robson, Steve Coppell and Eric Cantona – obviously, there are more recent holders such as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Megastore is open every day, but hours are limited on matchdays. The Megastore sells virtually anything you can think of from mugs, scarves, away shirts, Nike training and leisurewear to women’s clothes and replica shirts.
Meredith
A giant of the game during the late 1890s and early 1900s, Billy Meredith joined United in 1906. As a slightly framed man, the Welshman, born 30 July 1874 and nicknamed ‘Old Skinny’, did not give the appearance of a footballer. However, his skills and his ability on the pitch gave him celebrity status long before being a celebrity was common.
He was renowned for playing with a toothpick sticking out of his mouth which he said helped him to concentrate – in fact, a newspaper cutting from 1909 claimed he was unable to play without it. Before joining United, Meredith was suspended in 1905 during his time at Manchester City for allegedly bribing an Aston Villa player. Meredith denied the charge but other financial irregularities were then found at Hyde Road and the FA dismissed several directors and banned several players for 12 months.
*Billy Meredith in action during the first ever FA Charity Shield match against Queens Park Rangers in 1908.
Although his ban was quashed in December 1906, Meredith had already been transferred to United and he played an instrumental part in turning them into one of the top clubs of the time. United won the League Championship in 1908 and 1911. In 1907, the Players’ Union was
Similar Books
