Old Trafford celebrates its centenary today. However, little of the dewy eyed nostalgia is focusing on the first game held at the stadium. Liverpool were the visitors and given that the Reds wrecked the house warming there seems every reason to suspect antipathy between the sides has some history.
Below is a match report from the game - not one gathered first hand via attendance.
19 February 1910 Division One
Manchester United 3 Liverpool 4
Turnbull Goddard (2)
Homer Stewart (2)
Wall
Manchester United and before their name change Newton Heath had never enjoyed the finest of venues. Their first home North Road and subsequent dwelling Bank Street located just a few hundred yards away had both suffered from terrible surfaces which no amount of tending could ever fix. They had been almost marsh like at times and at the latter venue there was also fumes from neighbouring factories to contend with.
In 1902 the club was facing bankruptcy. Their ground closed by bailiffs they were struggling to continue only getting through week to week through various fund raisers.
One of the many ideas was to charge fans to see 'Micheal The Bank Street Canary' sing but the bird in question could not sing. It and was in fact a goose which wasn't seen again following one Christmas during the 1890s.
Rescue came via another animal and a local brewing magnate John Davies who actually wanted to buy the club captain’s prized St Bernard dog for his daughter after it escaped from an event designed to boost club coffers but was instead induced to pump money into the club and ultimately purchase it which cleared their debts.
The club went through many changes - not just its name but also its playing colours which changed from yellow and green halves to red with white shorts.
There was a bigger modification to the club as Davies resolved to build a new stadium on a plot of land specifically bought for the purpose in the Trafford area outside Manchester.
It took time to acquire the land and to sort out proposals for the arena which aimed to accommodate 100,000 fans. The plans were revised when it became clear that the finances would not be in place. Renowned architect Archibald Leith was able to revise the plans with 60,000 spaces now accommodated for fans. Work ended at the end of 1909 though it took a few more months before it was considered ready.
Liverpool were to be the first guests at Old Trafford as the ground became known. Somewhere between 45,000 and 50,000 fans were said to have been recorded as present through the gates arriving in all manner of contraptions as well as foot.
Trams the more traditional method of transportation to football matches were unable to cope with the numbers and ground to a halt. 5,000 fans were said to have gained entry without paying due to the sheer numbers who forced themselves through turnstiles. Some also sneaked through unfinished features such as window fanlights and massed on the terraces.
The Sporting Chronicle described the venue as: "the most handsomest, the most spacious and the most remarkable arena I have ever seen. As a football ground it is unrivalled in the world, it is an honour to Manchester and the home of a team who can do wonders when they are so disposed." Most of the ground was uncovered so open to the elements with an admission price of six old pence.
The same journalist who waxed so lyrical about his surroundings possibly was most likely equally taken by the home side’s start as within 15 minutes the home side were 2-0 ahead. They also won the toss. Sandy Turnbull and Tom Homer securing an advantage which was held to the break. Turnbull found the net with a header after Dick Duckworth dropped a free-kick just 10 yards from goal.
Homer turned in a shot after Sam Hardy could only parry a Harold Halse shot. Everything seemed in place for the stadium to be inaugurated in just the right way for the home contingent as Liverpool could only muster sporadic attacks.
Little may have been achieved but the visitors kept their white shirts flowing towards the United goal in their honest efforts to get back into the game. They were frustrated by offside decisions after burst down each flanks were spoiled by players in the centre simply not holding their runs.
Charlie Roberts held the prolific Jack Parkinson in check for a long time but seemed to let his concentration lapse. Sam Blott suddenly found his hands were full and when a handful of forwards and half-backs combined in midfield Arthur Goddard pulled one back. It stayed 2-1 until the break.
Just after the players resumed their conflict but United held on to the slender lead which they actually increased with 20 minutes remaining during another good spell. George Wall managing to beat Hardy after he cut in from the left then shot low and hard in to the corner of goal.
Goddard restored some more pride soon after as Liverpool began to quickly reassert themselves. They were regularly outwitting as well as outpacing the United defence but there still seemed little prospect of the visitors so much as gaining a point as most expected United to get an instruction to see the game out.
James Ernest Mangnall who gained the job after his effective predecessors Harry Stafford and James West were found guilty of making illegal payments to players soon after joining the club’s takeover may well have given that direction but James Stewart levelled then with the home side shell shocked grabbed a winner.
Manchester United: Moger, Stacey, Hayes, Duckworth, Roberts, Blott, Meredith, Halse, Turnbull, Wall
Liverpool: Hardy, Chorlton, Rogers, Robinson, Harrop, Bradley, Goddard, Stewart, Parkinson, Orr, McDonald
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