Brief History of Manchester United 1951-1960

Brief History of Manchester United
Between 1951-1960

1950/51 First Division: 2nd. FA Cup: Sixth Round.

1951/52 First Division: Champions. FA Cup: Third Round.
A third League title is won as United finish four points clear of Tottenham Hotspur. Roger Byrne makes his debut.

1952/53 First Division: 8th. FA Cup: Fifth Round.
United win the Charity Shield with a 4-2 defeat of Newcastle United. By Christmas the 'Busby Babes' arrive with players like Jeff Whitefoot, Jackie Blanchflower, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, David Pegg and Bill Foulkes making their first team debuts. These players are a tribute to the scouting skills of Joe Armstrong who succeeded Louis Rocca after the war. Tommy Taylor signs from Barnsley for Ł29,999; a fee to avoid him being labelled 'a Ł30,000 player.' The FA Youth Cup is won with a 9-3 aggregate victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

1953/54 First Division: 4th. FA Cup: Third Round.
The FA Youth Cup is retained in another final against Wolverhampton Wanderers (5-4 on aggregate).

1954/55 First Division: 5th. FA Cup: Fourth Round.
It's three in a row for the youth team as West Bromwich Albion go down 7-1 on aggregate in the FA Youth Cup Final.

1955/56 First Division: Champions. FA Cup: Third Round.
United's fourth League title is ample comsolation for a shock exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Bristol Rovers. Remarkably the FA Youth Cup is won for a fourth successive year. Chesterfield lose out 4-3 on aggregate in the final.

1956/57 First Division: Champions. FA Cup: Finalists. European Cup: Semi Final.
A 'Derby' Charity Shield ends in a 1-0 win for United. Bobby Charlton makes his debut in October and scores twice. Once again, United are deprived of the 'double'. Aston Villa win the FA Cup Final 2-1 as United play most of the game with just ten men. Ray Wood smashes his cheekbone in the sixth minute and Jackie Blanchflower takes over in goal; no substitutes are permitted. Untied's first adventure into Europe ends at the Semi Final stage with a 5-3 aggregate defeat by eventual winners Real Madrid. En-route United score a record win beating Anderlecht 10-0 at Maine Road. United's youngsters go nap with a fifth comsecutive FA Youth Cup triumph. They defeat West Ham United 8-2 on aggregate.

1957/58 First Division: 9th. FA Cup: Finalists. European Cup: Semi-Final.
The season is overshadowed by the tragedy of Munich which leaves the world stunned and grief stricken. On 6th February 1958 the aircraft carrying United back from Belgrade, where they drew 3-3 to clinch a place in the European Cup Semi Final, crashes on take-off after a refuelling stop at Munich airport. Seven players died in the accident; Roger Byrne (captain), Geuff Bent, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Liam (Billy) Whelan. Walter Crickmer (secretary), Tom Curry (Trainer) and Bert Whalley (coach) also perish. Duncan Edwards dies later in hospital, but Matt Busby recovers after being in a critical condition. Eight jourmalists also lost their lives. Chairman Harold Hardman vows that the club will continue and Jimmy Murphy moves quickly to sign Emie Taylor from Blackpool and Stan Crowther from Aston Villa. They, together with Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg and a mixture of Reserve and Junior players make a patched-up side to complete the season's fixture. United defeat AC Milan 2-1 in the first leg of the European Cup Semi Final, but lose the second leg 4-0. Bolton Wanderers win the FA Cup Final 2-0. At the start of the season United had beaten Aston Villa 4-0 to win the Charity Shield.

1958/59 First Division: 2nd. FA Cup: Third Round.
The team is still being rebuilt with Wilf McGuinness, Warren Bradley and Albert Quixall (a Ł45,000 record buy from Sheffield Wednesday) coming into the side. Bobby Charlton hits 29 goals.

1959/60 First Division: 7th. FA Cup: Fifth Round.
Maurice Setters moves from West Bromwich Albion. Dennis Viollet scores a club record 32 League goals.

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1950/51	First Division: 2nd. FA Cup: Sixth Round.
1951/52	First Division: Champions. FA Cup: Third Round. A third League title is won as United finish four points clear of Tottenham Hotspur. Roger Byrne makes his debut.
1952/53	First Division: 8th. FA Cup: Fifth Round. United win the Charity Shield with a 4-2 defeat of Newcastle United. By Christmas the 'Busby Babes' arrive with players like Jeff Whitefoot, Jackie Blanchflower, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, David Pegg and Bill Foulkes making their first team debuts. These players are a tribute to the scouting skills of Joe Armstrong who succeeded Louis Rocca after the war. Tommy Taylor signs from Barnsley for Ł29,999; a fee to avoid him being labelled 'a Ł30,000 player.' The FA Youth Cup is won with a 9-3 aggregate victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
1953/54	First Division: 4th. FA Cup: Third Round. The FA Youth Cup is retained in another final against Wolverhampton Wanderers (5-4 on aggregate).
1954/55	First Division: 5th. FA Cup: Fourth Round. It's three in a row for the youth team as West Bromwich Albion go down 7-1 on aggregate in the FA Youth Cup Final.
1955/56	First Division: Champions. FA Cup: Third Round. United's fourth League title is ample comsolation for a shock exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Bristol Rovers. Remarkably the FA Youth Cup is won for a fourth successive year. Chesterfield lose out 4-3 on aggregate in the final.
1956/57	First Division: Champions. FA Cup: Finalists. European Cup: Semi Final. A 'Derby' Charity Shield ends in a 1-0 win for United. Bobby Charlton makes his debut in October and scores twice. Once again, United are deprived of the 'double'. Aston Villa win the FA Cup Final 2-1 as United play most of the game with just ten men. Ray Wood smashes his cheekbone in the sixth minute and Jackie Blanchflower takes over in goal; no substitutes are permitted. Untied's first adventure into Europe ends at the Semi Final stage with a 5-3 aggregate defeat by eventual winners Real Madrid. En-route United score a record win beating Anderlecht 10-0 at Maine Road. United's youngsters go nap with a fifth comsecutive FA Youth Cup triumph. They defeat West Ham United 8-2 on aggregate.
1957/58	First Division: 9th. FA Cup: Finalists. European Cup: Semi-Final. The season is overshadowed by the tragedy of Munich which leaves the world stunned and grief stricken. On 6th February 1958 the aircraft carrying United back from Belgrade, where they drew 3-3 to clinch a place in the European Cup Semi Final, crashes on take-off after a refuelling stop at Munich airport. Seven players died in the accident; Roger Byrne (captain), Geuff Bent, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Liam (Billy) Whelan. Walter Crickmer (secretary), Tom Curry (Trainer) and Bert Whalley (coach) also perish. Duncan Edwards dies later in hospital, but Matt Busby recovers after being in a critical condition. Eight jourmalists also lost their lives. Chairman Harold Hardman vows that the club will continue and Jimmy Murphy moves quickly to sign Emie Taylor from Blackpool and Stan Crowther from Aston Villa. They, together with Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg and a mixture of Reserve and Junior players make a patched-up side to complete the season's fixture. United defeat AC Milan 2-1 in the first leg of the European Cup Semi Final, but lose the second leg 4-0. Bolton Wanderers win the FA Cup Final 2-0. At the start of the season United had beaten Aston Villa 4-0 to win the Charity Shield.
1958/59	First Division: 2nd. FA Cup: Third Round. The team is still being rebuilt with Wilf McGuinness, Warren Bradley and Albert Quixall (a Ł45,000 record buy from Sheffield Wednesday) coming into the side. Bobby Charlton hits 29 goals.
1959/60	First Division: 7th. FA Cup: Fifth Round. Maurice Setters moves from West Bromwich Albion. Dennis Viollet scores a club record 32 League goals.