It wasn’t easy, it took time and painstaking research but here it is, I have compiled a gallery of all 19 of United’s title wins!
Whilst I’m sure it was nowhere near as much work as the players did on field, this did take a fair bit of research and time and would not have been possible without the help of a number of brilliant people.
Tim & Paul from UnitedKits.com were kind enough to share pictures from their personal collections with me (they have some brilliant pictures from first team to academy spanning a number of years so be sure to contact them!)
Leslie Millman was another who was kind enough to share some of his rare pictures with me and his collection can be seen on Flickr too so be sure to have a look at that as well as he too has some brilliant pieces from the first team to the academy from Newton Heath to Manchester United.
The rest are from various random sources so if somehow I have used one of your pictures feel free to contact me for credit!
This season has been a roller coaster, from being written off early to Chelsea trying to sneak back in at the end but nevertheless it has been entertaining. Yesterday’s point against Blackburn saw us finally crowned champions and took us past Liverpool in terms of league titles so enjoy as we recount the journey to this day in pictures.
Click on Sir Alex Ferguson to unveil the 19 titles in pictures
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Article courtesyof Chudi of the excellent The Busby Way
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Singapore businessman Peter Lim has officially withdrawn his takeover bid for Liverpool.
Lim returned with a new and improved £320million offer for the Anfield club on the eve of the High Court case which current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett hoped would prevent the proposed sale to New England Sports Ventures.
The High Court ruled in favour of a sale to the owners of the Boston Red Sox but the deal has now been placed on ice following a fresh injunction from Hicks and Gillett which has delayed the process.
Lim, who is reportedly worth £1billion, was hoping his alternative offer would be more attractive to the board.
However, he has now admitted defeat and appears to have cleared the way for NESV to complete their purchase, subject to the latest court hearings.
"It has become clear to me that the board is intent on selling the club to New England Sports Ventures (NESV) to the exclusion of all other parties, regardless of the merits of their bids," Lim said in a statement.
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"In these circumstances, I am not able to proceed with my intention to acquire the club."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
“The first trophy is to finish in the top four,” proclaimed Arsene Wenger in the aftermath of their cup exit at high flyers Sunderland.
As the words vacated his mouth a series of alarm bells, klaxons and distress sirens should have been activated and projected into the sky like some sort of SOS Batman signal. Barring an inspired performance against Milan at the Emirates, Arsenal look destined for another intolerable season. Just 12 months ago they were in the hunt for all four possible trophies and now they’re chasing imaginary silverware. I’m sorry Arsene but fourth place doesn’t even get you on a standard podium.
A few days later Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke touched down in London ahead of a board meeting, which will prompt the announcement of a £55m profit from their half-yearly accounts. Topics up for discussion will include Arsenal’s apparent restrained spending in anticipation of their failure to qualify for the Champions League along with various contract negotiations. One issue that is not expected to be up for debate is the future of the Arsenal boss, with Kroenke likely to once again throw his full support behind the Frenchman.
The news of Wenger’s unyielding backing is likely to be spark contrasting reactions. There are still a resolute number of supporters in favour of Wenger remaining at the club, believing not only that he is the man to lead the revolution but that past achievements should allow him the chance to do so. One the other hand, another trophyless season looks like being the final straw for those who believe North London has never looked bleaker.
The consequences of missing out on the Champions League would have a monumental impact on the club, with the Arsenal Supports Trust estimating it would cost Arsenal about £45 million in prize money alongside match-day and media income. With this is mind perhaps it’s time for Kroenke and Co to turn up the heat and deliver an ultimatum that would see Wenger out of a job at the end of the season should he fail to achieve certain targets.
In a bizarre turn of events it seems as though Arsenal’s regular one-man band Robin Van Persie is on the receiving end of this stern treatment. The Dutchman’s contract negotiations had reached a stalemate, which provoked Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis to wade in and declare he would not be allowed to leave the club “at any price” this summer, even if he refuses to sign a new contract. Is this a refreshing measure to combat ‘player power’? Or is it inexcusable treatment of the club’s standout performer? It begs the question, why hasn’t Wenger received similar treatment?
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It’s often amusing to see clubs issue the dreaded vote of confidence to their faltering manager. It’s a move that is meant to signal solidarity at the club but instead only serves to grease the wheels on an impending departure. Perhaps it would be better to announce a statement of intent, stating that if certain requirements aren’t attained then appropriate action will be taken. There would be no need to specify names heading for the chopping block – that much would be obvious – but at least it would prove to the fans that the owners won’t stand on the sidelines, like everyone else is forced to, and watch the ship go down.
The 7-1 thrashing of a frankly hapless Blackburn side has done little to disguise the fact that Arsenal have been on decline since the year of ‘The Invincibles’. The team no longer looks promising, with only Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Emmanuel Frimpong really providing evidence that they could establish themselves in the first team sooner rather than later. Arsenal fans will no doubt be sick of looking over their shoulder at the teams gathering pace behind them and a defeat in the North London derby this weekend could be the spark needed to implement drastic measures.
There is no questioning Wenger’s achievements in management but considering he has always seen out his contract, perhaps he needs the motivation of working under that increased pressure. It could be argued that his resilience and faith in certain players has mutated into a kind of arrogance, trapping him in his own little world. The chairman and board members should never interfere with matters on the pitch but maybe Arsene needs to be put in his place by a higher authority.
Despite Arsenal’s recognised impressive finances, it has recently come to light they boast the fourth highest wage bill in the league. When you consider the recent departure of high earners Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri it becomes apparent that a number of fringe players are receiving extortionate wages.
The Arsenal Supporters Trust recently commented:
“The wage bill of £130 million is sizeable and in the view of the AST there is clear inefficiency in wage spend evidenced by poor performances on the pitch and the number of players the club have either on loan (ie can’t be sold) or deemed not good enough to play in the first team,”
If Arsene is not willing to accept defeat with his failed transfers and inflict a ruthless clearout then maybe it’s time to bring in someone who will.
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The problem with foreign ownership is that they will always be ‘distant’ from ongoing events at the club and never be regarded as fully understanding the club’s long-standing history and traditions. You only have to look at rivals Tottenham to see a shining example of chairman and manager working in perfect harmony. Perhaps Wenger needs the presence of an unsympathetic figure looking down on him, ready to voice their discontent but alternatively issue a pat on the back when it’s deserved.
Is it time Arsene was pushed towards the edge of the cliff, so his attention isn’t focused on the horizon but just how far Arsenal could fall?
Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where I’m currently trying to wrap my head around Stewart Downing’s inclusion in the England squad.
The Daily Mail has reported that there is a fresh twist in the race to sign Alexis Sanchez as Real Madrid has entered the race. Manchester City was the first club to show an interest – but there has been news over the last few days of Manchester United coming in with a £18m offer. But the fact that the player’s representatives held talks with Real Madrid will a blow to both Manchester clubs.
The lure of playing for Real Madrid may be too tempting for Sanchez – but the situation will delight Udinese, because they can now expect a bidding war for their star player. The Italian club are already resigned to losing their star player – but they are holding out for a fee in the region of £32m.
Sanchez has the ability to play wide as a winger or up front in a striking role. There have been comparisons made with Cristiano Ronaldo due to the player’s exceptional dribbling ability, sublime ball control, quick pace and accurate crossing ability. Sanchez has had a fine season with Udinese in which he has scored 12 goals in his 27 league appearances. Sanchez has already played for his country 36 times. In the past Chelsea, Inter Milan and Liverpool have also shown interest in the player.
Like this rumour? Follow me on Twitter @jimlk2007
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The Israel Football Association have hit back at claims from Chelsea that midfielder Yossi Benayoun suffered a serious Achilles injury while away on international duty.
The 30-year-old has been ruled out for up to six months due to a torn Achilles, with Blues head coach Carlo Ancelotti adamant that his staff had not missed anything when they scanned the initial problem.
The Italian commented:"We are sure that when he left England they didn't have a tear on his tendon. We are sure of this.
"He had a calf problem. The MRI showed this problem, but the tendon was clear.
"He had a problem at the start of the season with inflammation on his tendon, had treatment and came back to play for us and the national team.
"I don't know what happened after he left England. I trust my doctor at this club and we are sure. I can say this – he didn't have a tear on his tendon when he left England."
However, IFA spokesman Gil Lebanony responded by saying:"When Yossi Benayoun came to Israel he didn't practise with us, even for a single second.
"He came with pain in his Achilles tendon and with a diagnosis from Chelsea that it was only a small tear.
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"But our doctor said immediately that it was a very serious problem and sent him for an MRI scan. The MRI doctor diagnosed the big tear immediately.
"We're sorry that he is injured because Yossi is so important for us, as he is for Chelsea, but we're not to blame for the injury."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The 3rd round of the FA Cup in 2012 will be remembered for returning legends. Paul Scholes was back in a Manchester United shirt and Thierry Henry returned for Arsenal. Henry didn’t just make a return, he made a scoring return as he netted the winner for the Gunners against Leeds at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.
It was as if nothing had changed as Henry scored his typical goal, ghosting into the inside left channel and then slotting the ball into the far corner of the net. However, he was wearing the number 12 shirt rather than the number 14, which is now on Theo Walcott’s back. Here are Henry and Walcott having a chat after the game, but what are the Arsenal duo saying to each other?
Leave your suggestions below…
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This week you can win a copy of Arsenal – 125 Years in the Making!
Arsenal Football Club is at the forefront of English football development and success.
Arsenal 125 charts how the Club came to such a status from the humblest of beginnings, celebrating 125 years of the Gunners in the most complete and up-to-date history of the Club yet.
With over 200 pages and 400 photographs, this book offers in-depth analysis alongside visual splendour.
For the FootballFanCast.com Caption Competition Terms and Conditions click here
Check out our Caption Competition Gallery for some inspiration and to see the winners so far.
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Last week’s winner: Hannah Phillips – click here to see all entries
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A couple of years ago I stumbled upon Twitter. At first I wasn’t particularly impressed, it seeming little more than a never-ending list of Facebook-like status updates. But the more I delved in, the more it made sense. It would change everything for those that write about sport, or anything for that matter, both professional and amateur alike.Unlike Facebook, it allowed us to view the rich and famous up close and personal. It has allowed greater discourse too, which can be a good or bad thing depending on the discussion. It also allowed us to see how those that write about football operated, and has given a much greater insight into their style and more interestingly, their debating style! In addition it has allowed me to talk to other fans about games and incidents and players more than ever before, and is the go-to place for breaking news of any type.
The nature of sports writing has changed over the last decade or so, evolving as it always has, but at an even greater pace than before. News is now instant, and for us amateurs, writing has moved away from now-struggling fanzines to utilising the internet, where news and opinions can be published instantly, without any fear of being out of date, with the added advantage of the right to reply. For the professionals, slowly but surely virtually every football journalist has joined Twitter, and on the whole, embraced it. Twitter has made the discourse between fans and those who write about the beautiful game much greater. In the old days you had a faceless name to direct your ire at. Now you can discuss articles, games and anything else that takes your fancy with just about anyone.
It is a great tool, THE greatest in fact, for getting exposure for your writing. If my article is retweeted an average of 25 times, then it becomes viewable in hundreds of thousands of twitter feeds, and can get over 20,000 page views. In the old days that figure would have been close to zero. Like any social networking tool,, it has its downfalls. The Daily Mail is too busy blaming Facebook for all of the world’s evils right now, but it can only be a matter of time before they turn their attention to Twitter. Before you know it, it will give you cancer, lead to a fall in house prices and cause a huge flood of illegal immigrants. Enjoy it while you can.
What it actually leads to right now is an awful lot of arguments. We football fans are sensitive souls, and will jump on anything we see as an attack on our club. Paranoia is how the football writers see it. Many journalists deserve it – I can say without any bias and prejudice that one particular broadsheet writer is nothing more than a Manchester United PR tool, and misses no opportunity to have a dig at Manchester City. Most journalists though are simply doing their job, and are very approachable. But if the internet has taught us one thing, is that any one incident can garner a huge spectrum of opinions, so there will always be someone getting abuse for something they have written. If I can get slated for not putting Suarez in my Premiership Team Of The Year, then more contentious issues are going to result in some serious fall-outs.
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But predictably many fans consider journalists as biased against their club, perhaps having an agenda. This is an overreaction on the whole of course, but it must be hard to write totally impartially when you are a fan yourself, as most journalists must surely be. I once asked a variety of journalists if they could write impartially, and all but one said it was not a problem. One tabloid writer said it was impossible not to have some prejudices. Either way, a lot of writers spend most of their twitter time batting away criticism and abuse from people upset by what they have read. The block option is their most useful tool.
I am no angel in this respect. I have had a real go at quite a few journalists (and Stan Collymore) for the disgraceful reporting and hatchet job done on Nigel De Jong after a legitimate tackle on Ben Arfa that resulted in a broken leg, and also for some of the disgraceful writing on City’s owners over the past 30 months or so. But that is different to abuse, and I hope I didn’t step over any lines – the nature of twitter means that arguments must be concise and to the point – this is one of its greatest merits, but it can lead to being misinterpreted sometimes. From the journalists’ aspect, they are not helped by the fact that the most outrage at articles from fans often revolves around an inflammatory headline rather than the article itself, and this is the work of a sub-editor not bound by strict accuracy laws when devising the header for the piece.
And it doesn’t take much for a journalist to upset someone. Only this week the Daily Mirror writer David McDonnell got a whole lot of flak for mentioning briefly in a mainly positive match report that Manchester City’s Poznan celebration has been “shamelessly stolen” from, obviously, Lech Poznan. Perhaps not the best words to use, as David later admitted on Twitter, but of such irrelevance it does not merit a slanging match. There’s no pleasing some. And journalists get it easy compared to footballers. It was well documented how Darren Gibson left Twitter after only 2 hours because of the abuse he got, and only this week Kevin Davies has gone too, for similar reasons. Twitter is a snapshot of the world as a whole, and thus will never be perfect.
In many respects, Twitter and the internet as whole have caused endless problems to the newspapers. Neil Custis at the Sun is not overly enamoured with Twitter, namely the effect it has on newspaper sales by breaking news immediately online (and linking to the paper story) rather than holding back so that the news is read first the next morning by newspaper purchasers, as it always used to be. This is a rather archaic view of the world, as the world wide web does not allow for any secrets to be kept, and every journalist wants to be first with breaking news. If he or she does not report it immediately, someone else will, and everyone will know the full story by the next morning anyway.
Journalists and their editors have adapted of course to the move to online websites, where the news can be viewed, usually for free. And in my opinion, the move to online content, by being free to all, becomes about getting hits on the website, an unfortunate consequence of this sometimes being an even greater sensationalist style of writing, and an overly critical viewpoint to garner hits – as I found when I wrote an article not entirely complimentary about Soccer Saturday, getting slated and upsetting people seems the easiest way to get hits on your article (not that I wrote about Jeff Stelling and co. for that reason). Of course, the other side of the coin is that because Twitter has increased communication between fans and writers, then this makes journalists more accountable, and perhaps less willing to enrage or appear controversial. I guests it changes from one writer to the next, and also on the who they work for.
Not all journalists have embraced it, seeing it as pointless, and the odd one has come and gone.
One esteemed journalist who shall remain nameless told me:
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“I’ve given up because it was too time-consuming. I got into some quite enjoyable debates, but football’s my job, not a hobby. Be different if there was money in it.”
You’ve got to admire his honesty.
But for me, as a blogger and as a football fan, Twitter has been a great experience. And many journalists have helped that experience. I have had the Daily Mirror and Daniel Taylor at the Guardian retweet articles, have had some great discussions about the trivial through to the serious, from Alex Ferguson media blackouts to dirty tackles, to Arab owners, to Munich chants, through to being called paranoid by Barry Glendenning at the Guardian. Bloggers, podcasters, charity walkers/runners and fans alike have all benefited from exposure from journalists and from the greater openness that Twitter has produced. Long may it continue.
New Aston Villa manager is confident that his side will reap the benefits of striker Emile Heskey having retired from international duty with England.
The 32-year-old frontman has scored twice in five games this season and Houllier has every faith in his former Liverpool charge.
He said:"He decided to stop his international career, so now it means he can repeat games for us.
"The whole England team suffered for what happened in South Africa.
"But, if you remember the game against Germany,and I was at it, if the goal from Lampard had been allowed it would have been 2-2 at half-time.
"Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't, but whatever you say about Emile he is a good man and a good player.
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"I read a few things about what he said when he retired and it's very sensible what he said, that his time has gone now, he's 32-33, there are some young players coming through.
"Emile will be 100 per cent Villa and as the manager I am happy."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Bolton midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has stated that he has no respect for Liverpool’s Craig Bellamy, after the pair clashed in the weekend’s game.
The duo squared up in The Trotters’ 3-1 win over Kenny Dalglish’s men on Saturday, in a continuation of long-standing confrontation between the pair.
Despite Bellamy’s controversial outlook, Reo Coker has stated that he is unfazed and will let his football do the talking.
“I’ve got no respect for Bellamy. He can do whatever he wants to do but I don’t give a damn about him. It’s football,” the central midfielder told Mirror Football.
“I’m from the old school. I’m not a bully or someone who runs out my mouth so to speak. I get on with football, but if someone brings it to me I’ll handle it.
“I’m not concentrating on him, he’s not a big factor in this. It’s all about the team and the team performance, and we were fantastic.
“There was no neutral who watched the game, who could say we didn’t deserve that win,” he concluded.
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Walter Mazzarri knows his Napoli team must win all five of their remaining Serie A matches if they are to overhaul league leaders AC Milan.Napoli suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat at home to Udinese last Sunday, allowing Milan to extend their lead to six points.
The outcome of the title race is now out of Napoli’s hands, with only a major slip-up from Milan able to re-open the contest.
Rather than worry about their Scudetto rivals, Mazzarri insists his players will be focusing on taking the maximum number of points possible from their final fixtures.
“We mustn’t do any calculation,” Mazzarri said.
“I have always said that we need to look forward.”
“I have tried to isolate the team from the pressure. If we play like Napoli, we won’t have any problems otherwise we can always risk something.”
“I am convinced that we can give performances like our best this season, hopefully with a little extra luck. I want the maximum in every game.”
Napoli visit Palermo on Saturday, where a tough contest is to be expected against the eighth-placed team at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.
“We have five finals,” Mazzarri said of the run-in.
“We will give 130 per cent and we need to keep playing this way until the end.”