OPENING OF OLD TRAFFORD
19 February 1910
First Division
United 3 (Homer, S. Turnbull, Wall), Liverpool 4 (Goddard 2,
Stewart 2).
By a remarkable coincidence the first game at Old Trafford
turned out to be the match with Liverpool. It had been planned to open the
stadium a month earlier against Tottenham Hotspur, who were making their debut
season in Division One, but building delays forced it back. Only 7,000 were
present at Bank Street to see United beat Spurs 5-0, around one sixth of the
number that turned out for the Liverpool game.
This saw 45,000 crowd onto the new terraces of a ground that
the United directors had declared would eventually be big enough to hold 100,000
spectators. Perhaps, but it would certainly not be in their lifetime.
Today if either United or Liverpool opened a new ground it
would attract worldwide attention, but not so in 1910. Attention that weekend
was fixed on the third round of the FA Cup and The Manchester Guardian even
managed to list the game as having been played at Anfield.
The previous weekend both teams had experienced mixed
emotions. Liverpool had lost to Merseyside rivals Everton while United had won
a marvellous match at St James’ Park, defeating the
League champions Newcastle 4-3 with Sandy Turnbull scoring the winner and Harry
Moger saving a penalty from Bill McCracken. It was probably the best
performance of the season so far from Ernest Mangnall’s
side.
Liverpool had never managed to win at Bank Street, losing
five and drawing twice.
With the United men in the press declaring their liking for
the new pitch all week then, it was going to be difficult for the away team.
Liverpool were backed, though, by a considerable number of their own followers,
who poured off the trains from Merseyside. After half an hour of the game many
must have wished they had stayed at home. Yes, it was great to see this
fabulous new arena, but United were 2-0 up.
Old Trafford’s first goal was worthy of the occasion, Dick Duckworth’s
free-kick dropping over the Liverpool defence where Sandy Turnbull hurled
himself headlong, just a foot off the ground, to head it past the Liverpool keeper
Sam Hardy. The hundreds of home fans who had brought bells with them and who
were wearing red and white suits were overjoyed. Then Sam Hardy saved Harold
Halse’s powerful shot but was helpless to prevent Tom Homer netting the rebound
but was helpless to prevent Tom Homer netting the rebound.
It was Arthur Goddard who reduced the arrears early in the
second half after a fine, flowing Liverpool move left him in the clear.
However, this looked to be a mere consolation when George Wall, in trademark
fashion, cut in from the left to hit the ball across the goal and into the net
at the far side with his right foot to make it 3-1.
If United thought they were home and dry they were mistaken,
as Liverpool staged a spectacular recovery to snatch a dramatic victory.
Goddard cut the deficit to 3-2 before Jimmy Stewart got his second of the
season against United to make it 3-3. Moments later Stewart scored his third
and Liverpool’s fourth of this particular game as they
triumphed for the first time away to United.
United would have to wait till they beat Sheffield United 1-0
in the next home game for a first victory at their new ground. And to show they
really did like the place, they went on to win the remaining six homes games of
the season. In fact, they were to lose only once at home over the next eighteen
months. Old Trafford, from the very start, had become a fortress.
United: Moger, Stacey, Hayes, Duckworth, Roberts, Blott,
Meredith, Halse, Homer, S.
Turnbull, Wall.
Liverpool: Hardy, Chorlton, Rogers, Robinson, Harrop,
Bradley, Goddard, Stewart,
Parkinson, Orr, McDonald.
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