RED REIGN

FOOLS AND DREAMERS: Thursday 9th March 2000. The staggering size of Manchester United was confirmed today when the reigning European champions became the world's first billion pound football club. However, more importantly away from the stock exchange, on the pitch United continue to win matches.

After last season's trophy, laden blitz Sir Alex Ferguson's record breaking, treble team already appear certainties to retain their premiership crown. With a Champions league quarter final against Real Madrid rapidly approaching more European glory also looms large. At this moment Ferguson's team are not only riding a crest of a wave but surfing on a perfect storm.

The recently knighted Ferguson finally achieved his long standing ambition in Barcelona last May with the unforgettable victory over Bayern Munich. The albatross around Ferguson's neck was lifted in arguably the three most dramatic minutes in Manchester United history. Now he stands proudly alongside United's other legendary Scottish manager Sir Matt Busby. A worthy heir to Busby's throne.

From small acorns this great club has transformed into something extraordinary. A footballing institution and a world-wide sporting franchise with a licence to print money. Ferguson speaks often about not standing still and already plans are underway to further increase the Old Trafford capacity.

Like Busby before him, Ferguson sees no boundaries, only further glories. Manchester United football club have come a long way from a Newton Heath mud patch next to a railway line. A history rich in triumphs, disasters, heroes and villains. A club that stood on the edge of extinction but refused to die.

Sir Matt Busby's grim determination to realise a dream ignited a rebirth that ten years on saw United first claim the European Cup. But for Busby it is true to say that after the horrific disaster at Munich only 'fools and dreamers' could possibly have imagined today's events. Manchester United now rule the world.
Red Reign.

It has been an amazing journey.
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HOME: The year of 1878 sees the birth of the 'Galveston Giant', Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion. It is also witness to British soldiers embroiled in bloody battle against a ferocious enemy in the mountains of Afghanistan. No change there. A flash of inspiration enables inventor Thomas Edison to begin work on the light bulb. Whilst in the American Wild-West the murderous Lincoln County War begins and introduces to a fascinated American audience a certain William H Bonney. Better known as 'Billy the kid'.

Meanwhile faraway in mid-Victorian Manchester, England, in a place called Newton Heath, the age of the Industrial Revolution is at hand. Tall, grimy chimneys poke their miserable noses into permanently murky skies. This is the terminus for the Manchester to Leeds railway and against a deafening backdrop of thunderous, rattling freight trains, a group of young men whose faces are still blackened by working in a depot yard are busy kicking a ball about.

These lads are employees of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway company and have recently been granted permission to form a works team by the grand gentlemen of the Dining Room Committee and wagon Works. Such is the enthusiasm for this new venture the railwaymen happily agree to pay a subscription for the right to play but still they require a pitch

Luckily, in a rare show of generosity the Dining Committee are also providing them with a plot of company wasteland and goalposts in nearby North Road for matches. Set alongside a railway line the surface is a pitiable sight, resembling a stone strewn, clay-scarred pit.

A jagged, rock hard death-trap in summer and mud spattered swamp during winter. Adding further insult is the constant irritance of thick swirling mists of steam that engulfs all every time a train passes. But it is a 'home' and here amidst such splendour Newton Heath LYR Football club are born.
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SO IT BEGINS: Match day preparations starts half a mile away at the Three Crowns pub on Oldham Road. Courtesy of a good hearted landlord they are allowed to change, then a ten minute dash to North Road for kick off. Playing in vivid colours of green and gold shirts LYR challenge fellow inter departmentals and excel against all.

Railyard teams further along the line from Middleton, Earlestown and Oldham come to North Road and are handed a beating. However there is one side that due to local pride and Newton Heath bragging rights never lies down. Contests versus the neighbouring Company's Motive Power Division or 'Newton Heath Loco' are never for the faint hearted.

Loco play home matches a stone's throw away from North Bank at Ceylon Street. With their team made up from engine drivers and maintenance men weekday quarrels and fall outs are settled on a Saturday afternoon as the two local rivals fly at each other with a passion. But Loco apart there is a serious lack of opponents good enough within the company to give Newton Heath L&YR a decent game.
'So it begins'

With crowds rising weekly and a growing reputation for tough but good attacking play reaching beyond their own works set up, it is time to spread wings. Invitations are sent further afield for others to try their hand against the mighty 'Heathens! Or as they are also becoming known. The 'Coachbuilders'.

Letters are posted to such potentially exalted opponents as Manchester Arcadians, Hurst Brook Rovers, Dalton Hall and Blackburn Olympic 2 amongst others. At the Three Crowns pub amidst the beery laughter, chit-chat and pipe smoke they await with anticipation whether their challenges will be accepted.
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To be continued...........................