facts about Manchester United football club

A collection of facts about Manchester United football club

Welcome to these quick facts about Manchester United. I've been a United fan since I was a little lad; I remember watching matches from the Stretford End aged seven, in the days when it was standing on the terrace and you could buy tickets on the door for 50p. Hard to imagine now.

These are just a few of the facts about Manchester United that have captured my attention along the way.

10 interesting facts about Manchester United

Victories, defeats and some very busy players

1. The oldest player in town
Until recently, Stan Pearson was the oldest player to make a league appearence for United. He played against Crewe Alexandra in April 1959 aged 40 years and 101 days. However, the current United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was born on October 29 1970, and became the new record holder by passing Stan Pearson's record in February 2011.

2. Let there be light
The first ever floodlit match at Old Trafford was against Bolton Wanderers on March 23 1957. Each pylon stood 160 feet high. Bolton won the game 2-0.

3. Double victory
Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and Peter Schmeichel are the only players in the history of English football to have won three sets of Double Winner's Medals, with Manchester United in 1994, 1996 and 1999.

4. A very big upset
In one of the club's biggest upsets, United goalkeeper Gary Bailey saved three penalties against Ipswich Town at Portman Road in 1980. But United still lost the game 6-0.

5. A bad start for Fergie
Sir Alex Ferguson's first game as manager of Manchester United was on November 8th 1986 at Oxford United. Oxford won 2-0!

6. When footballers earned their wages
The record for the most appearences in one season at United is jointly held by Steve Bruce and Denis Irwin. They each totalled 62 appearences in the 1993/94 season.

7. A packed ground
United's highest average league attendance is a massive 75,826, set in 2006/07.

8. A not so packed ground
The lowest average league attendance for United is 11,685, but this can be excused given that the record was set in the 1930/31 season.

9. An unfortunate debut
The first ever game at Old Trafford took place on February 19th 1910 against Liverpool. The visitors won 4-3.

10. Rule Britannia!
The first ever European cup tie at Old Trafford was against Anderlecht on 26 September 1956. United won 10-0.