Manchester Derby
The Manchester derby: a rivalry spanning over 140 years between Manchester City and Manchester United.
The Manchester derby refers to football matches between Manchester City and Manchester United, first contested in 1881. City play at the Etihad Stadium in Bradford, east Manchester, while United play at Old Trafford in the borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester; the two grounds are separated by approximately 4 miles (6.4 km). The teams have played 198 matches in all competitions; United winning 81, City 62 and the remaining 55 have been drawn. Amongst the most successful clubs in England, they have won a combined 106 honours: 68 for Manchester United and 38 for Manchester City. They are also the first two English clubs and world's first cross-city rivals to have won a continental treble; United's success came in 1999, while City's occurred 24 years later.
- first_meeting_year
- 1891
Lore & Background
The first meeting between the two teams occurred on 12 November 1881, when St. Mark's (West Gorton) – who would later become Manchester City – hosted Newton Heath LYR – who would later become Manchester United. The game finished 3–0 in favour of Newton Heath. Both clubs grew in stature as the 1880s progressed. The pair became the dominant teams in the Manchester area; the winner of the Manchester Cup was either Newton Heath or Ardwick every year between 1888 and 1893. Both teams joined the Football Alliance. Admission to the Football League finally came in 1892. Newton Heath joined the First Division, and Ardwick the new Second Division. The first Football League meeting between the teams came in the 1894–95 season, Newton Heath beating Manchester City 5–2 at Hyde Road. The first meeting between the clubs to take place at the highest level of English football occurred in December 1906, a 3–0 City win. The first floodlit Manchester derby was played on 26 February 1889 at the Belle Vue Athletic Ground. The first competitive floodlit derby was the 1956 FA Charity Shield match, played at Maine Road.
In Their Own Story
The floodlights hummed over Old Trafford as winter rain slicked the pitch. Thousands of scarves were draped high, a sea of red clashing with pockets of sky blue invading the stands. A whistle pierced the cold air, and the roar began—not just for three points, but for history written in mud and glory.
Reader's Guide
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Did You Know?
- The first floodlit Manchester derby was played on 26 February 1889 at the Belle Vue Athletic Ground, with Wells electric lights placed around the ground.
- In the 1970s, a tackle by United's George Best broke the leg of City's Glyn Pardoe; the severity of the injury almost resulted in the City defender losing his leg.
- Denis Law, a former United player, scored the winning goal for City against United in the 1973–74 season with a back-heel, which was his last appearance in league football.
- Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who played for both United and City, can claim an unbeaten record in derby games – United were unbeaten during his 10 matches keeping goal for them against City, while in his single season at
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