Wayne Rooney's First Goal for Manchester United (vs Tottenham)

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. The first Football League meeting came in the 1894–95 season, Newton Heath beating Manchester City 5–2 at Hyde Road. The first meeting at the highest level of English football occurred in December 1906, a 3–0 City win. In the 1970s, a tackle by United's George Best broke the leg of City's Glyn Pardoe. The return fixture on the penultimate day of the 1973–74 season saw former United player Denis Law back-heel the ball past goalkeeper Alex Stepney into the net for City; United supporters invaded the pitch and forced an abandonment, but the result stood. In the 1990s, United dominated the fixture, going unbeaten in derbies for the full decade.

In Their Own Story

The summer air hung heavy over Old Trafford as the crowd roared for the new boy. Rooney, barely legal to drink in most parts of the world yet commanding the center circle, watched the ball drop from a set piece. Time seemed to slow as he stepped onto his right foot. The connection was pure violence and elegance combined; the leather sphere rocketed past the Tottenham keeper, burying itself deep into the net before the roar could even begin.

Reader's Guide

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 105 honours: 68 for Manchester United and 37 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.

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.
• 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
• The first competitive floodlit derby was the 1956 FA Charity Shield match, played at Maine Road because Old Trafford had yet to install lights.