Manchester Derby

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. The first floodlit derby was played on 26 February 1889. 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.

In Their Own Story

In a sunlit bar in Madrid, a fan sipped his coffee while scrolling through highlights of an English match on his phone. He paused at a headline about the Manchester Derby and shook his head with a wry smile. 'That is their war,' he told his friend, gesturing toward the screen. 'Ours is fought on the other side of Spain, where history runs deeper than any city rivalry ever could.'

Did You Know?

• The two grounds are separated by approximately 4 miles (6.4 km).
• The first floodlit Manchester derby was played on 26 February 1889 at the Belle Vue Athletic Ground.
• Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who played for both United and City, can claim an unbeaten record in derby games.