Billy Meredith: The first to cross the divide

Manchester United and Manchester City are two of the oldest football clubs in the world. United being founded in 1878 as Newton Heath and City being founded in 1880 as St. Marks. The teams first met on the 12th November 1881 and was won 3-0 by Newton Heath. During these times, both clubs were just trying to make a name for themselves, there was no true rivalry between the two teams. in 1888 this changed, between 1888-1893, every winner of the Manchester Cup was Newton Heath or Ardwick City (Manchester City). This is what started the rivalry we know of today.

In 1904 City were high flying in the league and had just won their first-ever major honour, beating Bolton in the final of the FA Cup 1-0. On the other side of Manchester, Manchester United was slumming it in the second division after failing to get promoted once again. By now Manchester United had now changed their name after they were bought by John Henry Davies who had bought the club after they were in a huge debt. But then in 1905, disaster struck for City. In 1905 they were found guilty of match-fixing. City needed a win to secure the league title and Billy Meredith and other, offered £10 to the Aston Villa pages is they fixed the match. There was no actual evidence that the City players offered the bribe. The City players were banned for playing football for 18 months. After this City refused to pay him and Meredith retaliated by showing the football association that City was paying their players over £4 a week (the maximum allowed then) the City boss was fired, City was in financial ruin and had to auction the majority of their players. This is where the tables turned. Ernest Magnell the United boss, purchased: Billy Meredith, Sandy Turnball, Jimmy Bannister and Hurbert Burgess. All players, notably Meredith and Turnball would become Manchester United legends.

The next year, United were promoted from the second division. Although none of the new players could play for United, they were a great influence on the team. The year after, City and United played each other in the top league in England for the first time. City won the game 3-0 with gate receipts exceeding £1000. This today is over £120,000. This showed how big the teams were becoming. United would finish 8th in the league, 12 points ahead of City who flirted with relegation in 17th place. The next year, United stormed the league in one of the most destructive campaigns we have ever seen. They finished 9 points clear of second and third-place Aston Villa and Manchester City and would have finished a gargantuan 15 points clear had a win meant 3 points. Sandy Turnball finished top scorer for United and second highest in the league.

From this point onwards, City would falter and slowly weaken as a team. They were relegated the next season as United won their first-ever FA Cup.

What Happened to the players?

Billy Meredith - Played for 15 years at United playing 335 times and scoring 36 goals for the club. He would win 2 league title, an FA Cup and a Community shield. In 1921, he returned back to City on a free transfer. While at City he won his first and only British Home Championship with Wales, the biggest international competition at the time bar the Olympics. He played for City for 3 more years before retiring

Sandy Turnball - Sandy Turnball would play for United from 1906-15. During this time he played 245 times and scored 100 goals for the reds. He was the second player to score 100 goals for United after Joe Cassidy did in the 19th century. He clearly had not learnt his lesson and in 1915, was banned for life as he once again partook in another match-fixing scandal. This time it was against Liverpool. United won the game 2-0 and escaped relegation. However, the Liverpool players had let the United team win. Fred Pagnam was the only player to not be found guilty and testified in court. Billy Meredith was also not found guilty after it was clear he had no involvement. Turnball died on May 3rd 1917 after he was killed in the Battle of Arras. He and the rest of the match-fixers had their no football ban overturned in 1919 after their service to the country during the first World War. Jimmy Banister - Jimmy Bannister stayed with United for only a mere 3 years during his career; from 1906-1909. He won the league with United before transferring to Preston North End.

Herbert Burgess - Herbert Burgess would stay at United from 1906-10. After this, he would move on to MTK Budapest. After his playing career, he would move on to management. He would manage the like of Milan and Roma but fail to win anything with either of the clubs.

Manchester United would go to become one of, if not the biggest club in England. They have had 3 huge glory periods (The Busby Babes, First European Cup win and the SAF era). They are the only English side to have completed a continental treble and have accumulated 66 honours, 45 of them being major ones. Man City on the overhand had to wait 30 more years till they won their next major honour. They were a big side but nothing special until 2008 when Abu Dhabi United group. Since then they have been a force in England, producing some of the greatest sides England and the world has seen. Despite the immense wealth, City still have 0 Champions League titles. Manchester City have won a total of 26 honours, 20 of them being major.