Thomas Taw

In its infancy Manchester United had a great team. Promotion, then five trophies in three years. That team created an expectation of success that survived a drought of 40 years until the Busby era. Dick Duckworth was the only one to play throughout the club's Golden Age, from the phoenix-rise from the ashes of Newton Heath to the precipice of the epoch-ending Great War. Dick was not flash. He was a fringe player in United's struggle out of the Second Division. He gained his place just in time. January 1st 1907 saw the emergence of a new Manchester United, spearheaded by Golden Age superstar Billy Meredith, which effectively won the 1907-08 Championship by Christmas. Another Championship arrived soon afterwards, plus the FA Cup for the first time. Dick challenged for prizes every season, except the year they opened Old Trafford. The new stadium symbolised the club's prosperity and caused its decline. It cost too much, especially when the Football Association refused to move the Cup final there. The authorities did not like Manchester United. Dick Duckworth spent his career with one club. He played for no one else, except for his country, and yet he was denied his rightful England cap. This book chronicles Manchester United through The Golden Age of English football before the Great War. Crowds grew dramatically, as did newspaper coverage. Colour, drama, gossip, spectacle. This is a driving story, told here for the first time. Note: This book has not been authorised or endorsed by Manchester United.