Our football club as it was first known, Newton Heath, was having great financial difficulties in 1901 and needed to raise £1000 to avoid bankruptcy. The club held a four day fair to raise money at St. James’ Hall on Oxford Road. By the third day, despite a donation from City, United were struggling and it looked as though we were going to go under.
Harry Stafford, who was our captain at the time (and who was the first captain of Manchester United Football Club), brought his St. Bernard dog, Major, in a bid to raise more money. He attached a collection box to him and let him walk around.
On the fourth day, Major escaped, and found his way to the home of John Henry Davies, a wealthy man who owned Manchester Breweries. Davies got in touch with Stafford, initially with the hope of buying the dog for his daughter, and the two got talking about the financial difficulties of the club.
By 1902 Newton Heath was £2,670 in debt and faced a winding-up order. At a shareholders’ meeting in the New Islington Hall, Harry Stafford announced that he and four local businessmen, including John Henry Davies, were willing to takeover the club’s debts.
Davies outlined his plans for the club. He wanted a team of “Manchester men to make Manchester proud”.
Davies changed the club’s name to Manchester United FC and replaced the green and gold kits with the red, black and white.
Four years after becoming the chairman, Davies saw the club earn promotion to the top flight. Two years after that we won our first league title.
Despite being the best side in the country, we played at one of the worst grounds, so Davies loaned the club £60,000 to start work on our new stadium, Old Trafford, which would have a capacity of 80,000.
In Davies’ 25 years as chairman we won two league titles, one FA Cup and two Charity Shields. Without him, the club would have likely gone under, we wouldn’t play in red, and we wouldn’t play at Old Trafford. Several people have had a massive effect on our club, but there is no denying that Davies, who was not a football man by nature, is up there with the best of them.
In light of our new debt, reminiscent of our situation that we were saved from over 100 years ago, I have spoken to the great granddaughter of Davies, Joanne Jones.
“John Davies was father of my granddad John Gervais Davies who was born in 1899,” she told me. “He married my grandmother, Vera Grover, and she is the one who kept photo albums of the family, when my grandfather was a baby and surrounded by nannies, and lived in Sale.”
Having being told the stories of their family history, they decided to look further in to their United connections.
“After we had researched our family history, we were amazed at the connections and my mother, Cynthia Thomas wrote to Manchester United telling them about it,” she continued. “About 13 years ago, we were invited as guests of Martin Edwards, and my mother, son and myself spent a wonderful day enjoying the hospitality of the club. We were fortunate enough to meet Sir Bobby Charlton and his wife and some of the players. In the tunnel of Old Trafford is the plaque which my mother unveiled on behalf of our family. It was an historic moment for us all.”
After having a family history which impacted so heavily on the club, it is no surprise that United has stayed within the family.
“I feel after these connections that United is in the family blood, and yes, myself, along with my son Toby are avid supporters of United. My son has taken up the invitation on several occasions to watch some of the matches as a guest of the club.”
With the fans reaching breaking point in light of the debt brought to the club by the Glazers, the green and gold movement has taken our support by storm. Reverting to the colours of our history in Newton Heath we are sending a message that has been reported all over the world.
“I think it is great to be wearing the Newton Heath colours,” she continued. “We have a fine heritage and the green and gold protest is a strong signal of support for this. Looking
back to the days of Newton Heath, I feel there is an important connection that we must not lose.”
Now all we need is another John Davies!
——–
Read a great article in The Telegraph about United, from Davies to the Glazers.
Read the Old Trafford story on the official site.
Man Utd News 24/7
any chance that girl has a billion and a half to hand
shame on me. i wasnt aware about this piece of history of manchester united. thanks for the post scott. amazing read. great club always have a tough beginning. hope we can be reborn again!
LMAO Down to 4 peoples, wouldn’t that be wonderful.
And I deff agree Scott, we need another Davies. The only critical analysis I have of the Red Knights is a question which I believe hasn’t been answered.
If the Red Knights were to buy the club, who will be the main Individual in charge. There is supposed to be 60 Knights, out of the 60 who will be the main individual & were would the leadership come from?
Funny, even back then there was an irate fan called Arthur Pisswhistle who argued against Davies. Starting a green and yellow capaign, and he remembered personally what green and yellow meant, because of the huge loan that Davies gave the club to start the building of Old Trafford. The Manchester Evening News has a headline for 1906 where it reeds “Pisswhistle blows hot and cold on Davies debt – Arthur Pisswhistle rode his horse to Manchester Town Hall to protest the plunging of his club into the debt by a knight on white horse”. Also coincidently the same paper has a monkey in an alley raping incident – dark days indeed, I’m glad we’ve all learned something.
We’re all in debt to the great John Henry Davies.
That’s brilliant, Scott, many thanks for posting that interview. It was good to reminded of our club’s heritage and it’s heart-warming that the family connection is still there. It’s also nice that the much-criticised Martin Edwards played his part in strengthening those ties, and even better that Sir Bobby Charlton was involved. The Green & Gold campaign is superb. I wear my scarf every day and I always get thumbs-up and comments, all favourable, about the movement, even from non-United fans and from people with little interest in sport. One friend who’s been especially impressed, a former Bosnian refugee from Sarajevo, says how delightfully English it all is , while a Serbian friend (who’s aware of the Red Star Belgrade/Munich connection) keeps cuttings about it all for me. For once there’s a genuine recognition of the part football plays in our lives, and strong support that cuts across all the usual divides. It’s chastening to think that without the efforts of Harry Stafford and JH Davies over a century ago none of this would matter. So thanks a million to Joanne Jones and all her family for what your ancestors achieved.
I know i wrote over the last few months had jh davis any grandkids who’s buy united i never taught about the grandkids kids
they’d have extra interest on that familys monies
Even though alot has changed in a 100 years, there is a real purpose behind the debt that Davies put the club in – to build Old Trafford. What purpose does the Glazers’ debt have?
@SteniS
Maybe to free up cash that they would otherwise need to buy United outright in order to start other business ventures. These business ventures themselves make money that can be used to clear the debts faster and invest in new players. For a business man that knows what hes doing freed up capital has a far greater return than the money thats payed to debters as interest payments. Throughout this entire Green and Yellow hate towards the Glazers no one from the Green and Yellow side have looked into the total Glazers monetary affairs and seen that they turn over and make profits far greater than United/Glazers pay in interest repayments each year.
Makes you wonder Whats being said and realistically for what purpose.
GREAT OIECE JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM HISTORY ROLL ON WEDNESDAY ANYONE GOT A SPARE
great History lesson, Scott. Very intriguing.
Great piece Scott. How about we hold a four day fair to raise the 1.5 billion, it could work!!
this is some news thats n topic and well worth a look into
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_6009561,00.html
Really interesting read, thanks for that.
John Henry Davies was a good man. I hope the G&G movement takes off in the U.S. and the Glazers get what they deserve. It would be great to see boycotts of all their interests. They (and other prospective buyers) need to be taught a lesson. Mess with the greatest Club and we mess with you.
Lets see the leeches on welfare.
@GoatinaUnitedShirt
With regards to Glazers personal wealth….I have tried, in fact, to do some homework on the Glazers personal wealth when researching for my article posted on here along with Scott.
The thing is how do you get access to all the personal information and balance sheets and accounts of people living in the USA…..if you do have access to such information, please do forward it to us….and I am talking about reliable, official information…..
But from all accounts, it doesn’t seem they’re doing too well. they have stopped their funding of the Tampa bay buccaneers who are the lowest spenders in the American football league for the past few seasons. Also the American real-estate market and stock markets (It would be quite safe to assume a large chunk of their wealth has been eroded due to the financial crises as even the richest men in the world have had billions wiped off their personal net worths) have taken a huge pounding since last year.
Also, the PIK’s seem to be growing at an alarming rate, I would have thought that any prudent financial manager would have the first priority to wind up those PIK debts because not even equity markets the world over are giving returns over 16% carried by the PIK’s. plus the hedge losses of 35 million in the past year alone in Red Football’s books and the overall losses over the past few years give a clear indication that their personal finances are not doing too well…..UNLESS YOU give me FACTS to prove it otherwise… (and real facts, not Rafa ones
)
I did a project about this in College. The Dog was the one who save the club haha
Joanne, say thanks to your Great Grandad from everyone(except galzer).
LOVE UNITED…HATE GLAZER
Great Article Scott, its important that the earliest years of Manchester United FC are not forgotten. Its the stuff LEGENDS are made of.
@Hurdy Gurdy Man
I think there may be a canine conspiracy in English football mate. A dog saved United by sniffing out a wealthy business man. A dog found the world cup trophy in the knick of time so England could hold aloft the Jules Rimmet trophy instead of a bag of KP crisps. And Sven Goran Erikssons missus was an ugly dog (not Ulrika but the black haired bulldog chewing a wasp he imported from Italy). Rush to the bookies and predict the next canine hero for English football, there must be a few bob in that.
I am so tired of all the negativity on this blog lately. I used to enjoy your insight but it has become clear that you are only interested in slagging off the glazers facts be damned. I recall the live blog where you said stewards were removing the “debt is the road to ruin” banner when in reality he was telling the fans not to block the exit with the banner. Also the bond issue has now made it possible to pay of the PIK debt first. There seems to be no objectivity to your blog of late. I will simply be labelled an idiot for my views but at least acknowledge that not all united fans share your hatred of the glazers. They have by all accounts never denied Sir Alex funds to improve the squad. Lastly, are you all so naive as to think that any owner of a football club would not like to make money? Do you not thinkthe red knights would expect a return on any investment? All these rich blokes sure are awfully nice to cough up 1.5 billion quid (cash I assume since debt has caused our current lack of trophys) and then they are gonna turn the club over to the fans.
@Red Devil.
I don’t pretend to know more than the average Joe on the subject so how to get the Glazers accounts is as baffling to me as is to you. However I thought it was common practice that everyone who has a limited company, or made a living through investments or who had debts over so many “base points” had to on a yearly basis make public their accounts and it was available to anyone who asked. I dont know myself who it is you have to ask but it is common practice in the western world to be allowed to look at any companies records. I am under the impression it was illegal to withhold financial information of this nature. Maybe someone here has the knowledge to unearth the Glazers accounts. As for the real estate he owns I thought it was all caravan parks, I can’t see them making a loss in the current climate, If anything its boom time.
I hope we all get to the bottom of this Glazer hating issue as I for one want the club to be ONE again, I feel there is an intimidation to come to matches without said scarf. I for one have never been the first to board any boat and no doubt wouldn’t be the first to disembark at port or a sinking ship. I’m glad there are fans that care about United so deeply that they are prepared to devote their time on this issue and I wish them all the luck in achieving all they want to achieve in the United cause.
Good luck mate.
Just saw that Wes Brown may have a broken metatarsal and be out for the season. The injury bug has been unreal this season at United.
Soccernet is reporting that Sir Alex has been given $80 million pounds to spend this summer. If this is true then maybe you should cut the Glazers some slack. I believe the bond issue has eased the debt concerns around the PIK loans. Just a thought.
i love our history
Sorry to rain on the parade but the Red Knights is a very poor idea. We can’t have 60 people runnin the club. If we can’t get less than 5 wealthy people running the club the let the Glazers stay. We do not want board room confusion. Just ask the dippers. After all the bond issue will put the club in a better financial position. Fans emotions are being used by the knights to get a taste of the pie. United cannot go under. Its the most valuable sporting franchise in the world. And who made this possible, the Glazers. Love them or hate them they know what they are doing. Sorry but i ain’t buying the so called ‘Red Knights’ idea. LU…..
Scott, thank you for this article.
I am trying to be a new Davies. My ambition is to one day to buy the club. But, haha, i dont know what will be the reaction of the mancunians, if a Malaysian buys the club..
Right now i’m working hard with my business. Seems like a long road…
Other names for the club he was considering were Manchester Celtic and Manchester Central. That sounded like a train station so he went with Manchester United.
Did anyone notice Supporters’ Rally at FCUM…
This guy (Stuart Dykes. Member of fan-owned Bundesliga side Schalke 04) said some interesting things.
http://www.fcum.tv/2010/03/07/beyond-the-debt-a-supporters-rally/
Nice read. It’s strange to think about what would have happened if Davies along with the other 3 men did not takeover the club’s debts. Would this club have been built to become what it has become to this day? We really do owe a great deal to these heros. I do wish were only £2,670 in debt like we were back in 1902! Anyway, they do say history repeats itself. Maybe the Red Knights will be able to free the club of the Glazers ownership/debts; the equivalents to John Davies..Wishful thinking is really one thing, and reality is another.
@unitedfan
it was 100 million
by the time the summer gets here that 80 million could be down to 12 pound 62
My main point is not to disrespect Scott or this blog as I truly appreciate all the effort you put in but simply that the debt may not be an issue as the club is worth much more the total debt and this is mainly a talking point created by the media. Season tickets are still well below those of arsenal’s and others. I would rather have the glazers than roman abramovich or man shitty’s owners who meddle in the football decisions and change managers every six months.
Great article, Scott. Should enlighten a few people on here (I won’t mention any names) who don’t seem to have any comprehension of the history of our great club and/or don’t seem to have any repect for it.
P.S. The people I’m referring to are Wakey, Paul H and Dave Mack.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1256156/Martin-Samuel-Red-Knights-Lets-better-send-Barron-Knights.html
Fred … why would you presume you can judge me, never mind even comment on the knowledge, respect and love I have for United and it’s great history when you don’t even know me?
LU – IFIT
GHTT…. is the little one aware she is off to OT or is it a surprise.
Good story Scott … but as you know times have changed and Harris and his so called Red Knights are no John Davies!!
Indeed the RK are rapidly becoming discredited with their attempts to fool people into thinking Fergie supported them and their daily moving target about how much they have raised, how much they are willing to pay and how they are going to run the club making them a laughing stock.
I’m not a big one for the Daily Mail but @Marq posted this under an earlier story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1256156/Martin-Samuel-Red-Knights-Lets-better-send-Barron-Knights.html?ITO=1490
And don’t let us forget MUST gave them their backing. Which of course led to you SCOTT coming out in support of them.
It’s an important reminder to us all……
DON”T LET OUTSIDE INTERESTS USE YOUR LOVE OF UNITED TO DESTABILIZE THIS GREAT CLUB.
LU – IFIT
So GHTT …. when the transfer kitty is down to “12 pounds 62″ as you put it do you think Fergie will still be here and do you think he’ll still be referring to the Glazers as “terrific owners ” who he has “100% trust in”?
What’s he done to destroy your belive in him?
LU – IFIT
You know things are bad when the press report that United have £80m to spend on players. Call me presumptuous but with the success on the pitch over recent years, surely it’s a given that United have money to spend. I don’t want to be informed by the press about this, chiefly because this ISN’T NEWS!
Seeing headlines like this makes me think something is very wrong. Don’t tell me the reasons for this news item stem from recent ‘developments’.
Dave Mack
I never said anything against sir Alex nor will I ever I have total faith that he does what ever is best for Manchester united football club so I don’t know where you got that from
Tony bee
Emily can’t wait and has a countdown sheet on her bedroom door to cross off the amount of sleeps she Has till united. We’ve only done that twice before once for Christmas and once for Disney land
Fred
love your comment
Jish Inc. Said,
Just a few comments about your article.
Who said 60 people would have a say in running the club? WEhen the club was a PLC there were over 24k shareholders. Did all these 24k have a say?
UTD are not a ‘franchise’ They are a FOOTBALL CLUB. Right?
‘United cannot go under. Its the most valuable sporting franchise in the world. And who made this possible, the Glazers.’
This is CRAP of the highest order. The Glazers had nothing to do with UTD being the most recognisable football name in the world, and they certainly had NOTHING to do with the teams recent successes.
The Glazers have done sweet FA for the club. They deserve to be kicked out.
GHTT … my problem with the type of comment you made is as I posted earlier to FZE 123 … it’s exactly the sort of comments the bluenoses, dippers and chavs are constantly coming out with.
Gill has said Fergie will have close to 100m next summer if he needs it and that he and Fergie can spend 35m on any one player without even checking with the owners. Fergie clearly believes this and he wants us to believe it.
So I just like to challenge people like you who I know really love this club and trust this man to ask yourself … What has he done to lose your faith?
All these money men know they need SAF including, most of all, the Glazers. So can you really see Fergie allowing them to go back on their words without coming on it publically?
Enjoy OT with your daughter GHTT …and keep the faith!
LU – IFIT
although i desperately want new owners at the club and a serious reduction in debt followed by united turning over a profit again, at the moment the red knights aren’t the solution for me. When i read them say if must could get over 100k members, they would know we are serious about changing owners made me think, hold on, why do we have to prove anything to them. So far they are bunch of businessmen, wi an idea to take over united, but without enough money and no feasible plan in place so far to say who would run the club etc. Now, they may already have this planned but what i’m saying is, we haven’t been told anything of note to make us believe that they are beneficial to the club, our club. I would dearly love for the glazers to go fuck up some ice hockey team or basketball team n leave our precious team alone, but i won’t back an unknown quantity
Brisbane Red … I think the point Jish Inc was making is lets not jump out of the frying pan into the fire. Although it’s not popular on this site .. the fact is that we could have a lot worse owners than the Glazers, who clearly don’t interfere on football matters.
The media and other interests have fuelled an outcry re the debt and the truth is very few people are really in a position to critique how the Glazers have chosen to finance their “global sporting interests” (That includes me by the way!)
However, debt of 500m (or 700m depending who you believe and how you define it) isn’t all that scarry when your talking about a business that even in a recession is being valued at 1,000m (or 1,500m depending who you believe and how they mark it.)
I think we all need to calm down, keep or passion for OT and of course trust Fergie to blow the whistle if he needs to!
LU -IFIT
Nice read, Scott. Would have been perfect, but for the tenuous link to the Red Knightons and your slightly melodramatic “with the fans at breaking point..” appendage.
@Fred, I’ll echo the words of Dave Mack and tell you now not to presume to (mis)judge me on the issue of history or heritage of Manchester United. If you knew me (and thank Christ that you don’t, so you’ll just have to take my word for it) you would realise just how wide of the mark you are on that score. Think Grand Canyon wide.
So stick to the comedy routines please, as this is the only area where you gain full credits from me in. I particularly enjoyed your 3 seconds of childlike glee over the weekend when you mistakenly believed SAF had sold out the the Red Knighton’s only to find it to be complete tosh and of great annoyance to the great man.
If I could draw a footballing analogy to that particular embarrassing contribution, it was a little bit like when the visiting supporters at Old Trafford think they’ve scored, only to realise it’s hit the side netting and they are going home with nothing to show for their efforts. Again. This is how it feels to be Fred…..
Fabulous post and great history.Just makes me almost wont to Cry the infighting and break up of our Family.
This moderator you learn something from him everyday.
Am gonna take away My debit card from G/f and donate my savings to MUST to buy the Club, will be the cheaper option long term.
Oh dear, I seem to have touched a nerve.
hats off.
do you earn much from the site?
because sometimes I come on here and I am bowled over by the quality.
new posts every day, the ‘view from the enemy’, interesting opinion pieces and once in a blue moon an absolute gem like this.
it is really fantastic the way you made the link and managed to get an interview. are you a top journo in disguise?
@ ghtt
maybe the internet isn’t the best place to talk about your child. no offence. just, you know, there are a lot of wierdos out there.
i dunno, i find it a bit strange. no offence.
Got to say the post by Paul H is rather amusing. No offence Fred I just liked his analogy of the away fans at OT.
We proud of you.. John Davies and families, Thanx to Harry Stafford and.. mayor (~,}