“First game I went to was West Ham at home on Bank Holiday Monday at the start of 85/86. I’d been nagging to be taken for a while – I was displeased to discover my parents went to the 83 Cup Final replay without me, and dissatisfied with the rosette that I was given as compensation. When my old fella sneaked off to a game away to Watford without me – it was immediately prior to the 85 Cup Final, and United lost 5-1 – I was still pissed with him upon discovering the subterfuge the following morning, a sentiment I doubtless expressed with eloquence, dignity and restraint. Thus he resolved to take me at the next possible opportunity…”
Daniel Harris, On The Road: A Journey Through a Season
“I watched Manchester United live for the first time 50 years ago and it was just as magical as I’d always dreamed it would be, even though no trophies were at stake and United were languishing in mid-table mediocrity at the time. What gave the match wider historical significance however was the fact that when Dennis Viollet scored two goals that afternoon he overtook Jack ‘Gunner’ Rowley’s club record of 30 league goals in a season, previously set in 1951/52. Astonishingly, despite the prodigious achievements of United goal-scorers since, such as the electric Denis Law, the bewitching George Best,the lethal Ruud Van Nistelrooy or the unstoppable Cristiano Ronaldo, Viollet’s record still stands, half a century later…”
Giles Oakley
“Being from America, it was always going to be a big ask to come up with the money for a trip to see Manchester United, but, finally after I landed first full-time job, I was able to realize that dream in December 2003.
I always lived under the assumption that it was pretty much inconceivable to get a match ticket to see United live at Old Trafford, but that all changed after I met Peter Holland from the Manchester United Supporters Club USA (MUSCUSA) in the summer of 2003.
Up until I met him, and being so far displaced from Manchester, I could only watch a rare game here, eagerly listen to them on the radio over the internet or catch their highlights on the television, which was just starting back then to make its way on to American sports channels again.
In December of that year, I was set to make my first trek to the Theatre of Dreams My first live match Old Trafford was none other than the Manchester Derby, but I almost did not make it…”
David Hammons, The United Religion
What was your first United game? Submit your stories at MyFirstUnited.com
Man Utd News 24/7
I guess this is the part where we will see fans outside Manchester struggle to remember their first game.
unless it was a live experience, of course.
Unitedfanatic
let’s see how many say they saw 2 games in one day – their first and their last!
FA Cup Final 1979. Arsenal 3:2 Manchester United. On TV.
All others present supported Arsenal, who were 2 up at half time.
McQueen in the 86th, and McIlroy in the 88th minute took us to extra time…
Except they didn’t.
Alan Sunderland won it a minute later for Arsenal.
That 3 minutes of Elation addicted me for life
My name is smartalex, and I’m an addict.
mine was United-Derby County. United loss 2-3. I was in the middle of writing a poignant piece of prose for the match from memory but i decided to type in a search for the result. Lo and behold, the wonders of youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZDnX1sC6l0
I was 10-11 years old then. The memories are a little fuzzy but I remember being mesmerised by Cantona and was telling my dad how our keeper(Schmikes) was a piece of useless turd. Ahh, how wrong i was, how wrong i was.
Would love to hear more about the first memories of United from other members. (at OT or not since our fans are global)
First United Game!.. It was the 4-2 Win At Highbury When O’shea scored dat lill beauty. How could i forget that. Late at nyt bak hea in India, trying to prepare for my physics examination dat mornin. Physics couldn’t get inside my mind. But Manchester United Did In My Heart:)
The game against Dinamo Kiev in the CL in Kiev 2007. The one and only time.
The friendly against Valencia in August 5 of 2009. Daytripping at its finest.
*on*
Toffees at OT. I think it was 94/95, Sparky and Giggsy goals in a comfortable win. Sadly my joy at my first Utd game was somewhat soured by their lovely fans doing aeroplane impressions and asking my dad what they were doing.
march 1994 @ highbury against arsenal..
2-2 draw Lee Sharped scored twice.
My oldtrafford debut will be United – Stoke in January (10 days and i’ll be flying to Manchester from Helsinki) !
Sharpe *
The first United game I went to was at home to Wolves in 1981. We paraded new signing Bryan Robson on the pitch a few minutes before kickoff, and Sammy McIlroy (my favourite United player at the time) seemed to realise his place was under threat. He was at the centre of everything United did that day, was all over the pitch, and if my memory is correct helped set up goals for Birtles and Stapleton in a 5-0 win. Oh yes, and he scored the other 3 himself.
NEED TO SPEAK TO THE OLD MAN JUST TO CONFIRM GREAT IDEA CANT BEAT A BIT OF REMENISCING PS WHATS THE RAILWAY CLUB LIKE FOR A PINT AS I HAVE TICKET FOR SUNDERLAND
My First united match was stressful and full of anxiety. Believe me, bcuz it was d 1999 cham league final. I recall dat a friend came n said. Lets go watch United vs bayern. He supports United and he was sad when bayern scored bt i gave him courage and told him ” mark my words united wil win”. . . Dis waz bcuz in my country we had a sayin dat goes thus . . . “D Masqurade dat danced first wil b forced 2 watch d others do their own dancing.” In d end i was right United won 2 1 on d nite and since dat nite @ d Nou camp i started supporting and watching United here in My Native nigeria. And was present in Abuja when United came in d summer of 2008 after winning d double. Here in Nigeria Alongside chelsea and arsenal, united are a top, top team
my first game was dec 1993 2-2 with norwich city think mcclair and giggs got our goals. i live outside manchester unitedfanatic but remember that game very well. funny enough i live fairly close to norwich about 45mins away so about 4-5hrs from manchester on average try to go to about 5-10 games a season would love to go to more but can’t afford to these days.
v spurs 97 2-0 giggsy scoring both
The 11th game of the 1985-86 season, versus Sheffield Wednesday, at Hillsborough. We’d won the previous ten league matches and everyone was already calling us the Champions Elect. We lost 1-0, and apart from the amazement of seeing my heroes in the flesh for the first time, followed by the crushing disappointment of losing, I remember three other things distinctly:
1) We were standing in the away end at Leppings Lane, the very same one that 96 scousers died in. It was packed, and it felt dangerous as hell. Luckily we managed to move and stand with our backs to some barriers within the enclosure, because whenever the ball came down our end, there was a scary, crushing surge to the front of the enclosure.
2) If you weren’t avoiding getting crushed, you had to keep a look out for people taking a crafty piss – luckily I managed to get away with dry ankles and shoes. I saw one guy get it all down the back of his coat!
3) At the end of the match, as the whistle went, Sparky booted the ball into a home stand, and I saw it go so clearly like an arrow into a kid’s face…I think it led to an FA charge, or an official apology at least.
Mine was last fothnight ago vs Arsenal! I’ve been saving and starving :p since I start working in 2006 for that trip! It cost me ~GBP5000!! to fly 3000 miles plus all the accomendations and match tickets just to witness my life saver, PAUL SCHOLES!! or at least Wesley or Dimi…Unfortunately, NONE of ‘em played!! m NOT satisfied but at least I saw Ole sending off and our team won with Ji-Sung’s goal, its all worthwhile
I wish and hope this is NOT Scholesy’s last season..so that I’av enough time to save my $ and able to watch him playing in a flash! Please, dear Allah..
First game; easy to remember – 1968 saturday 23rd March won 3-0 and I remember just marveling about how fast Denis Law was.Later lists for that day suggest Denis did not play but in my recollection it was one of the only games of the season that a certain Bobby Charlton did not play in. Denis La w certainly played at least part of the game. I wonder how much impact a player like John Aston would have on today’s United team too. The eight year old who saw that game never forgot it and has kept the united pendants bought from the small shop next to Old Trafford to this day. Wonderful memories, i could go on …. but we all have to start somewhere. Oh and George Best was there too but the magic from that day was the memory of Law coming on and being so fast…. sweet memories…
Arsenal at OT 96. We win 1 nil. Nigel Winterburn og.
wish I lived close enough to watch! thank the faiths for the internet
*won*
February 1979 as a 12 year old (do the maths lads) vs Villa at Old Trafford… Game finishes 1 – 1
Will never forget the feeling all these years later…..
Coventry at old trafford, i was 4
we won 2-0
yorke then johnson if i remember rightly
united 2 sheffield united 0 november 91
stretford paddock
Mine was the 3-2 friendly loss to inter at the beginning of the 07-08 season. Considering I’m from Canada, ive been blessed to be able to go to a few more.
December 29 2008 vs. Middlesbrough.. Was travelling to meet my fiancee who was in Manchester. What an experience it was. Surprisingly I felt that OT went quiet quite a no. of times. Vividly remember Berbatov working his socks off and Rooney chasing down every ball. Pogatetz’s hitting of Ronnie. Vidic defending and finally Berba scoring for a nervy 1-0 win. Since then I have been wanting to travel back to England with my wife (yes we got married in the meantime) to watch another United game!
United vs Liverpool , 2006 at home . One nil Rio Ferdinand in stoppage time . Was my first full match experience on Television .
Nov 1992 at Villa Park standing on the terraces. Giggs played, as did Bruce and Schmeichel. We lost 0-1 but won the league. Villa beat us home and away and came in second.
FletchTHEMAN
If you mean the 92/93 season then Villa did not beat us twice… The game at OT was 1 – 1
I honestly cannot remember my first United game at OT
all I remember is I was with my grandad, mum and dad. The first game that I do remember was the 1983 Milk Cup Final v Liverpool, mainly for the people dressed up as milk bottles and not us losing…. tho I was only nearly 7 years old, so can be forgiven 
CedarsDevil
yeah hughes equlised at the scoreboard end after steve staunton (carn’t spell it lol) had scored a cracking goal
CedarsDevil, could be mate, hope I got the rest right. Cheers
danunited
Spot on mate, great memory…. Great header by Hughes if my memory is right
Never been to OT but my first utd game was that game man 5 chelsea 0 in 1999 what a drama after we had lost the first leg 4-0
I have hardly gone 2 united games has I cannot afford to go, being a season ticket holder is like trying to spend a week on orlando florida
I’d been to see Utd away against Coventry and Villa beforehand but my first at Old Trafford was 9-0 against Ipswich Town. March 4th 1995. A day after my 13th birthday. Andy Cole scored 5-0! Even before we’d scored a goal I had never experienced anything so inspiring as Old Trafford. Absolutly brilliant day!
My first game was in the Stretford Paddock.
Fa Cup 3rd Round 1981 We kicked Off At 2.45pm As City were also drawn out of the hat at home
Manchester United 2 Brighton 2
We were 2-0 down after 20 mins through Brian Horton And Andy Ritchie.
But Jimmy Nichol and Mickey Thomas saved the day.
We won the replay 2-0 With Garry Birtles even scoring!!!!!
Red ever since!!!!!!!!!!!!!
my first and only united game was the united vs celtic pre season game this year in Toronto Canada, was a brilliant game for berba and gave us a glimpse at what was to come from him this year, every flick was on that day, scored a brilliant goal and setup at least one other, welbeck scored, fletcher was captain
united was class and made celtic look like a MLS team, one day i dream of being able to watch a legit match at old trafford
Am 18 yrs from Somalia nd living in north London…. My first united game was 24 October 2004 against arsenal…. No need for details… My second game @ Old Trafford was that historical 7-1 against Roma in the CL, nd the last united game I watched @ the theatre of dreams was berb’s 5 goal… (7-1) vs Blackburn Rovers….. I was born RED
1-0 defeat to arsenal on 8 may 2002
Shame it my friends forced me to that one. Didnt support united then.
Manchester United vs Sunderland was my first game in 1984. 3-2 win with goals from Muhren, Robson and Stapleton. I never looked back!
Southampton, not Sunderland…. always used to get them mixed up!
AIG – Were you wavering then? You could’ve been a gooner.
…That was my first LIVE United game – the first United match I ever saw was United’s 4-1 victory over Tottenham back in the early 90s….
My first visit to Old Trafford? September 18th, 1972, for Bobby Charlton’s testimonial.
I was in my teens and had just moved down from Scotland — where I’d grown up worshipping Pat Crerand and ‘King’ Denis Law — and my new friend was a United fanatic. He talked me into going to Bobby’s game against Celtic. That was it. I was hooked.
Several years and hundreds of games later, my new young family were forced south when the Iron Lady screwed the north (redundancy and no jobs), I kept the faith and watched United whenever I could, both home and away. Even though my son was born in the south, he shares my passion and five years ago (when his own playing career came to an end) we were able to get him a season ticket in the Stretford End beside mine. Since then we’ve travelled home and abroad, clocking up hundreds of miles every week in the process.
So, yes, I’m an exiled Manc but for those who get sniffy about people like me who travel up the M1 to see my beloved team I say: remember this — it was the Tories who took my job in Lancashire and forced me and my young family to live in an alien part of the country. We had no choice but to leave behind those people and things that were precious to us. We didn’t go south south through choice but through necessity: don’t begrudge me that brief chance to revisit my roots that comes with every United match.
i was taken to Highbury for every United match from 92-98 but didnt get to OT until i was older…dont remember what season or year it was but upon arrival at OT i had to have the no.7 Beckham shirt from the megastore. after buying my new shirt my uncle (my gooner father refused to take me) and i found our seats and watched United beat Birmingham 2-0 with Becks scoring both. if any one can remember what season this was i would love to know.
my second trip to OT came a few years back when i was visiting the homeland for xmas. we beat Everton 2-1 and no.7 scored both goals again, this time Ronaldo. his first was a delicious curling left footer and his second was a late penalty to seal the win.
cannot wait to graduate from the university of iowa, find a job in manchester, and become a season ticket holder!!!!
manci_yanky
do you mean 2002-03 season when it was forlan and beckham that scored the goals??
1st Utd game.
Alex Stepney’s testimonial v Benfica 76 I think. sat in the Scoreboard end. Utd won 2-1.
my first was when United came here last year (Malaysia). I went to watch the training session, the first match and the second match.
It should have been just one match, but because there was a bombing incident in Indonesia, United canceled the trip there and stayed in Malaysia for another match.
In the first match this Malaysia striker named Amri Yahyah scored twice, both goal were beautiful. And my friend told me that he read somewhere that if Amri scores again in the second match, we will buy him. Haha. I only half-believed that, but i really hope he scores again. He didnt.
@The Huns game 03.Champions league at Ipox., Phil Neville scored the only Goal.
For the the little “prat” that had a go at me after the Rangers game this season at Old Trafford, when I said United always score at Ibrox, he said is that Scott the Red. I dont post for no reason.Its generally thought out and calculated.
Great reading the other United supporters views.We know who Daniel Harris is obviously, Who is this “Lad” Giles Oakley and as for David Hammons he is an imposter! Although the blog he writes on is fantastic and wonderfully written, try reading the United Religion
My first was in January 2008 against Portsmouth at Old Trafford. Ronaldo’s free kick ^.^
@danunited
suppose it could have been but i really thought it was becks that scored both. coulda been wrong tho i suppose. cheers
just watched the United – Arsenal match from october 2004 when we ruined there “invincible” run…
funny to see that all 11 starters for them no longer play football for the goonies while we have the likes of neville scholes giggs ferdinand rooney, etc playing…
haha
at nottingham forest march 31st 1970 my dad took me utd won 2-1,bestie and bobby charlton scored
Vs Spuds at Home FA Cup ’09..watched it from the Stretford End. Carrick to Berba scores the winner. 2-1 !!
It didnt end there..as I lived in Hampshire then..I was the only Manc as it got closer to London and the train broke down !! I had to be at my charming best to avoid getting mauled by a few unhappy fans..But I did thank them for good ‘ol Teddy.
Magic !!
willie
i sat with the Arsenal fans and didnt know much about the 2 clubs. My mate was jumping in delight when Wiltord scored. Didn’t matter much to me though
v tottenham @ white hart lane – ’76/’77 Stevie Coppell, Gordon Hill, Sammy Mac where playing.
Can’t recall too much ‘cept I had to keep my mouth shut throughout the game as I was standing in the Shelf, surrounded by Spurs fans!
07/08 when Ronnie scored the back-heel against Villa.
Remember sitting in the crowd and someone told me that it was October since Rooney had scored at home, and this was March.
He scored twice that day and had he been a little sharper, would have had a hat-trick.
AIG – Don’t matter mate, you chose the right team lol.
mine was 13th October 1973 Derby County – went with a mate and his big brother. Lost 1-0, dreadful game. Still went back the following Saturday to see alex Stepney (!!!) score the winner vs Birmingham..
willie
after all these years i dont have any regrets. lots of ups and downs, but every moment has been thoroughly enjoyable. Survived lots of heart attacks too
1983 cup final aged nine with my old man. Two all against brighton. Butch wilkins curler. Unfortunately didn’t get to the replay.