Manchester United’s legendary striker David Herd has sadly passed away aged 82. Herd grew up in Moss Side and started his career at Stockport County before moving to Arsenal, where he scored 107 goals in 180 appearances. He still remains their 16th highest ever goalscorer and reached 100 goals in fewer games than Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie and Dennis Bergkamp.
After Arsenal struggled to compete for trophies, Herd moved to United in the summer of 1961 for £40,000. Three years after Munich, Herd played a crucial role in Sir Matt Busby’s rebuilding of the club. He scored on his debuts in the FA Cup, the League Cup and all three European competitions, and finished his first season with 17 goals in 32 games.
In his second season at United he scored twice in our FA Cup final win over Leicester City. A crowd close to 100,000 watched United win 3-1.
In his third season he scored 27 goals in 44 games as United finished second in the league. The following season he helped us win our sixth league title, scoring 28 goals in 55 games. The following campaign was his personal best at the club, with 33 goals in 52 games, although United finished fourth.
United won the title again in the following season, with Herd scoring 18 goals in 31 games, although his campaign was cut short when he broke his leg in our 5-2 win over Leicester. Herd had scored the first goal after just two minutes.
This injury marked the beginning of the end of Herd’s time at the club. 10 months after the injury he returned but only managed eight appearances in his final season, scoring his last goal in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. He was awarded a European Cup winners medal two months later though as he had played in the quarter-final.
With 145 goals in 265 appearances, Herd remains the 13th highest goalscorer for the club, with more goals than the likes of Andy Cole, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United legend, rest in peace.
