BAD FRIDAY IT'S A FIX UP

Good Friday, April 2^nd 1915 saw a crunch match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. If United lost they would be closer to relegation-something unheard of. Instead of a Titanic struggle between two great teams, there was match fixing to darken the spirit and make profit for the bookies. A 2-0 victory to United was at odds of 8-1 and players from both sides and some outsiders were in on the act, raising money at a time when things were financially tough, even for professional footballers..

Jackie Sheldon had played for both teams and was regarded as a ring leader. 

Billy Meredith was not involved in the deception but stated that he became suspicious because nobody on his team would pass to him.

Just before half time George Anderson scored and in the dressing room during the break it was clear that some players, who realised what was going on, were not keen to come out for the second half. They were persuaded and a penalty given to United was missed by a mile by skipper Patrick O'Connell, clearly somebody who was trying to prevent the end result from favouring the baddies.

A Liverpool forward missed a difficult header, which grazed the cross bar and he was warned by team mates who clearly realised that he had nearly blown the gaff by levelling up the score.

Anderson later scored his second goal which led to the planned 2-0 defeat of Liverpool and soon the rumours circulated. In the Sporting Chronicle a story ran that the “Football King” a well known bookie had fixed the match. At the end of the season United were one point from relegation to the second division.

The FA discovered the plot and seven players were given life time bans; four from Liverpool and three from United. Two other players from other clubs were involved and banned and the FA stated that they knew others were involved.

Sandy Turnbull of United was charged and unfortunately lost his life in the war. Others had their bans lifted after the war, in recognition for their service to the country, although Enoch West of United, who had taken the FA to court, pronouncing his innocence and accusing the FA of libel, was not reprieved and his ban stayed until he was 59 years old.

No points were taken from United nor was the game replayed! Chelsea, just below United in the League appealed and when the league restarted after the war the Football league extended the First Division to 22 teams with Chelsea being kept up and Arsenal joining from Division Two. No names but those ringed were naughty.