MAN'S BEST FRIEND SAVES UNITED

In 1878, Manchester United football club was formed in a suburb of Manchester. Well in those days they came under the name of Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway FC and they were not very good. They entered the FA Cup and refused to play extra time after a 2-2 draw with Fleetwood Rangers and hence they were disqualified. They then were admitted to the top tier of the football league in 1892 finishing last, so they had to play a "test match" against Small Heath (later to become Birmingham City) who were second division champions. They won.

The following year they were last again and were the first first division team to lose a "test match", this time against Liverpool and so became the first club to be relegated.

By 1901 the club was in debt to the tune of £3000 (a bit like now) and decided to hold a bazaar to raise money. Close rivals Manchester City had the generosity to donate money to the appeal but the event hardly raised a penny once the cost of hiring the hall was taken into account.

Newton Heaths's captain, Harry Stafford, took his dog, Major, along to St Jame's Hall in the city, with a collection box attached to its neck. The dog ran away and was found on March 1st by local Brewer John Henry Davies, who liked the dog. He heard the sad tale of Newton Heath's financial predicament and persuaded two other businessmen to invest in the club, so by 1902, they changed the name of the club to Manchester United and the rest is history.

More about the Football Alliance tomorrow. Bet you can't wait!