The first derby was in November 1881 when St Mark's of West Gorton lost to Newton Heath LYR 0-3. Matches at "City" were played at Hyde Road in the early days, a ground sited between Maine Road and the Etihad. United played at Bank Street in the east of the city, prior to the move to Old Trafford, located in Salford, to the west of the city.
The latest meeting is today, of course, with their last on 27th April 2017 resulting in a 0-0. Ryan Giggs has played in most derbies (36) and Wayne Rooney has scored most goals 11, with Joe Hayes (who scored in the 1956 FA Cup Final, which City won 3-1 over Birmingham City and played over 330 games for City) and Francis Lee pitching in with 10 each on behalf of City.
The largest victories have been 1-6 for City away in 1926 and in 2011, with United winning 5-0 in 1994. City also had a 0-5 away in 1955. In April 1941 United won a War League match 7-1 at Maine Road.
There have been 18 cup ties which United have won 11 and City 6, the first in 1891 Between Newton Heath and Ardwick 5-1.
The first floodlit match was at Belle Vue in February 1889 in aid of the Hyde Mining disaster. Newton heath won 3-2 in front of a 10,000 crowd.
The first "highest level game was in December 1906 when City won 3-0 and gate receipts were £1,000. At this time the city players were subject of a financial scandal concerning financial irregularities. 17 players were banned or suspended and when the suspension was lifted four city players switched teams. One was Bill Meredith who helped United win the 1908 League title. Another was Sandy Turnbull who also moved and in the following season became the first player to be sent off in the Manchester derby.
The rivalry is not entirely unpleasant with supporters sometimes watching the other team if theirs is "away". In September 1947, the largest attendance for the derby, 78,000, turned up to watch United play against City as the home team at Maine Road following the damage done to Old Trafford during the war.
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