AUGUST 19th 1995: 30 years ago: early season

Alan Hansen, a respected TV pundit, put his head on the "block" on this date, 19th August, in 1995 (the 97th season of the Football League.) ....yes, a decade ago! TV men often make brash predictions which puts them into the limelight...if it works! But if not??? Well!   With millions on TV watching, Alan, bless him, on this day in 1995, stated on "Match of the Day", that, "you will never win anything with "kids". 

He stated this with the knowledge of a young Man Utd side playing against Aston Villa. United lost the season opener 3-1. Needless to say, United romped to the League Title that year and Alan, bless him, found egg on his face at the end of the season. For the fourth time in five seasons, Manchester United won the Premier League title. Despite inconsistent form early in the season, including a run that saw them concede 13 goals in three matches, they only lost two more league games all season, going top at the start of Feb and never surrendering the lead.

• Manchester United's Double; won both the Premier League title and the FA Cup. The 1995–96 FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the fourth season of the competition, since its formation in September 1992. 
• Due to the decision to reduce the number of clubs in the FA Premier League from 22 to 20, only two clubs, Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers, were promoted instead of the usual three. Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle Utd qualified for the UEFA Cup. Liverpool also qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners Cup as runners-up of the season's FA Cup which was won by Manchester United, of course.

• FA Premier League

  Season	1995–96
  Dates	19 August 1995 – 5 May 1996
  Champions	Manchester United 3rd Premier League title 10th English title
  Relegated	Man City QPR Bolton W
  Champions League	Manchester United
  Cup Winners Cup	Liverpool
  UEFA Cup	Newcastle Utd, Aston Villa, Arsenal
  Matches played	380
  Goals scored	988 (2.6 per match)
  Top goalscorer	Alan Shearer (31 goals)
  Best goalkeeper	Peter Schmeichel (18 clean sheets)
  Biggest home win	Blackburn Rovers 7–0 Nottingham Forest (18 November 1995)
  Biggest away win	Bolton Wanderers 0–6 Manchester United (25 February 1996)
  Highest scoring	Sheffield Wed 6–2 Leeds Utd (16 December 1995)
  Longest winning run	6 games Manchester United
  Longest unbeaten run	15 games Liverpool
  Longest winless run	14 games Coventry City Wimbledon
  Longest losing run	8 games Manchester City Middlesbrough
  Highest attendance	53,926 Manchester United 5–0 Nottingham Forest (28 April 1996)
  Lowest attendance	6,352 Wimbledon 2–2 Sheffield Wednesday (30 August 1995)
  Total attendance	10,472,882
  Average attend...	27,560