Season 1901/02
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season
Home Kit
Change Kit
The Season in brief
The postponement of the home game with Burnley on Christmas Day 1901 proved the beginning of the end for Newton Heath. Without the gate receipts from this lucrative fixture, the club were unable to meet their commitment to repay £250 to William Healey, a former Club President. Healey lodged a winding up petition at Ashton-Under-Lyne County Court on January 9th 1902, which was granted in early February. The Official Receiver declared the club had debts totalling £2,670.
At a public meeting on March 18th at the New Islington Hall, Harry Stafford, along with four other backers, committed to invest £1,000 in a new limited company. The consortium, led by wealthy brewer J.H. Davies, finally negotiated the take over and assumed full control on May 18th 1902. The name Manchester United FC was agreed upon for the new club at a further meeting on April 24th.
The 'Heathens' narrowly escaped having to re-apply for League membership before playing their last game as Newton Heath, a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the Manchester Cup Final on April 26th 1902
There was no change to Newton Heath's home kit. The club's registered colours are given as white and blue in the Association of Football Statistics annual covering the 1901/02 season. This information was confirmed by contributor Pete Wyatt. A team photograph taken in September 1901 confirms the style of the club's home shirt had remained unchanged.
We believe the 'Heathens' continued to wear the red/black striped shirt as their change kit, although we have found no contemporary evidence.