Season 1906/07
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season



 
The Season in brief

Mangnall's greatest success came in the transfer market rather than on the pitch. Billy Meredith, the most gifted and celebrated footballer of the time, was bought in May 1906 for £500 from City, and a further three of the banned City 'stars' arrived in December (Bannister, Sandy Turnbull and Burgess). All four made their United débuts on New Years Day in front of 40,000 at Bank Street. The only goal of the day came from a Meredith cross which Sandy Turnbull headed home.

The impetus provided by the new signings came at a vital time for United. Although they had started brightly, by Christmas they had slumped to 14th in the table, but ended the season in eighth place.

The Board had again spent during the summer on ground improvements. The banking on the popular side was raised considerably and a new stand erected. The Board claimed the improvements added a further 10,000 to the capacity, which would have stood at around 60,000 if true. The largest crowd in fact was 45,000 for the visit of Bolton in September.

United's home kit was unchanged, although we know from match photographs and a team group taken before the final practice game that the players were also issued with a new two-buttoned shirt with inner white planket. The Reserves wore blue shirts in these matches, reflecting a populat trend at the ime for Reserve sides to wear different kits from the first team. In the opening League fixture at Ashton Gate United wore a new all white change kit, with red trim to the rounded collar and sleeves. This same kit was worn at Portsmouth in January. As in previous seasons, both plain black socks and black socks with a blue band at the top were worn.

From contemporary photographs it seems that United's first choice goalkeeper Harry Moger preferred to wear the same shirt as his outfield team mates rather than the heavier woolen jerseys of previous seasons. Moger, however, frequently wore a collared undershirt.