Season 1922/23
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season

Home Kit
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Change Kit
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Home Kit
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Change Kit
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The Season in brief

At a time when the centre half was the most influential player on the pitch, Chapman persuaded the United Board to buy one of the most influential centre halves of the day. Frank Barson, who was also the most controversial player of his generation, moved from Villa Park for a a new club record fee of £5,500 on August 25th 1922. Barson, who had not trained since the end of the previous season, made his début at Molineux on September 9th, setting up Harry William's winning goal late in the game.

The club became embroiled in controversy in December when Neil McBain claimed in a press interview that he had been ostracised by the other members of the first team. He was sold to Everton in January 1923 for £4,200 but stayed less than eighteen months at Goodison.

Barson was injured in the 1-0 victory at Blackpool on March 31st and missed five of United's remaining six crucial games. A 2-0 defeat by Leicester on the penultimate Saturday of the season ended their promotion aspirations.

United had a new home kit for the 1922/23 season, which was based on the colours worn by Chapman's previous club, Airdrieonians. The white shirt with red V is also obviously reminiscent of United's 1909 Cup Final kit. United's first team were photographed in early September 1922 wearing the new home kit. As a change kit United simply used the home shirts from the previous season.

We have been able to determine that United's goalkeepers wore a heavy woolen green jersey.

Although we have been unable to discover any evidence from this season of United's goalkeeper change shirt, we believe, from later photographic evidence and given the limited colour options available under League regulations, it was probably royal blue.