Season 1926/27
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season

Home Kit
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Variant
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Change Kit
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Variant
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The Season in brief

On October 7th John Chapman was suspended for the rest of the season by an F.A. Commission for 'improper conduct'. Lal Hilditch was appointed player-manager on a temporary basis but was handicapped by the continuing injury crisis, the sale of Ernie Goldthorpe, and lack of money to strengthen the team. Victories were often weeks apart and sandwiched between truly inept (a 6-0 defeat at Sunderland) or useless (the 0-0 draw with a struggling Everton side) performances.

The third round F.A. Cup tie with Reading, who had been in the Third Division the previous season, seemed to sum up the whole season. Reduced to nine men by injury and a sending off, Reading were minutes away from beating United at the first attempt. The teams drew again in the Old Trafford replay, before Reading finally disposed of United at Villa Park.

Herbert Bamlett was appointed manager in April 1927. He had left Middlesbrough weeks before their promotion to the First Division had been confirmed, and took charge of United's final seven League games. United managed to avoid defeat in all seven, but recorded just one win.

United had a new collared home kit, often worn with new socks (black with two white bands at the top). The previous season's shirts and socks were also worn on occasion and United can be seen in this kit in a photograph from the game at Highbury in December 1926. Although we have been unable to trace any photographs of United's change kit from this season we believe the new socks were the only difference 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 it was probably royal blue.