Season 1936/37
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season
Home Kit
Change Kit
Possible Change Kit 2
Home Kit
Change Kit
The Season in brief
Duncan brought in Roy John from Sheffield United and Bill Roughton, from Huddersfield. However, United struggled for most of the season and they were seldom out of the bottom two after a 6-2 defeat at Grimsby in December. Duncan spent well over £10,000 to bring in Ernie Thompson, Henry Baird, Billy Wrigglesworth and Willie Gladwin, but to no great effect. United eventually finished 21st, two points adrift of Leeds United. The highlights of the season had been victories over Arsenal, the F.A. Cup holders and Champions in four of the previous six seasons, and City at Old Trafford. The 'derby' was watched by a new club record crowd of 68,796.
We had originally believed that the change kit was maroon red and white hoops, but recent research suggests that United wore black and white hooped shirts. This was certainly true in the FA Cup tie at Highbury on January 30th 1937, when United wore white shorts with the hooped shirts. Under FA regulations at the time, both sides were obliged to change kits in the event of a colour clash. Tony Sealey has discovered that United wore black shorts in the League match at Highbury the following month, probably their standard change kit.
The programme for the game at Anfield, on March 27th, lists United in white shirts, with black shorts. This may have been an oversight, and the shirts were actually the black and white hoops, or it may be evidence of another change kit.
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.
Looking to the future, United had made a profit of £10,486 and their Colt side included several talented teenagers, notably Sammy Lynn, Stan Pearson, Johnny Carey and Charlie Mitten