1893-1894

Newton Heath's second season turned out to be worst than the first when they again finished at the bottom of the League, this time with only six wins in 30 games. They were again scheduled to play a make or break playoff game to decide their fate, this time the opponent was Liverpool who had only been in existence for two years and had won the second div without losing a game. This time there was no respite for the Heathens, losing 2-0 and were relegated to the second.

Visiting teams had complained so much about the apalling conditions at North Road that the Club moved across town prior to the season begining to a ground in Bank street, Clayton. This new home proved to be not much of an improvement due to a chemical works that stood next to the ground that bellowed out toxic fumes that drifted across the pitch.

1894 was the first year of the Manchester Derby, it was played on November 3rd at the then Man City ground Ardwick.
The teams had met before in the Manchester Cup, the Football Alliance, and even the FA Cup but this was the first League meeting of the two great rivals. The game was watched by 15,000 fans in threatening weather, the Heathens drawing first bolod on their neighbors with a 5-2 victory (also won the return fixture 4-1).
The game was notable by the home debut of a Manchester City player named Billy Meredith who would go on to become United's first major star in future years.