1902-1903

The name of Newton Heath was not liked by all, they had left their home in Newton Heath 9 years previously, and following the reorganisation of the Club many called for a name change.

Manchester Central was suggested, but it was decided that it sounded too much like a railway station, also suggested and rejected was Manchester Celtic, then a Mr Louis Rocca hit upon the name Manchester United. The name had been suggested before but had not met much support, but this time it stuck and on Saturday 26th April 1902 Newton Heath became Manchester United.

This must have pleased many of the visiting teams and supporters who for years had been showing up for games at the old Newton Heath only to find a dilapidated and empty pitch, and then had to dash across town to arrive minutes before the kickoff.

Manchester United's manager in 1902 was a Mr James West, under him they had begun the season very poorly with two defeats and a draw, on Monday 28th Sept he resigned his position and Mr Ernest Magnall became the new United manager.

Magnall joined the club from Burnley where he had served as secretary. He would go on to become United's first "great" manager. The new manager had been born in Bolton and was well known in sporting circles in the North west, he eas known in particular for his love of cycling, and during his youth had actually cycled the length of Great Britain from John O Groats to Lands end, he could often be spotted riding his bike to the ground.

With United's financial status at last secure Magnall proved himself a shrewd buyer in the transfer market, he brought goalie Harry Moger to United, along with Alex Bell, Dick Duckworth, and a great centre halve in Charlie Roberts.

His greatest coup however was bringing the great Billy Meredith across from Man City, other Man City rebels quickly followed Meredith's path and United stole away Herbert Burgess, Sandy Turnbull, and Jimmy Bannister from their rivals. Meredith and Roberts at the time were considered the most talented players in the land.