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1909

This first of Man Utd's 11 FA Cup wins came in 1909 when Bristol City were defeated by a single goal at Crystal Palace.

Manager Ernest Mangnall had taken a calculated gamble in selecting Scotland's Sandy Turnbull, who had been struggling with a knee injury. Mangnall had apparently been convinced by captain Charlie Roberts that Turnbull would last the game out and may even get a goal. Of course these things often pan out just as planned, and this occasion was no different as Turnbull scored the only goal after 20 odd minutes.

As was common before the introduction of substitutes, United finished the game with only ten fit players - left full back Vince Hayes having left the pitch and returned as a striker to finish the game. Before the game, United set up their tradition for razzmatazz with the hiring of Music Hall Star George Robey to present the team's kit to the players. He was also hired to provide the after match entertainment for the United players.

In getting to the final, United had beaten Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0, and then Everton by the same scoreline. In the third round, Blackburn Rovers suffered a 6-1 hammering and then in their quarter final United beat Burnley 3-2 in a close game. They drew perhaps the best team of the early 1900's in Newcastle United in the semi final, and secured a 1-0 victory. Bristol City played replays in all bar one round, beating Southampton, Bury, Norwich City, Glossop North End and finally Derby County to book their place in the final.

Alongside Sandy Turnbull in the United team was the great Billy Meredith. In common with Turnbull, Meredith had an FA Cup winner's medal as a member of the Manchester City team which won the cup in 1904.

Born in Chirk, North Wales, Billy Meredith was destined for a life as a miner. Indeed when he signed his first contract with City it was as an amateur and he commuted from home for the first twelve months as he was still working underground. Eventually he made the move to full time professional football and what a success he made of it. In two spells at City he scored 129 league goals from 367 games on the right wing.

His first spell at City was ended after he received an 18 month ban, having been accused and found guilty of attempting to bribe a fellow player to throw a match. In the fall out, Meredith blew the whistle on City's practice of paying players more than the FA imposed £4 per week. After the FA's investigation into City's operation, Meredith, Turnbull and two other City players were transferred to rivals Manchester United.

In this second part of his career Meredith played 303 league games scoring a more modest 35 goals. Overall, Meredith won the FA Cup twice (with City in 1904 and this win) and the league championship twice - with United in 1907-08 and 1910-11.

Sadly, Turnbull was killed in action at Arras, whilst serving with the East Surrey Regimient in WWI.