The Manchester United Welsh

The story of the Welsh greats who played for and coached Manchester United football team from the beginnings in 1886 until the present day, with specific reference to Billy Meredith, Jimmy Murphy, Mickey Thomas, Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1 From Newton Heath to Manchester United 2 Billy Meredith and the first Golden Age 3 Jimmy Murphy and the ‘Busby Babes’ 4 Mickey Thomas and other characters 5 Sparky 6 Ryan Giggs: one club, one nation Appendix Sources Index of the United Welshmen

Review :
One of my few claims to fame as far as soccer is concerned is that the erstwhile manager of Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, once accused me of being illegitimate. He didn't use that particular adjective, but you will get my drift. I should explain that he was smiling at the time, not an emotion usually displayed by Sir Alex. I was at Old Trafford and The Cliff training ground, filming a documentary on United's Welsh connections. Gwyn Jenkins and Ioan Gwyn have done a much more thorough job of it. What led to the great man's accusation, by the way, was the fact that he noticed I was sporting an Arsenal badge. United is a Marmite club. It's an institution that you either love or hate. There is no grey area. It is probably the best-supported soccer team in Wales, and indeed worldwide. The introduction notes that the club has an estimated 659 million followers globally. It is also the most hated club, that hatred mainly born of jealousy. And the Welsh can boast a massive contribution to its success – and subsequent hatred – over its century and a half of rich history. From Billy Meredith to Ryan Giggs, the Welsh presence in the team, plus an outstanding coach in Jimmy Murphy, has made the Red Devils particularly attractive to Welsh soccer supporters over the years. Extensive research by the co-authors has unearthed names that I had never even heard of, and the index lists no fewer than 31 Welsh players who have represented the club. Here and there the authors have included some fascinating cameos on the broader canvas. You will discover who played 963 games for the club; which player was named after a Roman Emperor; who was accused of match fixing; who the legendary Matt Busby regarded as his star signing, and the origin of the term 'hairdryer treatment’ perfected by Sir Alex ... Included is a most useful appendix that lists and explains original field positions. Terms such as wing half and inside forward have long disappeared. Another very useful chapter, especially for United adherents, is one that lists sources, websites, film clips and books. This is a book that should appeal not only to Manchester United fans but to all of us who follow the beautiful game; even an illegitimate Arsenal fan like me. The Manchester United Welsh travels back through the history of one of the best-known football clubs in the world, beginning at the dawn of the club as Newton Heath in the 1870s, tracking its progress over the next century or more as the club grew and flourished under managers such as Sir Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson, and bringing us right up date with recent signings. But what is unique about this book is its unique view of the club from a Welsh perspective, tracing the considerable contribution to its enormous success made by a few key individuals with one important thing in common – their roots in this small but proud nation.