Category Archives: Newton Heath

Manchester A Football History part 5

This is the fourth chapter of the 2010 edition of the book Manchester A Football History (Gary James, published by James Ward). Subscribers get full access to this; every earlier chapter; every upcoming chapter; and all other material on http://www.GJFootballArchive.com for as long as they subscribe.

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Manchester’s Footballing Pioneers, 1863–1904: A Collective Biography

ABSTRACT: Association football had become a prominent part of Manchester’s sporting landscape by 1904 when Manchester achieved its first national success. Its journey had been difficult, relying on the efforts of several key individuals whose relentless determination to widen the sport’s participation ensured the game succeeded. This paper provides an analysis of three pioneering figures, John Nall, Fitzroy Norris, and Joshua Parlby, who took the game from its formalized inception in the region through to its first national successes, considering their class, experience, shared history, and connections, while analyzing what these narratives add to the wider origins of football debate. The author concludes that football’s emergence depended primarily on the activities of key individuals from varying backgrounds who provided the energy, enthusiasm, and organizational structures necessary, while relying on cross-class connections, to establish the game within a region.

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FA Cup success, football infrastructure and the establishment of Manchester’s footballing identity

ABSTRACT: Contemporary Manchester is recognized internationally as a footballing city, with both Manchester United and Manchester City acknowledged as prominent clubs. However, the city has not always been a force in the game, nor has the game always been important across Manchester’s social spectrum. This paper examines how Manchester first became established as a footballing city, identify- ing that success in the FA Cup in 1904 stimulated interest in the game and con- siders how the legacy of that victory enabled the game to develop in terms of participation and spectating. It also considers the social mix of attendees at pro- fessional games in the city, and closes by concluding that footballing success generated increased interest and was the catalyst for improvement in the infra- structure for both participation and attendance, enabling Manchester’s footballing identity to become established.

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The First Competitive Manchester Derby (Season 1891-1892)

DATE 3rd October 1891

COMPETITION FA Cup 1st Rd (Qualifying)

VENUE North Road

ATTENDANCE 10,000

NEWTON HEATH 5 (Sneddon, Doughty, Farman 2, Edge)

ARDWICK 1 (Pearson)

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Stephen Preston

Mancunian Stephen Preston was, apparently, playing football near the New Inn, Ancoats, when United official Fred Palmer was walking by.  Palmer stopped to watch and was impressed with centre-forward Preston.  The player was signed up and on 7th September 1901 he made his mark with two goals on his debut against Gainsborough Trinity.

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Tom Leigh

After a career that had seen him play for Burton Swifts and New Brighton Tower Tom Leigh joined Newton Heath in March 1900.  He made his debut in snowy conditions at Bank Street against Barnsley on 17th March 1900.  He scored in a 3-0 win (Joe Cassidy netted twice) before a crowd of about 6,000.

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Henry Boyd

The first player to pass the twenty goals a season mark for the Heathens in the League, Scotsman Henry Boyd arrived at Bank Street in January 1897.  Previously he had developed a decent reputation at West Bromwich Albion and Royal Arsenal.

He made his Newton Heath debut on 6th February 1897 against Loughborough Town a memorable one as he scored one of the Heathens goals in a 6-0 victory.  He ended his first season with five goals from ten appearances but it was the following season when he really made his mark.

Boyd’s hat-tricks in the opening two games of the 1897-98 season set the standard, and he ended the campaign with 22 goals from 30 games (he was an ever-present) overshadowing hero Joe Cassidy who had netted 14.

Despite the positives behind the scenes there were a few issues with the Club’s new goalscoring star.  He missed training at the start of 1898-99 and was suspended for a week as a result.  The story goes that he was so appalled at the suspension that he went missing with the Club only learning of his whereabouts when he sent officials a telegram from Glasgow.  Further suspensions followed and he was placed on the transfer list.

In August 1899 he became a Falkirk player.  His last season at Bank Street had seen him make 12 appearances and score five goals.  His last goal came in the 2-0 defeat of Small Heath on 25th February 1899.

Leading Newton Heath League Scorer in: 1897-1898 – 22 goals, 30 appearances 

Joe Cassidy

Joe Cassidy was a ‘strong and burly’ forward who had provided Newton Heath with much needed attacking options during the final weeks of the 1892-93 season and the subsequent Test Matches, helping to prolong the club’s First Division status for one more season.  His initial stay at Newton Heath was fairly brief – he arrived in March 1893 and had moved to Celtic in May – but after a successful time in Glasgow he returned to the Heathens in March 1895.  On his second debut for the Club he netted both goals as the Heathens beat Grimsby Town 2-0 and ended that season with 8 goals from 8 games.

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Richard Smith

Halliwell-born Dick Smith joined Newton Heath during the summer of 1894 from Heywood Central and made his League debut on 8th September 1894 at Burton Wanderers.  Seven days later he netted his first – and second – goal for the Heathens as Crewe were torn apart during a 6-1 Bank Street victory.  

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Alf Farman

Alf Farman joined the Heathens in 1889 with his first known Alliance League appearance coming on 9thNovember 1889 when he scored against Long Eaton Rangers at North Road.  By the end of that season he had scored 5 goals in 17 appearances.

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