Category Archives: 1956-57

David Gaskell

I missed this yesterday but another Manchester footballing figure has died. Manchester United’s record-breaking former goalkeeper David Gaskell, has died aged 84. Gaskell was just 16 years and 19 days old when he came on for United, following an injury to first-choice keeper Ray Wood. The game was the first ever Manchester derby in the Charity Shield, played at Maine Rd in October 1956. He remains the record for the youngest player to make their debut for United.

He kept a clean sheet and United won the Shield match 1-0.

My thoughts are with Gaskell’s family and friends.

Here’s a report of the 1956 Charity Shield. Note they say Gaskell is 15 not his actual age, but he made history that day not just as United’s youngest player. He was also the first substitute in a Manchester derby. Substitutions were not allowed in competitive football but as this was a charity game and Wood could not continue in nets both teams agreed.

The First Charity Shield Manchester Derby

On this day (24 October) in 1956…

Attendance: 30,495; City 0 United 1 (first Charity Shield match between the sides)

The Champions beat the Cup holders under floodlights with a goal from local lad Dennis Violet.  United are the better side while City seem a little pedestrian.  Charity is much in evidence, however, as the Reds are allowed to replace ‘keeper Wood with their reserve David Gaskell when injury strikes.

European Semi Finals

Tonight Manchester City take on Paris Saint Germain in the 2nd leg of the Champions League semi-final. The Blues won the first leg 2-1 and are hopeful of reaching their first Champions League final. It would not of course be their first two-legged semi-final win in Europe – that came way back in 1970. 

You can read about that 1970 ECWC semi-final here:

The 1970 ECWC Semi-Final

Manchester United were the first of the region’s sides to compete in European competition and they reached a European Cup semi-final in 1956-57. They’d played their earlier rounds at Maine Road, where they’d attracted significant attendances (including their current record home European crowd) but they moved the semi-final to Old Trafford. Here for subscribers is the story of that campaign:

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