140 years of Excellence; From Newton Heath to Manchester United, The Journey so Far.

Celebrating 140 years of remarkable history, Manchester United F.C is regarded as one of the biggest Clubs in the Football world. The club which started of as Newton Heath LYR by the Carriage and Wagon department of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot at Newton Heath in 1878 to Conquering the Europe & the rest of the World in 2008. We Here at 3i football Will take a look at th earlier years in Creating the Biggest Project in English Football.

The Beginning

In 1878 the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company granted permission for the employees of its Carriage and Wagon department to start a football team, which was subsequently named Newton Heath LYR . LYR stood for "Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway" and was used to distinguish the team from their colleagues from the Motive Power Division, who were known as Newton Heath Loco.  The team was funded by the railway company, who paid the lease on its first home ground, a field close to the railway yard on North Road. It is said that the players were "tough, diligent men who formed a powerful side";  they initially played games against other teams of railway workers, very few of which were recorded. During the 1882–83 season, the team played a total of 26 recorded friendly matches, and the following season competed in the Lancashire Cup but lost 7–2 in the first round to the reserve team of

Blackburn Olympic .  In 1884, Newton Heath LYR applied for the Manchester and District Challenge Cup and reached the final, which they lost 3–0 to Hurst at Whalley Range.  The team never failed to score at least three goals in each of the rounds leading up to the final, including in a first round match against Eccles that had to be replayed after the Eccles management protested about Newton Heath's third goal. 

Newton Heath reached the final of the Manchester and District Challenge Cup a further five times, winning all but one. Meanwhile, in 1886, the club began to expand by signing players of national reputation such as Jack Powell, who became club captain, Jack and Roger Doughty, and Tom Burke.In 1886–87 the club entered the FA Cup for the first time .

and were drawn away to Fleetwood Rangers in the first round; they managed to earn a 2–2 but when club captain Jack Powell refused to play a period of extra time, Fleetwood were awarded the tie. A subsequent unsuccessful protest to the Football Associationled to Newton Heath LYR entering a self-imposed exile from the FA Cup, which lasted until 1889.
Newton Heath In 1888, having been spurned by the newly formed the Football League , Newton Heath entered their first ever league competition, becoming founder members of The Combination . The combination went bankrupt just before the completion of the Season which Made Newton heath apply to the Football league. The Application was rejected & Newton heath had to form the "Football Alliance" with 11 other clubs in which they finished eighth in the first season. In 1892, NH was finally admitted to the Football league following its merger with the "Football Alliance" finishing being Nottingham Forest in first.
 Between 1900-1902 the Club was hit with a Severe Financial Crisis that club cdptsin Harry Stratford had to search for 4 investors  who raised £2000 just in time to save the Club. Due to their Investment, The investors led by local brewer John henry Davies that Changed the name To Manchester United Football Club. Thus, A legend was Born. As they say, The rest is History.