Ernest Mangnall (1903 - 1912)

Two men have succeeded in their dream of making Manchester United a great club. Sir Matt Busby achieved it in the post-World War Two era, and the first to that goal was Ernest Mangnall. Like Busby, Mangnall had the ability to motivate players and the powers to spot and nurture emerging talent. And like Busby, he had a burning, unquenchable thirst for success.

Mangnall joined United from Burnley, succeeding James West as secretary in 1903. Along with the club's first great benefactor, J.H. Davies, he transformed Manchester United into one of the giants of the First Division, a team to be feared and repected. Mangnall broght players like Roberts, Duckworth and Moger to Clayton and in three years had produced a promotion-winning team.

In 1907, when seven Manchester City stars were suspended because of an illegal payments scandal, it was Mangnall who swooped to sign Sandy Turnbull, Herbert Burgess, Jimmy Bannister and the great Billy Meredith. With those stars, United won the League Championship for the first time. They later went on to win the FA Cup for the first time - and another League title.

When that great team began to wane, Mangnall moved across to Manchester City in 1912. Not until Busby's reign, which began over 30 years later, did Manchester United develop anything like the great side which Ernest Mangnall had once assembled. During his playing career, Mangnall appeared in goal for a Lancashire County team which also included J.J. Bently, who later succeeded him as secretary at United.