AS we build up to our first ever all-Manchester contested FA Cup Final this week, my nostalgia blog reflects on the most infamous past meeting between these two sides.
It featured an iconic goalscorer in tears and repeated pitch invasions causing the contest to be prematurely curtailed…
Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City
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Abandoned after 85 minutes
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at Old Trafford, Manchester
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Saturday 27th April 1974
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Football League Division One
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Attendance: 56,996
The Build-Up
It was the last regular Saturday of the 1973/74 campaign where Manchester United were enduring their worst Post-War fortunes.
Relegation could only be avoided if second bottom United won the concluding home affair against mid-table Manchester City plus a rearranged game at Stoke City. Furthermore, the Red Devils needed points to be dropped by other relegation candidates.
With no live Football League broadcasts on TV in those days, I remember avidly watching the edited highlights 24 hours later on ITV. I was both enthralled and shocked by what I saw.
The Goal
Prolific striker Denis Law had previously enjoyed a legendary Manchester United career between 1962 and 1973 scoring 237 goals in 404 outings throughout all competitions.
He deservedly achieved cult hero status among United followers. But having now reached 34 years old, Law was completing his career’s closing season playing for nearest rivals Manchester City on a free transfer.
In the 82nd minute of this crucial Old Trafford encounter, City’s Francis Lee passed to Law who faced away from goal six yards out. He apologetically performed a half-hearted back heel which dramatically trickled into the net past home goalkeeper Alex Stepney.
Law immediately appeared shell-shocked knowing he had condemned his beloved former club to relegation. He stood motionless while his City team mates celebrated.
The Commentary
I recall the descriptive words uttered by ITV commentator Gerald Sinstadt:
"Lee…Pulled across for Law…Denis has done it!...And no elation there at all from Denis Law…He’ll not have scored a cheekier goal on this ground where he has seen so many triumphs…Just look at that little back heel…"
The Substitution
Law was so distraught that he had to be substituted straight away. He slowly walked off the pitch, head down and tears in his eyes.
Sinstadt meekly said: "And Denis is going to come off…Farewell to Old Trafford…"
The Pitch Invasions
Law’s goal triggered several pitch invasions. The final incursion featured hundreds of Manchester United fans determined to get the match replayed.
Smoke bombs were also thrown. Consequently, referee David Smith abandoned proceedings despite five minutes remaining.
Sinstadt commented: "Well this is not a very happy day for Manchester whichever side of the fence you sit on…And one could do with Manchester supporters not to let down the name of the city…
"I suspect that we shall see the referee calling the players off…Yes he’s taking them off…And I don’t see him bringing them back on…
"So that presumably is the end of the game…And apart from 90 minutes at Stoke on Monday, the end of Manchester United’s 36 years unbroken run in the First Division…"
Press Reports
The Guardian’s Eric Todd wrote: "Saturday’s greatest irony at Old Trafford was, without doubt or exception, Denis Law’s goal.
"It was ‘the most unkindest cut of all’ in the words of Marcus Antonious…who in the same speech said ‘If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.’ Which seemed no less relevant."
Meanwhile, Daily Mirror reporter Frank McGhee heavily criticised pitch invaders in writing: "They have no love for the game, otherwise their reaction at the relegation of their team would have mirrored the reaction of the man who relegated them, Denis Law.
"Quite simply, that was sadness. I have seldom seen a more poignant moment in sport captured on television than the expression on Law’s face after he had scored the goal that sealed his old side’s tomb.
"And I have never seen anyone having to be consoled rather than congratulated for scoring. All his life, Denis has loved goals. That one, even though it was a bit special, he hated."
The Aftermath
Following a review, Football League top brass decided the result should stand confirming City’s 1-0 victory. Nevertheless, scorelines elsewhere meant Manchester United would have been relegated anyway without losing the controversial derby fixture.
United subsequently won promotion straight back to the top flight at the first attempt in being crowned champions of Division Two in 1974/75.
Goalscorer Quote
Denis Law later said: "I have seldom felt so depressed in my life as I did that day. Having given everything I had to score goals in my career, I had finally scored one which I almost wished I hadn’t. I was inconsolable. I didn’t want it to happen.
"I didn’t want to go back to Old Trafford and particularly win the match. Equally I didn’t want to get beaten because I was a professional footballer. So the game for me was going nicely at 0-0 with a few minutes to go.
"Then Franny Lee went forward and crossed the ball. I had not a clue where the goal was and I just back heeled it. I have to say it was a total fluke. I felt awful. There was silence in the stadium and I was very sad."
*Credit for photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
