Manchester United: Triumphs, tragedy and trophies
Although the world now knows the Old Trafford giants as Manchester United and associates the team with their vivid red shirts, their story began in different colours.
Railway workers founded Newton Heath in 1878 and, wearing "white shirts with blue cord", they won their first recorded match 6-0 against Bolton's reserves.
Served with a winding-up order after financial issues in 1902, Newton Heath, who wore a green-and-gold kit by then, were taken over by a group including local businessman John Henry Davies.
Renamed Manchester United and playing in red shirts, the first of the club's English record of 20 top-flight titles was secured in 1908.
Matt Busby would provide the impetus for United's first truly dominant era. The Scot was appointed as manager in 1945 and reigned for the next 24 years, revitalising United with an infusion of homegrown talent.
His young "Busby Babes" won successive titles in 1956 and 1957 and United become the first English team to compete in the European Cup.
But disaster struck in 1958 when eight United players, including the great Duncan Edwards, died after a plane crash at Munich airport on the way home from a European Cup quarter-final against Red Star Belgrade.
Busby spent weeks in hospital before eventually returning to build another dashing young team from the ashes of the Munich tragedy.
George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law formed the attacking triumvirate that spearheaded Busby's second golden generation.
Best was the maverick genius whose pop star looks and dazzling skills made him famous beyond the world of football. United won the English title twice before their defining moment in 1968, when they beat Benfica 4-1 to become the first English team to win the European Cup.
It was a cathartic
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