1967–68 Manchester United F.C. season explained

Club:Manchester United
Season:1967–68
Manager:Matt Busby
Chairman:Louis Edwards
League:First Division
League Result:2nd
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Third Round
Cup2:European Cup
Cup2 Result:Winners
Cup3:Charity Shield
Cup3 Result:Shared
League Topscorer:
George Best (28)
Season Topscorer:
George Best (32)
Highest Attendance:63,500 vs Tottenham Hotspur (27 January 1968)
63,500 vs Real Madrid (24 April 1968)
Lowest Attendance:43,912 vs Hibernians (20 September 1967)
Average Attendance:57,790
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Prevseason:1966–67
Nextseason:1968–69

The 1967–68 season was one of the most successful seasons in Manchester United's history, as the team beat Benfica 4–1 in the final of the 1967–68 European Cup to become the first English team to win the competition. The team was led by manager Matt Busby. Despite the European Cup success, United finished second in the First Division, two points behind local rival Manchester City after losing the last game of the season against Sunderland.

The 1967–68 season was a breakout year for winger George Best, who led the team with 28 goals in the First Division and 32 goals overall, being voted European Footballer of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year. Four other players scored double-digit goals during the campaign: Bobby Charlton (20), Brian Kidd (17), Denis Law (11), and young winger John Aston, Jr. (10).

FA Charity Shield

See main article: 1967 FA Charity Shield.

On 12 August 1967, United and Tottenham Hotspur kicked off the season, playing for the 1967 FA Charity Shield at Old Trafford. Bobby Charlton scored two goals for United, while Denis Law scored their third. The match finished at 3–3,[1] which meant that the two clubs shared the Shield, each holding it for six months.

Football League First Division

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendanceLeague
position
19 August 1967EvertonA1–3Charlton61,45218th
23 August 1967Leeds UnitedH1–0Charlton53,01613th
26 August 1967Leicester CityH1–1Foulkes51,25611th
2 September 1967West Ham UnitedA3–1Kidd, Ryan, Sadler36,5629th
6 September 1967SunderlandA1–1Kidd51,52710th
9 September 1967BurnleyH2–2Burns, Crerand55,80911th
16 September 1967Sheffield WednesdayA1–1Best47,2749th
23 September 1967Tottenham HotspurH3–1Best (2), Law58,7797th
30 September 1967Manchester CityA2–1Charlton (2)62,9425th
7 October 1967ArsenalH1–0Aston60,1973rd
14 October 1967Sheffield UnitedA3–0Aston, Kidd, Law29,1703rd
25 October 1967Coventry CityH4–0Aston (2), Best, Charlton54,2532nd
28 October 1967Nottingham ForestA1–3Best49,9462nd
4 November 1967Stoke CityH1–0Charlton51,0412nd
8 November 1967Leeds UnitedA0–143,9992nd
11 November 1967LiverpoolA2–0Best (2)54,5151st
18 November 1967SouthamptonH3–2Aston, Charlton, Kidd48,7321st
25 November 1967ChelseaA1–1Kidd54,7121st
2 December 1967West Bromwich AlbionH2–1Best (2)52,5681st
9 December 1967Newcastle UnitedA2–2Dunne, Kidd48,6391st
16 December 1967EvertonH3–1Aston, Law, Sadler60,7361st
23 December 1967Leicester CityA2–2Charlton, Law40,1041st
26 December 1967Wolverhampton WanderersH4–0Best (2), Charlton, Kidd63,4501st
30 December 1967Wolverhampton WanderersA3–2Aston, Charlton, Kidd53,9401st
6 January 1968West Ham UnitedH3–1Aston, Best, Charlton54,4681st
20 January 1968Sheffield WednesdayH4–2Best (2), Charlton, Kidd55,2541st
3 February 1968Tottenham HotspurA2–1Best, Charlton57,7901st
17 February 1968BurnleyA1–2Best31,9651st
24 February 1968ArsenalH2–0Best, Own goal46,4171st
2 March 1968ChelseaH1–3Kidd62,9781st
16 March 1968Coventry CityA0–247,1102nd
23 March 1968Nottingham ForestH3–0Brennan, Burns, Herd61,9782nd
27 March 1968Manchester CityH1–3Best63,0043rd
30 March 1968Stoke CityA4–2Aston, Best, Gowling, Ryan30,1411st
6 April 1968LiverpoolH1–2Best63,0592nd
12 April 1968FulhamA4–0Best (2), Kidd, Law40,1521st
13 April 1968SouthamptonA2–2Best, Charlton30,0791st
15 April 1968FulhamH3–0Aston, Best, Charlton60,4651st
20 April 1968Sheffield UnitedH1–0Law55,0331st
29 April 1968West Bromwich AlbionA3–6Law, Kidd (2)43,4121st
4 May 1968Newcastle UnitedH6–0Best (3), Kidd (2), Sadler59,9762nd
11 May 1968SunderlandH1–2Best62,9632nd

FA Cup

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
27 January 1968Third RoundTottenham HotspurH2–2Best, Charlton63,500
31 January 1968Third Round
Replay
Tottenham HotspurA0–157,200

European Cup

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
20 September 1967First round
First leg
HiberniansH4–0Law (2), Sadler (2)43,912
27 September 1967First round
Second leg
HiberniansA0–025,000
15 November 1967Second round
First leg
FK SarajevoA0–045,000
29 November 1967Second round
Second leg
FK SarajevoH2–1Aston, Best62,801
27 February 1968Quarter-final
First leg
Górnik ZabrzeH2–0Florenski (o.g.), Kidd63,456
13 March 1968Quarter-final
Second leg
Górnik ZabrzeA0–1105,000
24 April 1968Semi-final
First leg
Real MadridH1–0Best63,500
15 May 1968Semi-final
Second leg
Real MadridA3–3Foulkes, Sadler, Zoco (o.g.)125,000
29 May 1968FinalBenficaN4–1
(a.e.t.)
Charlton (2), Best, Kidd100,000

Squad statistics

Pos.NameFirst DivisionFA CupEuropean CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Jimmy Rimmer1000000010
GK Alex Stepney410209010530
FB Shay Brennan131003010171
FB Francis Burns362207000492
FB Tony Dunne371209010491
FB Frank Kopel1(1)00000001(1)0
HB Pat Crerand411209010531
HB John Fitzpatrick14(3)020200018(3)0
HB Bill Foulkes241006110312
HB David Sadler40(1)320930051(1)6
HB Nobby Stiles200007010280
FW John Aston, Jr.34(3)1120611043(3)11
FW George Best41282193105332
FW Bobby Charlton41152192125320
FW Alan Gowling4(1)10000004(1)1
FW David Herd6110100081
FW38152092105017
FW Denis Law2371032112810
FW Jimmy Ryan7(1)20010008(1)2
Own goals10203

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: GOALIE REGISTERS IN SOCCER GAME; Jennings Helps Tottenham Gain 3-3 Deadlock . The New York Times . 175 . 13 August 1967 .