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 respected.

Mangnall brought 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 thirty years later, did Manchester United develop anything like the great side that Ernest Mangnall had once assembled.

During his playing career, Mangnall appeared in goal for a Lancashire County team which also included J.J.Bentley, who later succeeded him as secretary at United.

John Robson, 1914-1921. 

John R.Robson was the first official to assume the actual title of Manager. Although Ernest Mangnall was the first man to fill the post, his title was that of Secretary, as was that of his successors, T.J.Wallworth and J.J.Bentley.

On Bentley’s resignation in 1916, Robson took on both roles as United soldiered on through wartime football. He joined United from Brighton, on 28 December 1914, after spells with Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace, and remained in charge until ill health forced his retirement in October 1921.

Throughout Robson’s managerial career at Old Trafford, United remained a First Division club, albeit with a four-season break because of war, but they were on the decline when he was forced to quit. Upon his resignation, Robson was appointed assistant to his successor, John Chapman. 

John Chapman, 1921-1926. 

When John Robson resigned in 1921, John Chapman was appointed with Robson staying on as his assistant. Chapman came from Airdrieonians and found United to be a struggling First Division team.

His presence made no immediate impact, and in his first 15 games in charge, United scored only one victory. The season finished with them bottom of the table, and it took Chapman three seasons to haul them back to Division One.

The first season back in the top flight saw United finish ninth, and Chapman’s side gave Old Trafford fans some hope of success when he took them to their first FA Cup semi-final since they won the trophy in 1909. Manchester City ended United’s dreams of their first Wembley Final. Chapman’s signings included Frank Barson, Frank Mann, Tom Jones, Jim Hanson and Frank McPherson.

In October 1926, Manchester United received a letter from the Football Association telling them that Chapman was to be suspended forthwith from all involvement with football, because of alleged improper conduct whilst acting as the club’s Secretary-Manager

The full details of the charge were never made public, but United had little option but to dispense with their Manager’s services. 

Clarence Hilditch, 1926-1927. 

Clarrie Hilditch gave Manchester United loyal and devoted service over 16 years. When John Chapman was suspended by the FA, and subsequently sacked by United, Hilditch stepped into the breach as Player-Manager, the only such appointment in the club’s history. During his short spell in charge he was reluctant to select himself, and United slipped. When Herbert Bamlett was appointed in April 1927, Hilditch made himself available for selection by the new Manager, and continued to serve the club as a player until his retirement in 1932. 

Herbert Bamlett, 1927-1931. 

Herbert Bamlett took over when United were struggling in Division One, and during his four seasons in charge it had to be said that things hardly improved, despite him recruiting the fire-power of strikers Tommy Reid and Henry Rowley. United finished bottom of the table, and in 1930-31 after conceding 115 goals and losing their first 12 games, it was inevitable that Bamlett and United would part company at the end of that depressing season.

Before venturing into the world of management, Bamlett had been one of the country’s top referees. Born in Gateshead, he was one of several top-class officials to come from that area and in 1914, aged 32, he became the youngest man to referee an FA Cup Final, when he took charge of the game between Burnley and Liverpool at the Crystal Palace.

Bamlett was also the referee for the Burnley-Manchester United FA Cup quarter-final tie in 1909, which he abandoned with 18 minutes to go and United trailing 0-1. United went on to win the re-arranged match and the Cup. Before taking charge at Old Trafford, Bamlett managed Oldham Athletic, Wigan Borough and Middlesbrough. 

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