Club History: Disappointing Seventies 1970 - 1980

1970 - 1971: Sir Matt returns

In 42 matches United managed to only score 66 goals. In the FA Cup United were defeated in the third round and in the League Cup they reached the semi final before being knocked out.

1971 - 1972: O'Farrell steps into Sir Matt's shoes
Matt Busby resigned as manager, joining the board of directors. The next manager was Frank O'Farrell. But under O'Farrell United had another poor season. They finished 8th again in League, with 19 wins out of 42 matches, scoring almost the same amount of goals as the previous season, only 69 in 42 matches.

In the FA Cup they reached the sixth round, but were eliminated by Stoke City. In the League Cup, United reached the fourth round but again Stoke City were the stronger team. O'Farrell signed Martin Buchan from Aberdeen and Ian Storey-Moore from Nottingham Forest for £200,000.

1972 - 1973: Tommy Docherty takes over
This was yet another gloomy season for United, they started the season poorly and in December Frank O'Farrell was dismissed in favour of Tommy Docherty. Docherty was a man who was media friendly and spoke the same language as the fans on the terraces. He kept a poor team in the first division in his first season by buying a lot of new players.

New arrivals included Ted MacDougall from Bournemouth, Wyn Davies from Manchester City, Alex Forsyth from Patrick Thistle, Jim Holton from Shrewsbury Town, George Graham from Arsenal and Lou Macari from Celtic. MacDougall however moved to West Ham United after just six months at the club.

At the beginning of the season both George Best and Bobby Charlton announced their retirements whilst Denis Law rejoined Manchester City. United finished a disappointing 18th place in the league with only 12 wins and 48 goals scored in 42 matches. In the FA Cup as well as the League Cup United reached the third round.

1973 - 1974: Relegation!
What had threatened a season earlier eventually happened this season, United were relegated. For the first time in almost forty years United returned to division two. But the relegation proved beneficial in the long run, as it gave them the time needed to rebuild a new team.

Docherty bought Paddy Roche from Shelbourne, Stewart Houston from Brentford and Jim McCalling from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The worst thing for the United supporters was that it was Denis Law for Manchester City who backheeled United into the lower division. 10,000 fans invaded the pitch with seven minutes remaining, hoping to get the match abandoned, but it didn't help. United was relegated and instead of meeting Liverpool, Leeds, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea among others, they now had to visit Oldham, York, Millwall, Bristol and Blackpool. United finished 21st with only ten wins and 38 goals scored.

In the League Cup United reached only the second round and their FA Cup campaign ended in the fourth round.

1974 - 1975: Roaring back into Division 1
United roared back in style after just one season in Division Two. They became the Champions with sixty one points and only seven defeats, but also only 66 goals scored in 42 matches. Docherty continued his rebuilding as he bought Stuart Pearson from Hull City and Steve Coppell from Tranmere Rovers.

In the League Cup United lost in the semi-final, but that didn't matter, as in the fourth round they had beaten Manchester City, always a bonus in those days. In the FA Cup they failed to progress beyond the third round.

1975 - 1976: United back where they belong
In their first season back in the top flight United finished third behind the dominant Liverpool. They lost 9 times and scored 68 goals and were back where they belonged, at the top of the table in division one.

Gordon Hill moved to Old Trafford from Millwall. In the League Cup United lost in the fourth round. But in the FA Cup United reached the final where they met Southampton from the second division.

Everybody in the country was convinced that this would be United's fourth FA Cup, but it turned out to be a massive upset. Southampton stunned United with a 1-0 win at Wembley.

United would have to wait another year for their first trophy since winning the European Cup in 1968.

1976 - 1977: FA Cup glory, Doc dismissed!
This season United returned to Wembley and now they had to beat Liverpool to win the cup. United ended Liverpool's hopes of the treble (Championship, League Cup and FA Cup) by winning the FA Cup final 2-1.

Pearson scored the opening goal for United and the second was a lucky strike from Jimmy Greenhoff, who signed for United at the start of the season from Stoke City.

A month later, Docherty was sacked after it came to light that he was having an affair with the wife of the club's physiotherapist. United played some great football under the Doc and he brought Buchan, Hill, Coppell and other class players to United. Dave Sexton replaced him, but Sexton's era will not be remembered very fondly by most Reds as he failed to bring a trophy to Old Trafford.

In the UEFA Cup United were knocked out in the second round by Juventus, the Italians giants winning 3-1 on aggregate ending United's European ambitions. The club's record transfer fee received was equalled when Gerry Daly moved to Derby County in April for £170,000.

1977 - 1978: No Silverware in Sexton's first season
Following the FA Cup triumph of the previous season 1977/78 failed to deliver further success as United finished a disappointing 10th in the League with 16 wins, 10 draws and 16 defeats and scored 67 goals, their goal average was only +4. In the FA Cup they were beaten in the fourth round and in the League Cup they progressed only as far as the second round.

In the European Cup Winners' Cup United won the first round and met FC Porto in the second. United's European dreams ended again with a 6-5 aggregate defeat. United did however share the Charity Shield with Liverpool after a 0:0 draw with Liverpool.

United set a new record transfer between British clubs by signing Gordon McQueen from Leeds United for £500,000. This followed the earlier move by Joe Jordan, also from Elland Road, for £350,000. A record fee was recieved from Derby County again for Gordon Hill, sold for £250,000.

1978 - 1979: Wembley heartbreak in United's centenary season
United's centenary season got under way with a 4-0 win against Real Madrid, watched by almost 50,000 fans. But at the end of the campaign there was disappointment as United lost a sensational FA Cup final to Arsenal.

With Arsenal leading 2-0 and less than 5 minutes remaining McQueen scored to give United hope and incredibly a minute later Sammy McIllroy pulled the scores level. But there was heartbreak for United as in the last minute Arsenal stole the winner to win the FA Cup.

In the league United ended again disappointed, finishing only 9th. In the League Cup they lost once again in the third round. Sexton signed Mickey Thomas from Wrexham for £300,000.

1979 - 1980: Pipped to the Title by Liverpool
The season began with United paying and receiving record club transfer fees. Ray Wilkins moved from Chelsea to Manchester for £825,000 and Jimmy Greenhoff went to Leeds United for 350,000.

United came very close to winning the Championship this season, but Liverpool pipped them to the finishing line. United had to settle for second, despite only eight defeats in the league.

In the FA Cup there was defeat in the third round and in the League Cup they were also knocked out in the third round.

Frustrating Eighties 1980 - 1990