Players Parade at Goodison Park

Appearance record to end of 1969-70 season

Football League – Division 1

Saturday 21st February 1971

By Alan Williams, Daily Express, in Everton Matchday Magazine

MANCHESTER UNITED

Alan Gowling

The name of ALAN GOWLING has yet to capture fame in the midst of competition with the stars of Old Trafford, but the Stockport man has shown himself to be a lively prospect as a striker. Made his Leauge bow while still an amateur.

Alan Gowling´s Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 12 (2)  Goals 4

Bobby Charlton

BOBBY CHARLTON has established two more landmarks in a fabulous career during the last year – a record 106 caps for England, beating by one the total of Billy Wright, and his 500^th Leauge game for the club he has served so well since appearing as a teenager in 1956. The 1957 FA Cup final was his first taste of the Wembley atmosphere and in the years since he has become the darling of the crowds at the national stadium.

He has scored a record 47 goals for his country since making his international introduction in 1957-58 and he has won all the major team honours – World Cup, European Cup, Leauge Championship, and FA Cup.

Now, at the age of 33, Charlton has finally been dislodged from the England team, but he is still a valuable asset as Manchester United strive to build another great team.

Bobby Charlton´s Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 488  Goals 180

Carlo Sartori

Handy man of the United pool is Italian-born, red-haired CARLO SARTORI. First came to prominence in the World Clubs Championship in 1968 and has impressed as a midfield worker.

Carlo Sartori´s Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 24 (6)  Goals 2

Denis Law

DENIS LAW´s talent for scoring goals have been valued at over a quarter of a million pounds in transfer deals - £55,000 from Huddersfield to Manchester City. £80,000 from Maine Road to Turin, of Italy, and then £116,000 for Manchester United to restore him to the British scene in 1962.

One of the few modern players with a First Division average of more than one goal in two games. Law has won 43 Scottish caps since his international debut at 18 and is a former European footballer of the Year.

Denis Law´s Leauge career:

Huddersfield Apps. 81  Goals 8

Manchester City Apps. 44  Goals 21

Manchester United Apps. 235 (1)  Goals 142

George Best

Like Bobby Charlton, the mercurial GEORGE BEST has also been named Footballer of the Year at home and on the continent – but at a much earlier age. The Irish genius is still only 25 and many believe he has yet to reach his peak. Has won 23 Irish caps and recorded the individual feat of last season with six goals at Northampton.

George Best´s Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 250 Goals 95

Tony Dunne

TONY DUNNE, signed from Shelbourne for only £5,000 in 1960, represents one of Manchester United´s best-ever buys. Capped by Eire as an amateur and professional, he has been adding to his international honours again this season.

He was in United´s successful teams in the Sixties, starting with a Cup winners´ medal in 1963.

Tony Dunne´s Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 321 Goals 2

Paul Edwards

PAUL EDWARDS started out on his Leauge career as a surprise choice at centre half here at Goodison Park last August – the day when United shocked the world by dropping Charlton, Law and Foulkes. Paul later established so well at full back that he made the England Under-23 squad by the end of the season. His opportunities have been more restricted this term, but he recently had a crack at the problem No 5 position.

Paul Edwards Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 18 (10)

John Fitzpatrick

JOHN FITZPATRICK, the sharp-tackling Aberdonian defender, has spent most of this season operating in his original wing half role, but recently he switched to full back, where he did well last season.

John Fitzpatrick´s Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 70 (5)  Goals 6

Ian Ure

In the search to replace Foulkes United gambled £80,000 on Arsenal´s  Scottish international, IAN URE, early last season. The move paid off in the run to the semi-finals of both domestic cup competitions, but Ure has not reached such consistent form this season.

Ian Ure´s Leauge career:

Dundee Apps. 106

Arsenal Apps. 167  Goals 2

Manchester United Apps. 34 Goals 1

Alex Stepney

Mitcham-born ALEX STEPNEY has been in Sir Alf Ramsey´s England squad for several seasons - but this term fell flat for the former Millwall and Chelsea goalkeeper when he lost his Old Trafford position to Jimmy Rimmer. The Cup exit at Middlesbrough in January was the signal to recall Stepney and his form has assisted a United revival in the Leauge.

Stepney won three Under-23 caps while helping Millwall rise from the Fourth to the Second Division and drew a £50,000 transfer to Chelsea. But he only made one appearance for the Stamford Bridge team and moved on to Manchester for a similar fee. Won one England cap against Sweden in 1967-68.

Alex Stepney´s Leauge career:

Millwall Apps. 137

Chelsea Apps. 1 

Manchester United Apps. 151

Brian Kidd

The future productivity of the United forward line depends a great deal on the scoring form of BRIAN KIDD, who has already gained two caps to add to his first major honour, a European Cup medal on his 19^th birthday. Took his total of Under-23 caps to ten with two more appearance this season.

Brian Kidd´s Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 99 (2) Goals 28

David Sadler

DAVID SADLER was that footballing rarity – an outstanding amateur who waited to ensure his business career (in banking) before listening to a mass of offers from professional clubs. United won the chase for his signature in 1962 and the young man of Kent has since won four full caps – one this season against East Germany – and three Under-23 honours.

David Sadler´s Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps 175  Goals 20

Francis Burns

A Scottish cap in the World Cup qualifying game against Austria in Vienna made last season a memorable one for FRANCIS BURNS, who reached the international grade on the strength he displayed in midfield.

But the former Under-23 cap was originally a full back until upset by injury troubles, and that´s where he is playing again.

Francis Burns Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 80 (2)  Goals 5

Willie Morgan

WILLIE MORGAN, sometimes called Best´s #soccer twin” because of the similarity of style and appearance, cost United a rare six-figure fee when he was signed from Burnley at the start of the 1968-69 season.

This tricky touchline operator won his only Scottish cap while with the Turf Moor club.

Willie Morgan´s Leauge career:

Burnley Apps. 183  Goals 19

Manchester United Apps. 64  Goals 12

Steve James

STEVE JAMES, a Black Country man who was signed from under the noses of Wolves, looked the obvious successor to veteran Bill Foulkes when he came into the side two years ago. But injuries and an appendicitis operation interrupted his progress.

Steve James  Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 23  Goals 1

Pat Crerand

Sir Matt Busby laid one of the foundations for eventual success in the European Cup when he paid Celtic £55,000 in 1963 to capture brilliant wing half PAT CRERAND.

Within three month he had picked up the first of his English honours in the FA Cup victory over Leicester at Wembley. Strangely, Crerand has won only four of his 16 Scottish caps while playing for the Red Devils. Last season it appeard that he might be nearing the end of his career, but he was recalled in December and played a part in the run to the FA Cup semi final.

Pat Crerand´s Leauge career:

Celtic Apps. 91  Goals 4

Manchester United Apps. 280  Goals 10

John Aston

JOHN ASTON, son of the United coach, made himself a national name with his devasting wing display in the European Cup Final two years ago, but a broken leg was a serious blow to his development. Came back to win an Under-23 cap last year.

John Aston´s Leauge career:

Manchester United Apps. 118 (8)  Goals 22