Cumbernauld Utd
United vs Manchester United 1974
"United In Friendship"
In season 1972/73 a remarkable chapter was written in the annuals of Cumbernauld United. Because of poor drainage and the fact that the lease of the ground at Ravenswood was expiring, United were grateful when the Local Council offered them a site at Guy's Meadow as their new home. The playing surface had already prepared and a pavilion, covered enclosure and terracing would all be provided. In addition, the provision would be made to extend the playing field, a car park and the erection of barriers to meet SJFA specifications. It was also at this time that Dryboroughs Brewery agreed to underwrite the erection of a Social Club adjacent to the park at an estimated cost of £30,000.
In February 1974, the mighty Manchester United agreed to come to Guy's Meadow in April to inaugurate the new ground and so it was on 29th April 1974 that Cumbernauld United returned to the place where it had all began over seventy years earlier. The match against Manchester United that night attracted in excess of 4,000 to see the mighty "Man U" beat the "The Nauld U" by three goals to one.
The Manchester squad consisted of:
Roche, McKeown, Sidebottom, Nicholl, Griffiths, Keliy, Buchan, Fitzpatrick, Kidd, Anderson and Fellows with subs Wardrop and McKelvey
The Cumbernauld squad consisted of:
J McCluskey, Fawcett, Scott, Duncan, Johnston, Stewart, Mulholland, Sloan, Walker, Malone and Mclntyre with subs Simpson, Christie, Smith, G McCluskey, Murphy and Graham.
Manchester took the lead after only four minutes when Anderson slotted the ball past McCluskey and Kelly made it 2-0 nine minutes later. In the second half, Kelly pulled one back for Cumbernauld only to see Man U's sub, McKelvey, restore their two goal advantage in the sixty-seventh minute. The actual result that night was of little consequence as another great compliment had been paid to Cumbernauid. As with Celtic, Manchester United were past winners of the European Cup and the significance of the fact that such a high profile outfit had sent a side all the way to play a junior club was not lost and so it was felt that a gesture should be made to try and unite the various factions in the area in support of the football club and a coat of arms was designed to coincide with the visit of Manchester United and the motto "United in friendship" seemed appropriate.
