There’s as much chance of “Rule Britannia” (in any form) ringing around Old Trafford as United fans starting with “In-ger-lund, In-ger-lund, In-ger-lund” or (God forbid) “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”: no chance whatsoever.
At Old Trafford, the sentiment is captured succinctly in the Stretford End banner which reads:
United > England
Much can be written about this principle. Some point to the recent treatment of Beckham, Neville and Ronaldo in the aftermath of international tournaments, when England’s failings were conveniently blamed on United players (see for example, this article at AbsolutelyUnited.com).
A longer memory and wider perspective will note that United’s skepticism of the “In-ger-lund” mob stems from well beyond these events; it can be traced to (at least) the decision of the Football League and Football Association to withdraw their blessings for the then incipient European Cup. As is well known, a pre-Abramovich Chelsea cowed under the threat of domestic sanctions and withdrew from the competition.
Winning the Championship [in 1954-55] should have ensured that Chelsea became the first English participants in the inaugural European Cup competition the following season. However, they were denied by the intervention of the Football League and the F.A., many of whose leading members were opposed to the idea and felt primacy should be given to domestic competitions, so the club withdrew. (Chelsea FC)
So Chelsea withered for the next half century, while Busby’s Babes re-wrote their fates.
The history of United and European football intersected at Munich in 1958. Commentators have at different times, and in varying degrees of intensity, have apportioned blame on the Football League. It was they who insisted that United return well in time to fulfil their Saturday fixture. Threatened with points deduction, Busby’s hands were tied, and instead of an overnight stay in Munich, that third, fatal, take-off was attempted. See, for example, Jeff Conor’s The Lost Babes: Manchester United and the Forgotten Victims of Munich
United will always be bigger than “In-ger-lund”. Witness the founding of the Republik of Mancunia; hear the chants of “Argentina, Argentina” around Old Traford.
Always remember: YCSYFEUYA.
3 Comments
August 10, 2008 at 3:55 pm
As United are greater than England, all the more reason to take a song about British domination (of the seas) and make it into a chant about United domination (of Britain, or at least England)?
August 10, 2008 at 4:11 pm
There are two versions:
From manutdzone.com
and
From Wikipedia.
Elsewhere on Wikipedia, it is stated that “Against the Football League’s wishes, they became England’s first representatives in the European Cup”.
August 11, 2008 at 10:28 am
The Wikipedia portion which claims United entered “at the behest” of the FA is plain nonsense.
The quote from manutdzone.com captures a sentiment that ran in Sir Matt Busby’s blood and in his thinking as any good United fan would know. See Eamon Dunphy’s excellent A Strange Kind of Glory: Sir Matt Busby and Manchester United. That Sir Matt was a visionary does not mean that either the FA or Football League were.
Quite apart from the veracity of internet citations, it’s misleading to conflate the two views above into one, which in turn creates a historically inaccurate representation of United’s entry into Europe.