The club became a Limited Company (shares £1) in June 1892. Alf Albut became the first full time club secretary and a number of new signings were secured (including 8 Scotsmen).
The Heathens first league fixture was away to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on September 3rd 1892. Rather inauspiciously the kick off was delayed until 4pm because Newton Heath arrived late.
Within 10 minutes of the kick off they were 2 goals down. Southworth shot Rovers into the lead, the second goal, credited to Hall , came from a scrimmage. Rovers went 3 up before Donaldson pulled one back (histories credit Coupar with Newton Heath's first league goal, but contemporary newspaper reports identify Donaldson as the scorer). Coupar then added another from a scrimmage before half time.
The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser reported a closely contested match: for three fourths of the game there was nothing to chose between the two teams- backwards and forwards the tussle went- both goals being visited in alternation.
Chippendale put Rovers 4-2 up before the prolific Farman brought the Heathens back to within 1 goal.
Incidentally, whereas green and gold are associated with Newton Heath, largely due to the
1992/93 revival kit , the first team colours in the 1892-93 season were red and white 'halves' (more correctly 'quarters').
Warner
Goal keeper: Jimmy
Warner
27 year old Warner, born in Lozells in Birmingham, had spent
the first 4 seasons of league football as Aston Villa’s keeper. The previous
April he had felt the wrath of Villa supporters after the FA Cup final defeat
to neighbours West Bromwich Albion. The windows of his pub (Old College Inn,
Spring Hill) had been smashed by angry fans. In 1892 Warner was also involved
in a scandal regarding an elopement with a woman (he was married at the time).
He had been an FA Cup winner with Villa in 1887.
His Newton Heath career was virtually ended by his failure
to turn up for an away match at Stoke in January 1893.
(1.77m 79.3 kg)
Clements
Right back: John
Clements
Clements, 24 , was born in Nottinghamshire and
had played 2 seasons of league football for Notts County.
Left back- James
Brown
I don’t know much about Brown. He only ever made 7 League
Appearances and was never on the winning side.
Perrins
Right half- George
Perrins
20 year old George Perrins was from Birmingham. Signed from
Birmingham St. George's He was to spend 4 seasons with Newton Heath.
Stewart
Centre half: Willie Stewart
22 year old Stewart was Scottish- a rangy 1.77m. He had played
for Newton Heath in the Alliance, mainly as an inside forward.
Erentz
Left half: Fred
Erentz
Another Scot, 22 yr old Erentz spent 10 seasons with Newton Heath,
making over 300 appearances. His last match was Newton Heath's last game before they
became Manchester United. Half Danish ,
he was signed from Our Boys (Dundee).
Farman
Outside right: Alf
Farman
Farman was signed from Bolton Wanderers in 1889. A native of
Birmingham he had been on the books of both Excelsior and Aston Villa. He scored 53 goals in 121 appearances for
Newton Heath.
Coupar
Inside Right- Jimmy
Coupar
Another Scottish import from Our Boys (Dundee). Coupar returned to Scotland in Jult 1893, joining St Johnstone.
Donaldson
Centre Forward- Bobby
Donaldson
Donaldson joined Newton Heath from Blackburn Rovers. He was another
Dundee man. He finished the season as top scorer for the club with 16 goals.
Carson
Inside left- Adam
Carson
A Scotsman signed
from Glasgow Thistle in June 1892, Carson was sold to Ardwick in the summer of
1893 having made 13 appearances for the Heathens.
Outside left-William
Mathieson
A native of Glasgow signed from Clydesdale in the summer of 1892,
Newton Heath finished the season in 16th place, and retained Div 1. status by beating Small Heath in a 'test match'.
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