On This Day – 17th January
The record attendance for an English Football League match was made on this day back in 1948, with 83,260 fans watching Manchester United play Arsenal.
The match was played at Manchester City’s Maine Road due to significant damage to United’s Old Trafford home during the Second World War.
Two air raids on 8th and 11th March 1941 had obliterated much of the main stand, making the ground unfit for use. It would take until 1949 to get it up and ready for use again.
Neighbouring rivals Manchester City offered to put United up until all of the repair work was complete. It came at a cost though, with United having to fork out £5,000 per season and to hand over a share of the gate receipts to their temporary landlords!
Manchester United and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw on 17th January 1948 in front of the record crowd. Jack Rowley scored for United and Reg Lewis netted for the visitors.
Arsenal ended the 1947/48 season as champions seven points ahead of Manchester United in second, who won the FA Cup, beating Blackpool 4-2 at Wembley.
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