1908/09 Season - Review

NUFC Season 1908/09

United recorded their third Championship success in five years. They started the season in record style - winning their first five games - and were never out of the top three during the whole campaign. Seven wins on the bounce in the New Year equalled our record run at the time. They collected 53 points in total; a new League record.

Although our home form was not as good as in 1906/07 we performed much better on our travels with 10 wins and only 5 defeats. Five consecutive away League victories in the New Year is our best ever run.

In typical United style they saved their worst ever home defeat for one of their best ever seasons as Sunderland won 9-1 at SJ in December. This was one of four home defeats that season.

We almost made it to Crystal Palace again but the eventual winners Manchester United knocked us out in the semis.

New arrivals were Albert Shepherd who cost a record £850 from Bolton, James Stewart and Andy Anderson whilst Tony Whitson graduated from the reserves. The out of flavour Dick Pudan was allowed to leave.

This was a strange season in which some of the star names were temporarily out of favour and in dispute with the club. But the record reverse against the Wearsiders saw them reinstated.

Twenty five players were used in all with the regulars: Lawrence, McCracken, Whitson, Gardner, Veitch, McWilliam, Rutherford, Howie, Shepherd/Higgins, Stewart/Wilson, Anderson