Manchester United: The Lost Tapes

This is Manchester United: The Lost Tapes. Stories about United's rich history, told in a way you've never heard before. Written by Wayne Barton, narrated by Patrick Barclay and produced by Ed Barker, Studio 1878.

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Episode One: Cantona

Eric Cantona’s arrival from Leeds United transformed Manchester United after a 25-year title drought, reshaping the club’s fortunes and igniting the Premier League’s imagination. Internal conflict at Leeds and Cantona’s infamous disciplinary issues under Howard Wilkinson, culminated in a startling twist when Leeds approached United about signing Dennis Irwin. Instead, United countered with an offer for Cantona—setting in motion one of football’s most pivotal transfers and redefining what it meant to be a United legend.

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Episode Two: Bitter Rivals

In the late 1990s and early noughties there were no more fierce rivals than Arsenal and Manchester United. From the mass brawl at Old Trafford in 1990, to trading titles in 1997, 1998 and 1999, two epic FA Cup semi-finals and pizzagate, no holds were barred.

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Episode Three: Knighton

It is 1989 and Michael Knighton is on the Old Trafford pitch juggling a football and scoring at the Stratford End in front of a bemused crowd. Knighton had secured a £20m acquisition of Manchester United, agreeing to purchase shares from then club Chairman Martin Edwards. Yet, within a fortnight the deal had collapsed amid acrimony and accusations that Knighton didn't have the money to complete the deal. This is the inside story from those who covered it on the ground.

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Episode Four: Welcome to Hell

In 1993, Manchester United ended the 26-year wait to win a league title. Their reward for that piece of history was to compete in the European Cup. United had qualified for the semi-finals in each of their five campaigns under Sir Matt Busby, winning it in 1968. The club's first foray into the tournament tin almost a quarter of a century was to end in stunning, controversial fashion, with one of the most memorable ties in the history of the competition. This is Manchester United's Welcome to Hell.

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