Twenty-six years.
That’s how long Manchester United, England’s best-supported club, went without winning the league between 1967 and May 2, 1993. On Monday, May 3, 1993, United played Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford in a league match that became both a celebration and a cathartic release after years of frustration.
It had been a three-way title race involving United, Aston Villa and Norwich City in the first Premier League season. United’s neighbours Oldham Athletic — now a non-League club — went to Villa Park that Sunday with the home side needing to win to keep their championship dreams alive.
“Oldham were up against it but they were fighting relegation and had something to fight for,” United’s then-captain Steve Bruce tells The Athletic. “I watched the game on television. I remember it like it was yesterday. Oldham won (1-0), and we were champions.”
What happened next became the stuff of legend.
“Most players didn’t have mobile phones but just came straight to our house to celebrate,” Bruce explains.
“Steve Bruce and his wife Janet had a friendly and open house,” says defender Paul Parker. “I lived over the road and often popped around after training for a chat. It was the natural venue for a party to celebrate winning the league.”
“Sky rang…
