Man. United go sky high with birth of Premier League

The restructuring of the English game and the introduction of the new Premier League appeared to have changed Manchester United's fortunes as the Old Trafford outfit won the title in the inaugural season way back in 1992-93.

The agreement for the new structure was signed on July 17, 1991 by the clubs in the top-flight and the format was completed on February 20, 1992. The first games were played on August 15 of that same year.

The move saw the Premier League enjoying a commercial independence from the Football Association and the Football League. The new league was given the licence to negotiate its own TV and sponsorship agreements.

The lucrative BSkyB sponsorship of £303m for five years left clubs spending money and signing new players like they never did before. Wages were also up, attracting more foreign stars to the English game.

The Premier League has since become the world's most watched sporting league and the most lucrative around with high club revenues of around £1.4 billion. The Premiership is followed worldwide by over half a billion in 202 countries.

The Premier League was originally composed of 22 clubs and Sheffield United forward Brian Deane became the first scorer of the new competition in the match against Manchester United at Bramall Lane.

Results on Day One (1992-93):
Arsenal-Norwich City 2-4
Ipswich Town-Aston Villa 1-1
Crystal Palace-Blackburn 3-3
Chelsea-Oldham Athletic 1-1
Coventry City-Middlesbrough 2-1
Everton-Sheffield Wednesday 1-1
Leeds United-Wimbledon 2-1
Nottingham Forest-Liverpool 1-0
Manchester City-QPR 1-1
Sheffield United-Man. United 2-1
Southampton-Tottenham 0-0

United's 26-year drought ended on May 2, 1993 when they were crowned champions with a ten-point advantage over runners-up Aston Villa.

The Midlanders led the standings for most of the campaign, their last occasion on March 24. But then they ran out of breath and Manchester United took over and clinched the crown with a total of 84 points.

Norwich were the surprise package of the campaign.

Managed by 'old fox' Mike Walker, Norwich were on top of the tree in March 1993 but lapses at the back cost them dearly.

The Canaries eventually finished third to earn a UEFA Cup place.

Alex Ferguson's patience, having spent seven years to build a winning side, finally paid rewards.

His masterstroke came when he persuaded Frenchman Eric Cantona to leave Leeds and join Man. United in November 1992.

Others to leave an impact at Old Trafford that season were the defensive pillars Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister and Mark Hughes up front.

Top scorers:
22 - Sheringham (Tottenham)
20 - Les Ferdinand (QPR)
19 - Holdsworth (Wimbledon)
17 - Quinn (Coventry)
16 - Shearer (Blackburn), White (Man. City)

Summer Transfers

Arsenal: Martin Keown from Everton; Andy Cole to Bristol City.

Aston Villa: Dean Saunders from Liverpool.

Blackburn: Alan Shearer from Southampton; Scott Sellars to Leeds United.

Chelsea: Robert Fleck from Norwich City; Vinny Jones to Wimbledon.

Coventry City: Phil Babb from Bradford; Kevin Gallacher to Blackburn.

Crystal Palace: Mark Bright to Sheffield Wednesday.

Everton: Paul Rideout from Rangers.

Ipswich Town: G. Williams from Derby.

Leeds: Eric Cantona from Nimes.

Liverpool: Paul Stewart from Tottenham; Ray Houghton to Aston Villa.

Manchester City: Terry Phelan from Wimbledon.

Manchester United: Dion Dublin from Cambridge; Mark Robins to Norwich.

M'boro: Derek Whyte from Celtic.

Norwich: Effan Ekoku from Bournemouth.

Nottm Forest: Neill Webb from Man. United; Ted Sheringham to Tottenham.

Oldham: Rick Holden to Manchester City.

QPR: Gary Waddock to Bristol Rovers.

Sheffield United: Clive Mendonca to Grimsby.

Sheffield Wednesday: Chris Waddle from Marseille.

Southampton: Kerry Dixon from Chelsea; Neil Ruddock to Tottenham.

Tottenham: Darren Anderton from Portsmouth; Paul Gascoigne to Lazio.

Wimbledon: Dean Holdsworth from Brentford.

Other statistics

• Aston Villa claimed seven doubles, including those on Arsenal and Liverpool. Norwich placed second with six doubles and third Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers on five.

• The club with the most Premier League dismissals in 1992/93 were Wimbledon with four.

• Five clubs boasted no sending offs - Aston Villa, Coventry City, Norwich City, Oldham and Queens Park Rangers.

• Mike Walker, of Norwich City, won the monthly managerial award twice, yet Man. United's Alex Ferguson was named Manager of the Year.

• Manchester United star Ryan Giggs won the monthly player award on three occasions.

Individual awards

Aston Villa's Paul McGrath (PFA Player of the Year); Manchester United's Ryan Giggs (PFA Young Player of the Year); Sheffield Wednesday's Chris Waddle (Writers' Footballer of the Year); Norwich (PFA Bobby Moore Fair Play Trophy).