The incredible story of how a dog named ‘The Major’ saved Man United from bankruptcy | OneFootball

A look at how ‘The Major’ saved Manchester United

Manchester United is today a footballing colossus both on and off the field. The Red Devils are one of the most recognizable sporting brands in world football and is an institution bar none.

But that was not always the case. Back in 1901, United then known as Newton Heath were relegated to the second division and were struggling for survival.

With their best players leaving and the club unable to get back to the top-flight, bankruptcy appeared to be just a matter of time.

In an attempt to regain stability, the club organised a fundraising bazaar at St. James’ Hall in central Manchester, from 27 February to 2 March 1901.

The bazaar, despite garnering much media attention, failed to raise the £1,000 required to keep the club afloat. Moreover, the fundraiser ended up costing the club more than what it brought in.

According to the club’s official website, what the organizers could not manage, a St. Bernard named ‘The Major’ did. Belonging to then captain, Harry Stafford, the lemon and white coloured dog went missing on the final night of the bazaar.

A fateful meeting

Having wandered the streets of Manchester, he caught the attention of a wealthy local brewer and businessman, John Henry Davies at a restaurant. Eager to buy the dog for his daughter, Davies tracked down Stafford through an advert in the Manchester Evening News.

His initial offers for the dog was rejected by Stafford who eventually relented in order to save his beloved club. Not only did Davies get the dog but also started to take a keen interest in Newton Heath’s financial plight.

Together with four other investors, including Stafford, he rescued the club from bankruptcy and became its new chairman. What followed was history.

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Following the upheaval, the Football Association agreed for the club to continue playing under a new name – Manchester United. The rest as they say is history.