The last time United played under a King

Back in January 1952, a few days before the death of King George VI (pictured above at the previous year's FA Cup final), the Reds welcomed champions Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford for a big game.

Matt Busby’s side knew it was a chance to show off our title credentials, and a 2-0 win took United to the top of the old Division One. The winter fixture was staged on an icy pitch, with the slippery conditions making life difficult for both sets of players.

The match report in The Manchester Guardian described it as "the type of football one might expect to encounter any time in the Arctic on any available ice-floe." Yet the Reds handled the occasion far better and were worthy winners, with…