MANCHESTER UNITED 1 CITY 2
Tony Dunne’s Testimonial
24th October 1973
Attendance 17,893
Scorers
City Lee, Booth
United Best
City MacRae, Book, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Towers, Carrodus, Bell, Lee, Leman, Pardoe – used sub Corrigan
FROM THE PRESS BOX
DAVID MEEK WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 25TH OCTOBER 1973
They are rude and naughty and they don’t buy the most expensive tickets. But, my word, they’re good supporters.
The Streford Enders were at Old Trafford in full voice, and full song to say farewell to Tony Dunne in his testimonial.
These young fans were also there for the Bobby Charlton and Denis Law testimonials, but unlike a great many season ticket holders and more senior supporters they were there for Tony Dunne as well.
They gave him a wonderful send-off and brought atmosphere to a game that without them would have been a slow-moving disaster.
And what a lovely, heart-warming reception they gave Gordon Banks when the former England goalkeeper ran to their goal for the interval old-timer’s match.
Their chants are crude at times, but at least they are alive, communicating and sharing in the spectacle of football.
The attendance was 17,859, modest compared with 45,000 for Law and 60,000 for Charlton, but that’s life for full backs compared with goal-scoring heroes, of course.
But the Stretford End didn’t miss, and I’m delighted for their sake alone, that George Best scored the first goal of his come-back.
The whole ground erupted, and indeed this was another major step forward for the Irishman.
… Denis Leman took the eye with his dash for City, whose goals were scored by Tommy Booth and Francis Lee in a 2-1 win.
But with Best the scorer for United, manager Tommy Docherty won’t be too grieved about the result.