This Day in History: 2022-10-26

Nr. 330

MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE THE DOUBLE IN THEIR GRASP (1957)

Manchester United were confident of becoming the first English side to win the double in the 20th century – they just had to beat Aston Villa in the Cup final.
However, on 6 May they were hit by a crucial injury after only six minutes as goalkeeper Ray Wood gathered a header from Villa left-winger Peter McParland and was then knocked to the ground by him. Wood broke his cheekbone and was stretchered off. Today McParland would have been sent off instantly, but instead he remained on the pitch and scored twice past United’s stand-in keeper Jackie Blanchflower, to win the game 2-1 and take the Cup back to Villa Park.

United goal keeper Ray Wood receives treatment after having his cheekbone fractured in a dash with Aston Villa’s Peter McParland.