MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – FEBRUARY 1999

Billed as “England’s hottest striker”, Andy Cole is the cover star of Manchester United’s official magazine, as they face a busy run of games domestically ahead of the return of European football in March.

That European action is a European Cup Quarter-Final against Inter Milan, and they get a profile for fans looking to swot up on their knowledge of the Italian giants.

Cover star Cole gets a four page profile, revealing that he was delighted when it was announced that Dwight Yorke had signed for United.

Another interviewee is Brian Kidd, who is being interviewed having just left the club to become manager at Blackburn.

Brian McClair has also joined him at Blackburn, with Kidd joking that he can start up a new diary. United’s new diarist Jaap Stam comments about how this is the first season in his career without a Winter break.

Naturally, there are reviews of recent matches, this edition looking back at a draw filled December 1998.

The magazine ends with Jesper Blomqvist and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer going head to head in a quiz, which is also a Scandinavian derby. Ole wins by six to five, but didn’t know who the Lead Singer of The Cardigans is.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : INSIDE UNITED – APRIL 2013

They didn’t know it then, but we were in the final few months of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign as Manchester United manager, as Wayne Rooney is the cover star of the club’s official magazine, previewing the run-in to the 2012-2013 season.

Sir Alex’s column comments on United’s good domestic form, but isn’t counting his chickens that the Premier League is already won, despite United’s healthy lead, and even comments on United’s pre-season tour of Australia in the summer.

That pre-season tour got a full page feature, with games in Asia being added to it.

Rio Ferdinand is interviewed, as he looks back on his younger days and the people who made him.

By now, Brian McClair has a column rather than a diary, and he talks about his friendship with Mark Hughes.

Cover star Rooney gets a five page interview, where he lists his three favourite games of the season, away wins at Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.

This month marked ten years since Darren Fletcher made his United debut, and there a look at his ten best moments as a United player.

As is usual with this magazine, there is a look back at the previous month’s games, and February 2013 was a month where United made progress both Domestically and in Europe.

There is a focus on youth, where young goalkeeper Sam Johnstone gets a profile.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – JUNE 1998

New United signing Jaap Stam is the cover star of the club’s official magazine, billed as “Europe’s finest defender”

In news, it was the circle of (football) life as Brian McClair is leaving the club, while Wes Brown made his debut.

Looking to the future, there is an advert for the new United kit, modelled by David Beckham.

Alex Ferguson gets five pages as he reviews the season just passed, saying that failure will make United stronger.

Jaap Stam is the subject of a five page interview, where he reveals he supported United growing up, and turned down the opportunity to sign for Liverpool and Newcastle.

David Beckham gets only four pages as he is interviewed to coincide with the release of his autobiography.

Brian McClair signs off with his final diary, while there is a review of radios for those who enjoy listening to the radio at matches.

Future United manager Louis Van Gaal gets a feature in the European round-up, described as the toast of Catalunya following Barcelona’s title win.

Towards the end of the magazine, United’s final games of the 1997/1998 season get reviewed, a season that United finished 2nd.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : INSIDE UNITED – JUNE 2007

Cristiano Ronaldo is the cover star of Manchester United’s official magazine having just won both PFA Player Of The Year awards.

United are going for a League and Cup double, with Chelsea standing in the way in both competitions, and both meetings get previewed. The FA Cup Final between the two sides will be the first one held at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium.

In news, it has been announced that United’s pre-season tour in 2007 will be in Asia.

Gabriel Heinze is invited to write a column and reflects on United’s 7-1 win over AS Roma in April.

Brian McClair scoffs at the idea that Sunderland manager Roy Keane noticed Jonathan Evans (as he was known then) through his performances for Northern Ireland, and not to do with the fact that Keane was a recently departed United player.

Cristiano Ronaldo gets a six page interview, with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson comparing him favourably to Maradona and Pele.

As United will be playing their first game at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium, there is a ten page look at United’s history at the previous incarnation of the ground.

Guiseppe Rossi gets interviewed as he has had an interesting year away from Old Trafford, an unsuccessful loan spell at Newcastle terminated early before a more successful loan spell at Parma.

As the magazine nears it’s end, there is the usual review of recent matches and stats, while the youth round-ups feature future Premier League stars James Chester and Danny Drinkwater.

The magazine ends with Pete Boyle discussing his favourite United memories.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – AUGUST 1997

Having just signed for United, Teddy Sheringham is the cover star of the club’s official magazine, as the post Eric Cantona era begins.

At the other end of the service scale, Brian McClair gets a five page feature having completed a decade at United.

Another United signing gets featured, not as high profile as Sheringham, is Erik Nevland, who hopes to emulate the success of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer,

Cover star Sheringham gets a four page profile which is followed by a profile of the forthcoming Premier League season.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – JUNE 1994

Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel holding the FA Cup is this month’s cover image, after Manchester United have won the double for the first time.

As you open the magazine, there is a poster of Bryan Robson, who left the club after 13 years.

In news, there was coverage of Clayton Blackmore’s testimonial dinner, while Westmoreland Supporters Club got a profile.

Dion Dublin gets profiled after making a comeback from a long-term injury and scored an important goal against Oldham in the title run-in.

There are match reports from United’s games from April onwards, reaching the FA Cup Final and winning the league.

This was commemorated with interviews with Alex Ferguson and Paul Ince, as well as Brian McClair’s Diary.

There wasn’t enough time due to printing deadlines to include coverage of the FA Cup Final, but there was an advert that it will appear in the next edition.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – JANUARY 1998

Ryan Giggs, Andy Cole and Phil Neville are frolicking in the snow on the cover of Manchester United’s official magazine to celebrate United being Christmas Number 1 in the Premier League charts.

In news, Peter Schmeichel says United have made a breakthrough in European football after winning their European Cup group, but doesn’t believe lifting the trophy in Amsterdam is a formality.

Elsewhere, Andy Cole has signed a new contract keeping him at United until 2002.

David Beckham is the subject of a five page interview, as does United’s latest home grown debutants Ronnie Wallwork and John Curtis, who both came on as substitutes in the win over Barnsley in late October.

Brian McClair’s Diary reveals he appeared in a firework safety event, and met a fan in the shape of a Celtic supporting Government Minister.

The magazine ends with a Happy New Year message from various United players.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MATCH – 1.7.1989

Gary Lineker is the cover star of Match, as he makes a return to England after three years in Barcelona, signing for Tottenham Hotspur.

As you open the magazine, there is a double page feature on the transfer, with Lineker turning down moves to Everton and Monaco when deciding to sign for Spurs. There is also a mock diary, done in the style of Adrian Mole’s diary.

There is a double page feature on another England striker, Steve Bull, who scored more hat-tricks (four) than any other player in English football in 1988-1989.

Strikers were very much a theme of this issue, with a full page profile of Everton’s new signing Mike Newell, who has a point to prove after being rejected by Liverpool as a youngster.

A Striker who isn’t moving anywhere is Brian McClair, who uses his column to deny he will be returning to Celtic, as well as praising Manchester United’s signings of Neil Webb and Mike Phelan.

In international news, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard avoided a fatal plane crash when they were refused permission by AC Milan to appear in an exhibition game in Surinam. The plane taking the players playing in the game crashed.

Karl-Heize Rummenigge announced his retirement, while AC Milan want to sign Gianluca Vialli. Juventus have also made a signing, 11 year old Fabio Alderucci.

There is a double page feature on players not leaving Old Firm clubs, with Ally McCoist staying at Rangers despite interest from Arsenal, Everton and Atalanta, and Chris Morris turning down QPR and Leeds to stay at Celtic.

There is a full page feature on the sides with the worst discipline in England and Scotland, Portsmouth being the “winners” with seven red cards.

Match’s Player Of The Year vote saw what was described as a “50s revival”, with most of the winners being veterans born in the 1950s.

In ads, Ian Rush is advertising Nike, putting snooker chalk on his boot.

Gary Waddock, now playing for Charleroi in Belgium, tells Match of his dream of playing for Republic of Ireland at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, just two years after retiring through injury.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SHOOT – 16.4.1988

Terry Butcher is the cover star of Shoot as he makes a timely return from injury, with Euro 88 just around the corner.

As you open the magazine, Adrian Heath tells Shoot of his dismay at being singled out as a scapegoat by Everton fans when things don’t go well.

Cover star Butcher uses his column to declare he was back from injury, and that if he came through Rangers match against Hibs unscathed, he will be aiming for an England recall for the friendly in Hungary.

Butcher also defends his manager at Rangers, Graeme Souness, who has faced press criticism for a tackle he made in a European Cup tie against Steau Bucharest.

The Football League celebrates it’s centenary with a 16 team tournament at Wembley decided by the highest scorers in each four divisions. This competitions gets a four page profile.

In sponsorship news, England have signed a deal with Trebor Extra Strong Mints.

Bobby Barrett and his brother Lee get a full page feature as the lucky winners of a competition to travel to Turin to meet Ian Rush, and then see him in action for Juventus against Pisa.

In foreign news, Jean-Marie Pfaff is in dispute with Bayern Munich after they blocked him moving to Manchester United.

Another player in contract dispute, but possibly leaving rather than joining Manchester United is Norman Whiteside. Bryan Robson uses his column to say that such a departure would be a loss to United, amid rumours that Juventus want to sign him in a swap deal for Ian Rush.

St Mirren manager Alex Smith hits back at those who say the Scottish Cup holders are in crisis, by saying they will be back stronger than before.

With Euro 88 on the horizon, Shoot does a four page profile of Republic Of Ireland, with David Kelly warning John Aldridge and Niall Quinn that he is planning to keep them out of the side after a hat-trick on his debut against Israel.

Trevor Francis tells Shoot that he is not finished, at the age of 34, have left one Rangers (the Glasgow one) for another (the West London one) due a lack of games.

Despite being in the Second Division, Manchester City manager Mel Machin predicts his side will become the Liverpool of the 1990s. City’s main star is Paul Stewart, who says he gets embarrassed at being described as a million pound player.

A player worth a quarter of that is Leroy Rosenior, newly signed by West Ham, and off to a goalscoring start, gives an interview to Shoot.

Also off to a goalscoring start is Brian McClair at Manchester United, set to be the first United player in 20 years to score 20 league goals, but tells Shoot that he doesn’t consider himself to be a goalscorer.

The magazine ends with a full page on PFA Award winners John Barnes and Paul Gascoigne.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – NOVEMBER 1997

Peter Schmeichel is the cover star of this edition of Manchester United’s official magazine as the Winter months of 1997 approach.

In news, former United star Andrei Kanchelskis says he regrets leaving United and how he loved living in Manchester. In 2001, he would join City on loan.

Cover star Schmeichel gives a five page interview where he complains about the atmosphere at Old Trafford.

There is a look back at United’s recent European Cup game away to Kosice, looking at how football in Slovakia is coping in the years following a split from Czechoslovakia.

With the internet still in it’s infancy, there is a double page spread on the best football sites on the net.

Ronny Johnsen gets a three page interview, hoping for a Norway v England meeting at the following year’s World Cup, simply for the number of United players involved.

In adverts, Gary and Phil Neville appear in an advert for American sportswear firm Pony.

Brian McClair has his diary in a month where he gets a three page profile due to his autobiography being out, revealing that he wanted to be a punk as a teenager.

As usual, the magazine ends with a review of recent games, and a preview of upcoming games.