MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – MAY 1997

Breakout star of the season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the cover star of Manchester United’s official magazine in a month where United are hoping to win a second successive title.

The magazine reports on organisational problems at United’s away European Cup game against Porto, with a series of questions that the club believe need answered.

The second leg against Porto gets reviewed, with matters on and off the pitch being covered, as well as a preview of the Semi-Final against Borussia Dortmund.

United’s other games in March get reviewed, League matches against Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and Everton.

We even get a rare treat in this edition, a Paul Scholes interview.

The magazine ends with a Q and A with Chris Casper.

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 : MANCHESTER UNITED – NOVEMBER 1998

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the cover star in the early months of a season that he would write himself into United folklore in the final minute of it.

In news, Old Trafford is being expanded, and there is the possibility of there being a Singing Section when the work is complete.

Martin Edwards gets interviewed to discuss the attempted takeover by Rupert Murdoch, addressing fears regarding team selection, kit colours, home venues and the appointment of Alex Ferguson’s successor.

The letters page is dominated by this issue, with letters coming in both for and against Murdoch.

Cover star Solskjaer is interviewed, stating that nothing put him off signing for Spurs that summer, he just wanted to play for United.

There is a five page feature looking at how United rank as a brand in comparison with other big European clubs.

Gary and Phil Neville are bringing a diary out of the 97/98 season in Europe, and there is a serialisation of it in this magazine.

12 years after his departure as manager, there is an interview with Ron Atkinson looking back at his time with United.

There is a round-up of recent results of United’s Under 19 team, with goals in this run coming from John O’Shea, Luke Chadwick and David Healy, who would all go on to play for United’s first-team.

There is a review of United’s games in September 1998, as well as a preview of games coming up in October and November that year.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – SEPTEMBER 1996

It’s the early months of the 96/97 and Eric Cantona is the cover star of Manchester United’s official magazine, in what would turn out to be his last season at the club.

Pat Crerand writes in his column about a summer of new arrivals and some experienced players leaving, stating that he wished to see the European Cup back at Old Trafford some day..

In news, Old Trafford was being considered as a venue for the 1998 European Cup Winners Cup Final. That would be played in Stockholm, but it made it’s way to England in 1999 at Villa Park, the last final of the competition. Old Trafford would have to make do with the 2003 European Cup Final.

There was a poll for readers, asking if Old Trafford needed a new scoreboard.

Meanwhile, Gary Pallister announces he is raring to go after an injury ravaged 95/96 season.

Cover star Eric Cantona gets a four page interview, revealing that he didn’t watch Euro 96, but wanted England to win it.

As Untied are back in the European Cup and one of eight seeded teams automatically in the group stages, and previews the tournament, with 1995 winners Ajax amongst the seeds, managed by future United manager Louis Van Gaal.

There are four pages dedicated to United’s pre-season routine, with a look at how they compare to other sports.

There are also match reports from United’s early pre-season games, against Portadown and a League Of Ireland XI.

There are profiles of United’s five new signings Raimond Van Der Gowu, Karel Poborsky, Jordi Cruyff, Ronny Johnsen and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

There was an offer for readers, where you could get a 1997 Eric Cantona calendar for £5.

Gary Pallister takes questions from fans, the recently departed defensive partner Steve Bruce being a prominent subject.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – MARCH 2000

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the cover star of this edition of Manchester United’s official magazine, declaring that United are a better team than they were the previous season. Ominous, considering that United won the Premier League, FA Cup and European Cup.

Matt Dickinson of The Times has a column in this edition, writing that football would be a poorer place without the likes of Diego Maradona, the Argentine legend having had some health scares this month.

George Best’s column looks back at the World Club Cup, declaring that United might have won the competition if it was in a more neutral venue than Brazil.

In news, Denis Irwin announces his retirement from international football, while United’s three European Cup group opponents – Bordeaux, Valencia and Fiorentina – are all enduring poor form in their own domestic leagues.

Dwight Yorke is also trying to balance club and country commitments as he may miss six weeks to play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Cover star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gets a four page profile.

Not to be forgotten, Wes Brown gets profiled as he continues his recovery from injury which meant the 1999-2000 season was a write-off for him.

In adverts, there are adverts for the VHS series Manchester Untied On Video.

As with every edition of this magazine, there is a look at United’s recent matches, these games being United’s first games of the 21st Century.

Solskjaer isn’t the only Norwegian interviewed, with Ronny Johnsen and Henning Berg getting a joint interview.

There is also a feature on United’s newest debutant, American goalkeeper Paul Rachubka.

The best websites on the net are featured, offering United fans a guide to the best sites on the web.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – OCTOBER 1998

“NEW YORKE” is the headline of this cover, but it’s nothing to do with America, it’s new Manchester United signing Dwight Yorke, who is also the cover star.

The early pages of the magazine is dominated by players staying at United – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying he wants to stay and fight for his place, and David Beckham signing a contract to stay with United until 2003.

Around this time, Paul Hayward was a columnist in the magazine, and he uses his column to comment on the number of clubs who are quick to sack their manager.

One United player with a keen interest in the European Cup group stage draw was Jordi Cruyff, who will be facing former club Barcelona.

United are a club who are constantly linked with players, with Andy Mitten writing a full page on the wonderful world of transfer rumours.

Dwight Yorke gets a five page feature, with an Aston Villa fanzine editor contributing his analysis of the player.

There is a look at United’s upcoming European Cup group games, with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Brondby getting a full page preview each.

Eric Cantona gets three pages as he makes his final appearance at Old Trafford in a friendly to commemorate forty years since the Munich Air Disaster.

Jaap Stam debuts as a columnist for the magazine, expressing his surprise that Patrick Kluivert didn’t sign for United.

If you’re going to a game at Old Trafford, there is a review of pubs in the city for you.

There are reviews of United’s early season games, while the magazine ends with a quiz between Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, with Giggs winning by 5 to 4.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – MARCH 1997

Andy Cole is the cover star of Manchester United’s official magazine in a month which sees United return to European action after a Winter break.

There is speculation about Alex Ferguson’s future at United, saying he has no plans to retire this side of the millennium.

United’s forthcoming tie against Porto gets a four page preview, with former Porto manager Bobby Robson expecting his former side to go through.

United’s recent games get reviewed, a period that saw progress in the League but an FA Cup exit.

Ray Wilkins gets interviewed as he is nearing the end of his playing career at the age of 40.

Cover star Cole gets a four page interview as he aims to recover from injury to help United’s bid for trophies in the final months of the season.

The magazine ends with a Q and A with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who reveals he likes living in Altrincham.