Revealed: the story of the friendship between United and Real

In a Daily Herald interview, Ferenc Puskas praised the “proud men of United” and analysed the Reds’ strengths and weaknesses in an impressively perceptive assessment of players he’d only seen a couple of times. He reckoned Quixall and Charlton tended to run with the ball too often rather than passing. Yet again United rose to the occasion, on a misty autumnal night under floodlights.

Busby’s side lost 3-2, but performed brilliantly, prompting The Daily Mail to declare, “United are beaten by Real, but share the glory.” The Old Trafford crowd roared the Reds right to the end when the youngest player on the pitch, 17-year-old Jimmy Nicholson hit a scorching 30-yarder that nearly ripped the netting out to give the hosts a deserved second goal.

In keeping with his trust in youth, Busby put out an astonishingly young team that night, including the legendary Nobby Stiles, making only his second first-team appearance, aged 17. Mark ‘Pancho’ Pearson, hero of the first match straight after Munich, was still only 19, while 18-year-old Tony Dunne began his distinguished full-back career as a substitute for the injured Shay Brennan.

The press loved all this, with The Daily Express proclaiming: “Teenage trio shock Real”. So far United had played Real in three friendlies, and been beaten every time, but throughout there was a heroic fearlessness about the performances. And the players were learning fast, regardless of results.
When United next faced Real, on 13 December 1961, Busby’s men were in the midst of another domestic slump, lying second from bottom in the league, with only one win in
11 matches.

Busby was under fire as never before, reportedly receiving anonymous ‘poison pen’ letters after a 5-1 home defeat to Everton. One wonders how those detractors felt when United reacted spectacularly a few days later, beating the mighty Real 3-1 in front of 43,000 ecstatic fans at Old Trafford.

There was enormous press interest in the match, which was covered by different reporters for the northern and southern editions of The Daily Express. Attention focused on 19-year-old Phil Chisnall who scored the opening goal in just his third senior match for United, while new signing David Herd “shattered” Real with two more. The Spanish club generously presented the victors with some silverware.