Manchester United: The Lost Tapes

"Manchester United has been subject to numerous takeover attempts in its rich and controversial history. In the early 1980s, Robert Maxwell chanced his arm, so too did Rupert Murdoch with BSkyB in 1998. We all know about the Glazer family's seizing of control in 2005 and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's recent acquisition of a minor but controlling share. Still, perhaps the most infamous of all remains Michael Knighton's fascinating attempt to buy Manchester United in the summer of 1989."In this episode Ed and Wayne discuss the story behind Michael Knighton's attempt to buy United in 1989. It's a wild story with some amazing original audio in the sister episode in this series.00:00 Introduction to Michael Knighton's Takeover02:00 Memories and Reactions03:58 Knighton's Background and United's Financial Struggles06:03 The Bizarre Publicity Stunt07:31 The Financial Promises and Player Signings10:11 The Collapse of the Deal12:00 The Aftermath and Knighton's Legacy22:10 Other Takeover Attempts in United's History28:25 Reflections on Ownership and ConclusionThe Lost Tapes is written by Wayne Barton. Narrated by Patrick Barclay. Produced by Ed Barker, Studio 1878.

Arsenal vs. Manchester United: Bitter Rivals"English football has always had its rivalries. Where there's a champion, there's a challenger. With over a century of history, it had rarely been the case that two of the most successful teams were competing at the same time, and that was the case towards the end of the 20th century. Manchester United and Arsenal competed against each other for a generation, it was under Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger when competition became an interchangeable." In this episode of the Lost Tapes Extra, Ed and Wayne delve into the intense football rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United during the late 1990s and early 2000s. They discuss memorable matches, key moments, and iconic figures such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger. The conversation covers the highs and lows of both clubs, from the dramatic FA Cup semi-final in 1999 to the Battle of the Buffet in 2004, and culminates in the legacy left by this period of fierce competition. Through personal anecdotes and historical analysis, the episode provides a comprehensive look at one of English football's most storied rivalries.The Lost Tapes is written by Wayne Barton. Narrated by Patrick Barclay. Produced by Ed Barker, Studio 1878.00:00 Introduction and Host Banter00:55 Arsenal vs United Rivalry: The Late 90s and Early 2000s03:14 Memorable Moments and Key Players06:29 The 1990 Brawl and Its Aftermath13:53 The Rise of Arsene Wenger20:54 The 1998-99 Season: A Historic Rivalry24:17 The Peak of Rivalry: United vs Arsenal25:44 Memorable Moments: Beckham's Goal and More27:26 The Best Game: A Timeless Classic28:24 Arsenal's Resilience and United's Confidence34:49 The Battle of the Buffet: Arsenal's Unbeaten Run Ends39:54 Keane vs Vieira: The Tunnel Incident43:33 The Decline of Arsenal and the End of an Era45:57 Final Thoughts and Legacy of the Rivalry

In 1993, Manchester United ended the 26 year wait to win a league title. Their reward for that piece of history was to compete in the European Cup, or the Champions League, to give it its new name at the time. United had qualified for the semi finals in each of their five campaigns under Sir Matt Busby, winning it, of course, in 1968.The club's first foray into the tournament in almost a quarter of a century was to end in stunning, controversial fashion, with one of the most memorable ties in the history of the competition. This is Manchester United's Welcome to Hell. Manchester United, The Lost Tapes. Stories from United's rich history, told in a way you've never heard before. Written by Wayne Barton, produced by Ed Barker and narrated by Patrick Barclay.

Ed and Wayne discuss stories from Episode One: Cantona. The moment he joined United, that night in Turkey, the 1994 FA Cup win, Selhurst Park and his return, and retirement. 

When author Wayne Barton was approached by the late Tom Tyrell's family during the pandemic he didn't know quite what to expect. More than 800 hours of transcribed audio later, Barton knew there was a goldmine of fantastic United stories dating back from the 1950s to the present day. In this first The Lost Tapes Extra, Wayne talks to producer Ed Barker about the inspiration for the show with a few hints about what might be coming later in the series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United has been subject to numerous takeover attempts in its rich and controversial history. In the early 1980s, Robert Maxwell chanced his arm, so too did Rupert Murdoch with BSkyB in 1998. We all know about the Glazer family's seizing of control in 2005 and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's recent acquisition of a minor but controlling share.Still, perhaps the most infamous of all remains Michael Knighton's fascinating attempt to buy Manchester United in the summer of 1989. You'll remember many of the details, surely. The sight of the former schoolteacher doing Trafford pitch before the opening day of the season has gone down in legend.United spent big, as Knighton promised the world. Yet, before Christmas, his takeover bid had collapsed, and he was proclaimed as a Walter Mitty character by the press. What went wrong has often been disputed. Now, for the first time, you'll hear the reasons for the breakdown, as it happened, told by those who were involved at the time.This is Manchester United, The Lost Tapes. Stories from United's rich history, told in a way you've never heard before.Written by Wayne Barton. Narrated by Patrick Barclay. Produced by Ed Barker, Studio 1878.