Manchester United's Nearly Men

During a game of 90 minutes, with 45 each half, there was the possibility of extra time, that is, 30 minutes, in cup competitions, where normal time hadn’t produced a winner. A manager in the early 21st century had a list of seven substitutes available to choose from. The options would have amazed 19th century teams, like the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Football Club (LYR FC), founded by the Carriage and Wagon department in the area of Newton Heath in 1878, known as ‘The Heathens’, with games against other departments and rail companies at their North Road ground, Manchester, before they were ‘The Red Devils’ of Manchester United from 1902.