Revealed: The ultimate football factory - Manchester United have included a graduate from their youth set-up in EVERY first-team squad since 1937… that’s 3,623 games



It is the mystical production line that has given football Duncan Edwards, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and many others.

But the impact of Manchester United’s youth system on the club’s success is much more pronounced than most football fans ever realised.

For there has been a graduate from United’s youth set-up in their first-team squad for every single match since October 30, 1937 - a scarcely believable run of 3,623 consecutive games.

The kids are all right: Manchester United have named a youth-team product in EVERY SQUAD since 1937

From the great Busby Babes sides of the 1950s and 1960s, including the likes of Best, Charlton, Edwards, Roger Byrne, Nobby Stiles and Dennis Viollet, to loyal one-club men like Scholes, Giggs and Gary Neville in the modern era, United have always trusted in youth.

And the statistic was even more incredible until May 2011.

Until United played at Arsenal on May 1, there had always been a youth graduate IN THE STARTING XI - an unbroken run of 3,516 straight competitive matches.

However, John O’Shea was named on the bench at the Emirates Stadium that day, continuing the squad record and so, when United welcome Everton to Old Trafford this Sunday, it’s likely to be the 3,624th match where their squad features a product of the youth team.

The incredible run was painstakingly researched by two historians of United’s famed academy, Tony Park and Steve Hobin, who have produced a lavish and fascinating book called Sons of United, which charts the history of the Old Trafford production line.

They found that the last game not to feature a player from the youth set-up was on October 23, 1937, when United beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Old Trafford in the old Second Division.

And those 76 years have been pretty impressive. Since 1937, thanks in no small part to their graduates, United have won three European Cups, 17 First Division/Premier League titles, 10 FA Cups, four League Cups, the European Cup Winners’ Cup, Intercontinental Cup and World Club Cup.

TEN OF THE BEST MANCHESTER UNITED YOUTH GRADUATES

Duncan Edwards (United 1952-58, 177 appearances, 21 goals)

Football fans of a certain age still marvel at the brilliance of Edwards and lament that the Munich air disaster took him at such a young age.



He first caught the eye of United scout Jack O’Brien in 1948, who reported back to manager Matt Busby, ‘today seen a 12-year-old schoolboy who merits special watching. His name is Duncan Edwards, of Dudley.‘



It is rumoured that Busby and either chief coach Jimmy Murphy or coach Bert Whalley arrived at the Edwards home shortly after midnight on the day of Duncan’s 16th birthday to sign him up.



Busby invested such faith in the potential of Edwards that he made his first-team debut at 16 years and 185 days in April 1953.



He quickly became a regular for United and England, making 177 appearances and winning 18 caps respectively, until he perished in a Munich hospital a fortnight after the crash that killed seven of his team-mates.



Bobby Charlton

(1953-73, 758 appearances, 249 goals)

Another famous Busby Babe, Charlton was signed by United as a 15-year-old on New Year’s Day 1953 after being spotted playing for East Northumberland schools by chief scout Joe Armstrong.



And what a find he was - after working his way through the youth ranks, he made his first-team debut against, appropriately, Charlton Athletic in October 1956.



Loyal: Sir Bobby Charlton has been associated with Manchester United since 1953

At the time, he was completing his national service alongside Edwards with the Royal Army Ordinance Corps. Again, Busby trusted in him and Charlton grew into a regular starter and scorer that season.

A survivor of Munich, Charlton was integral to United’s rebirth and won two League titles, the FA Cup and the European Cup during the 1960s (and the World Cup with England, of course).



George Best (1961-74, 474 appearances, 181 goals)

Another legend, Best was first uncovered by scout Bob Bishop while playing in his home city of Belfast.



Excitedly, Bishop sent a telegram to Busby reading: ‘I think I’ve found you a genius.’



Genius: George Best will always have a special place in the hearts of Manchester United supporters

He was proved spectacularly right. Best was brought over to Manchester for a trial but felt homesick, cutting short his first spell after just two days. He soon returned, however, and was signed as an amateur, combining his training with a job as an errand boy on the Manchester Ship Canal.



Unbelievable fast, blessed with tricky feet and a lethal shot, Best was a shining light for United right through the Sixties having been granted his first-team debut in September 1963 at the age of 17.



In his decade at Old Trafford, Best helped deliver two First Division titles and the European Cup in 1968, the year in which he was also named World Player of the Year.



Dennis Violett (1949-62, 294 appearances, 178 goals)

A quick striker who boasted an incredible scoring record, Violett came to Old Trafford as a 16-year-old in 1949 and was leading the line for Busby’s great team four years later.



He played a major role in United's championship-winning seasons in 1956 and 1957, and also in their first campaigns in Europe.



Teenage kicks: Dennis Violett arrived at Manchester United as a 16-year-old speedy striker

He memorably scored four times in United’s first home match in the European Cup, a 10-0 win over Anderlecht at Maine Road in September 1956.



Violett played for United until 1962, when Busby moved him on to Stoke City.



Nobby Stiles (1957-71, 311 league appearances, 17 goals)

Completely fearless, defensive midfielder Stiles was a key part not only of Manchester United’s teams of the 1960s, but also the victorious England side of 1966 - indeed, he played every minute of the tournament.



Substance over style: Defensive midfielder Nobby Stiles was a star for Manchester United and England

A childhood United fan, Stiles saw his dream come true when he was signed as an apprentice in September 1959.



His straightforward passing style and ability to hunt down the ball made him something of a pioneer in a defensive midfielder role that is now commonplace.



Won two league championships, the FA Cup and the European Cup with United.



Norman Whiteside (1978-89, 278 appearances, 68 goals)

Scout Bob Bishop, by now 80, recognised the talent of Belfast-born Whiteside and United acted to steal him from under the noses of Ipswich and Liverpool.



Whiteside himself was on a school trip to the United States - during which he met President Jimmy Carter in the Oval Office - when he heard news of his offer from United.



Head and shoulders above the rest: Norman Whiteside became a hero among the Old Trafford faithful

He made his first-team debut two weeks before his 17th birthday in April 1982, making him the second youngest United debutant behind Edwards.

His greatest moment came in the 1985 FA Cup final, when he curled home an improbable winning goal as 10-man United beat Everton.



Brian Kidd (1964-74, 203 league appearances, 52 goals)

He may now be working as an assistant to Roberto Mancini at City, but Kidd’s contribution as player and coach at United was enormous.



Crossing the divide: Brian Kidd played for and coached both Manchester clubs

First signed to the club’s books in 1964, he graduated into Busby’s team a few years later, scoring in the 4-1 win over Benfica in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley.



As a youth coach at United in the 1980s and early 1990s, Kidd helped uncover and develop many of the so-called ‘Fergie Fledglings’ and was Alex Ferguson’s assistant through the Premier League successes of 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997.



David Beckham (1991-2003, 394 appearances, 85 goals)

A fanatical United supporter as a child, London-born Beckham signed schoolboy forms on his 14th birthday and was part of the famous team that won the 1992 FA Youth Cup.



A-list: David Beckham made his name at Manchester United before heading for Hollywood - via Madrid

With Ferguson willing to give his young players every opportunity, it wasn’t long before Beckham, who was blessed with outstanding crossing and set-piece abilities, was a first-team fixture.



He shot to prominence, both as a player and a celebrity, after United won the Double in the 1995-1996 season and, well, we all know the rest...



Ryan Giggs (1987-present, 927 appearances, 166 goals*)

One of United’s greatest servants, Giggs’ career has been a study in longevity and consistency at the highest level.



Giggs had already been recommended to Manchester City when Old Trafford steward Harold Wood notified Alex Ferguson of his talent as he played for Salford side Deans FC.



Trophy collector: Ryan Giggs has won every major honour in the game during a glittering career with United

United sent a scout and Giggs played in a match for United’s Under 15 side at The Cliff training ground, scoring a hat-trick as Ferguson watched from the office window.



He was signed on schoolboy terms on his 14th birthday, starting an association with United that endures to this day.



Giggs has won everything during his career, including 12 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and two European Cups.



Paul Scholes (1991-present, 713 appearances, 155 goals*)



Another one-club man, Scholes has been training with United since the age of 14. Although not a member of the 1992 side, he was part of the team that reached the Youth Cup final the following season, alongside Phil Neville.



Vintage: Like Giggs, Scholes continues to hold his own at the very highest level with Manchester United

With his ability to control a midfield, Scholes was quickly catching up, however, and became a first-team regular at the same time as Beckham, the Nevilles and Nicky Butt in the 1995-96 season.



And he’s been there pretty much every since...

*And they are still playing for United.



You can find out more about Sons of United and order a copy by visiting www.sonsofunited.com





