Sixty years since United won the 1964/65 title

Adam Marshall

Saturday 26 April 2025 02:00

Share With email

On this day 60 years ago, Manchester United effectively clinched the league title with a 3-1 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford.

The Reds had been battling with Leeds United for the Division One title and the home win over the Gunners proved decisive.

Leeds finished their campaign with a 3-3 draw against relegated Birmingham City, matching our 61 points. Although we still had a game left to play, which we lost 2-1 at Aston Villa, our vastly superior goal difference ensured glory for Matt Busby's men and, poignantly, a first title since the Munich Air Disaster.

Only a defeat by 19 goals or more at Villa Park would have seen United surrender top spot.

George Best pictured with his girlfriend after helping the Reds beat Arsenal in 1965.

Some of the 51,000+ crowd at the Theatre of Dreams invaded the pitch after the final whistle in celebration, with Denis Law taking much of the acclaim.

The Scotland striker was clearly suffering with a knee problem, that was heavily bandaged, but played through the pain and set up a seventh-minute opener for George Best. Law did well to feed Best and the winger's shot deceived Jim Furnell in the Arsenal goal.

As news filtered through that Leeds were losing, the Reds doubled our lead, just before the hour mark. Nobby Stiles's free-kick was met by Law and David Herd forced Furnell to push his effort against the bar. Law was alert to the rebound and converted in his inimitable style.

The nerves returned when Paddy Crerand hacked Joe Baker down inside the box. George Eastham netted at the second attempt, after Pat Dunne saved his initial penalty.

The tension was palpable but the fans could celebrate when Best's 84th-minute corner evaded Furnell and Don Howe so Law pounced on the gift to make it 3-1 with his second of the afternoon.

Leeds had only been playing 10 men for virtually all of their game as Birmingham's Alec Jackson picked up a shoulder injury, following a challenge by Terry Cooper, and had to leave the field.

Don Revie's side roared back in a bid to overturn their three-goal deficit, with a penalty by ex-Red Jonny Giles and a Paul Reaney drive giving them hope. There was late drama when Jack Charlton, brother of Bobby of course, crashed Leeds level in the 88th minute, despite strong appeals for offside.

Thankfully, Birmingham held out, despite being down to nine fit men in the final seconds due to an injury to Malcolm Beard, and there was no second point earned by the Yorkshiremen.

A seventh league win on the trot had been enough for Busby's side, barring any sort of catastrophe at Villa, and it was time to enjoy the moment.

BE IN IT TO WIN IT adcard

BUY NOW

"I am proud of these lads who have won the championship for Manchester United," Busby told the Daily Express. "Every single one of them.

"It has been a long, hard road. It has been a long, hard season.

"There have been times when we just could not seem to find the blend. But, not for the first time, I have found that patience is a virtue.

"I have always felt, and I think I have always said, that we have the right quality of players at Old Trafford to win the title.

"It has been a splendid job of teamwork, from board to backroom boys, exactly as I have said of Leeds United, the team we have so narrowly beaten to it and who have had such a wonderful season."