Relatives of James W. Gibson, the former owner of Manchester United, who saved the club from bankruptcy in 1931, have marked the 90th anniversary of his takeover of the club with a ceremony at Old Trafford.
Gibson, a self-made businessman from Salford, stepped in to save United at a time when its future was in doubt and laid the foundations for the decades of success which followed.
It was under Gibson’s ownership that United established the youth system that became such a central part of the club’s identity, and he was also responsible for hiring Sir Matt Busby as manager.
Alan Embling, the great-nephew of Gibson, said: “It’s not an exaggeration to say that, without James W. Gibson’s intervention, Manchester United would not have become the great club we all love today, because it was in a very difficult position when he took over.”
Embling and his wife, Frances, were guests of honour at Saturday’s game against Leicester City, together with a group of family and friends, and watched the game from the directors’ box.
They were joined by the Mayor and Mayoress of Trafford at a pre-match reception, and club ambassador Bryan Robson presented Embling with an engraved silver plate commemorating the occasion.
Gibson’s contribution is permanently memorialised at Old Trafford with a plaque on the wall of the players’ tunnel, and another plaque is visible to fans on Sir Matt Busby Way.
Representatives of the Independent Manchester United Supporters’ Trust joined Embling’s party to lay wreaths beneath both plaques before Saturday’s Premier League fixture.
The anniversary commemoration had originally been planned for Manchester United Away game Against Brighton & Hove Albion last December, almost 90 years to the day after Gibson bought the club.
However, that match was postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak at Carrington, and the event was rearranged for last Saturday.
Manchester United was delighted to belatedly mark the anniversary and pay tribute to the huge contribution made by Gibson to the history of the club.
