Sounds barking mad, right? But a missing St. Bernard in 1901 set off a chain of events that changed football history forever!
It was March 2, 1901. Newton Heath, a struggling Second Division football club, was conducting a fundraiser to help keep its aspirations alive. Unfortunately, the event did not go as planned, resulting in quite a fiasco. Just when it seemed that things couldn't get much worse, their beloved mascot, a large St. Bernard named The Major, went missing.
What no one realised at the time was that this lost puppy would set off a chain of events that would permanently change the course of football history.
As The Major wandered through the streets of Manchester, he entered a restaurant and caught the attention of wealthy businessman John Henry Davies.
Davies wished to acquire the puppy for his daughter and advertised in the local newspaper to find the owner. Enter Harry Stafford, Newton Heath's captain and The Major's valid owner.
Stafford was initially reluctant to part with his beloved pet. However, with Newton Heath struggling financially, he ultimately agreed to a deal wherein Davies would receive the dog in exchange for helping to rescue the club from bankruptcy.
After Davies assumed the role of chairman and drew in additional investors, Newton Heath was revived in 1902 as Manchester United. Within just seven years, the formerly struggling team emerged as First Division champions.
All of this is attributed to a wandering St Bernard!
Football teams have had many saviours, but none as unexpected as a dog. Without The Major's timely adventure, Manchester United might not exist today. So, the next time you watch the Red Devils play, remember the four-legged hero who played a crucial role in their history.
