May 17, 1950 – Manchester United’s first New England appearance

The New England All-Stars essentially consisted of the Ponta Delgada SC team, including Ed Souza and John Souza, who would go on to play for the U.S. in the World Cup a few weeks later. In this game, Manchester United went ahead on a 14^th-minute Tom Bogan goal. Ed Souza missed a 79^th-minute penalty kick with a chance to equalize. In the final minutes, Johnnie Downie scored off a pass from inside left Charlie Mitten, considered the match’s top performer. Mitten went on to sign with Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia, earning a ban from British football and the nickname “The Bogota Bandit.” The only Manchester United player who competed in this game to go on to the ’50 World Cup was Henry Cockburn, who was not in the England lineup against the U.S.

This was the most competitive match the Red Devils have faced in New England. Manchester United has a 4-0-0 record (24-2 goal differential) in New England, the latest visit a 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution in 2011. The only goals scored against Man United by local teams were by Springthorpe (no first name listed; could have been Terry Springthorpe) on a penalty kick in an 11-1 loss in 1952 and the Revolution’s Kenny Mansally.

May 17, 1950 – NE All-Stars 0:2 Manchester United at Fall River (Att.: 3,704)

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY