1993 FA Charity Shield
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 The match programme cover | |||||||
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| Manchester United won 5–4 on penalties | |||||||
| Date | 7 August 1993 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Paul Ince (Manchester United)[1] | ||||||
| Referee | Gerald Ashby (Worcestershire) | ||||||
| Attendance | 66,519 | ||||||
| Weather | Sunny[2] | ||||||
The 1993 Football Association Charity Shield was the 71st FA Charity Shield, an annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup competitions. It was held at Wembley Stadium on 7 August 1993. The match was played between Arsenal, who beat Sheffield Wednesday to win the 1993 FA Cup Final, and Manchester United, champions of the inaugural Premier League competition. Watched by a crowd of 66,519, Manchester United won the Shield 5–4 on penalties, after the match had finished at 1–1 after 90 minutes. This was the second edition to have penalties to decide the winners. The first being 1974 when Liverpool beat Leeds United on penalties.
This was Arsenal's 12th's Charity Shield appearance and Manchester United's 17th. The 1993 staging of the event was the first to feature players wearing permanent squad numbers; this became common practise in time for the 1993–94 season. Roy Keane made his debut for Manchester United in the match; he partnered Paul Ince in midfield. United began the match the brighter of the two teams and scored after eight minutes of play, through Mark Hughes. Striker Eric Cantona spurned two chances to extend United's lead, by which point Arsenal's midfield started to assert themselves. Five minutes before the interval, Ian Wright capitalised on a mistake by Ryan Giggs to score the equaliser. Arsenal started the second half strongly, which prompted Ferguson to tweak his formation and bring on Bryan Robson in place of Giggs. Eddie McGoldrick came on for his Arsenal debut in the 74th minute, and two minutes later, United were denied a penalty after Ince was brought down by John Jensen.
As there were no further goals, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Wright and Denis Irwin missed their penalties; the decisive penalty, taken by Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman, was saved by his opposite number, Peter Schmeichel. Arsenal manager George Graham admitted his surprise over how the game was decided and thought both clubs would share the trophy; his counterpart Alex Ferguson, though delighted with his team's victory, felt the sudden death aspect was unnecessary.
Background
[edit]The FA Charity Shield was founded in 1908 as a contest between the top professional and amateur teams of each season. It was played between the Football League champions and FA Cup winners for the first time in 1921; the formation of a new top-tier division, the Premier League, in 1992 meant it displaced the Football League spot.[3] Wembley Stadium acted as the home venue of the Shield, first hosting the event in 1974.[3] The Arsenal players in the 1993 staging of the Charity Shield were the first in the competition's history to wear permanent squad numbers and names on the back of their shirts, while the Manchester United players used the traditional 1–11 numbering system without the names, which was phased out by the start of the 1993–94 FA Premier League season.[4] The Premier League intended to introduce persistent squad numbers with names at the start of the 1992–93 season, but Manchester United vetoed plans as their laundry room "was too small to handle all the extra shirts".[5]
Arsenal qualified for the 1993 FA Charity Shield by defeating Sheffield Wednesday in a replay match of the 1993 FA Cup Final to win the cup.[6] The club therefore completed a domestic cup double; earlier in the season they beat Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 to win the 1993 Football League Cup Final.[7] The other Charity Shield place went to Manchester United, winners of the inaugural Premier League competition.[6] It was their first league title in 26 years and goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel felt the signing of striker Eric Cantona was a factor in the team's success: "He has added an element of surprise, imagination, inventiveness."[8]
This was Manchester United's first appearance in the Charity Shield in three years; prior to this event they won 10 Shields outright (1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1983), shared four (1965, 1967, 1977, 1990) and lost three (1948, 1963, 1985). By contrast, Arsenal won seven previous Shields (1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1948, 1953), shared one with Tottenham Hotspur in 1991 and lost four (1935, 1936, 1979, 1989).[9] Both clubs had only once met before in the Shield, when Arsenal won by four goals to three in 1948.[9]
Pre-match
[edit]Both managers approached the match with a view to win, in spite of the Shield's friendly feel.[10] Arsenal manager George Graham opined "Winning is a good habit, so why not start early?"[10][11] Graham lambasted those who found his team's playing style tedious: "The criticism that we don't pass the ball and we don't have flair is overdone. We won two championships and in the second lost one game out of 38."[12] However, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said "Winning means keeping your job, and it can be a delicate situation. But I tell myself I'm not going to fail in this game." Ferguson spoke in glowing terms of new signing Roy Keane, a midfielder who gave United "unbelievable options, a real edge to the squad".[13]
The match was scheduled for a 12:30pm kick off since Sky Sports televised the match in both Scotland and England; they were unable to pick an afternoon slot because of the television blackout, which aimed to protect Scottish attendances.[14] UEFA warned The Football Association in the lead-up to the Charity Shield that a 3pm kick-off would result in a minimum fine of £5 million.[15] Deryk Brown of The Sunday Times wrote of the decision: "So, at least, the season is beginning as it will go on, at the mercy of television."[14] Tickets for the game were advertised at a cost of between £10 and £30.[16]
Match
[edit]Team selection
[edit]Arsenal lined up in a 4–4–2 formation; Eddie McGoldrick was included in the matchday squad, while Kevin Campbell partnered Ian Wright up front.[17] Ferguson deployed a 4–2–4 formation, with Paul Ince partnering debutant Keane in the midfield two.[17] Andrei Kanchelskis was picked in favour of Lee Sharpe on the right wing.[18]
Summary
[edit]Manchester United began the first half the better of the two teams and led from the eighth minute.[14] Denis Irwin's cross into Arsenal's penalty area found Eric Cantona on the right side; he lobbed the ball in Mark Hughes' direction, who was surrounded by the Arsenal defenders.[14] Hughes instinctively made a connection with the ball with an overhead shot that beat goalkeeper David Seaman at the near post.[14] United fashioned another chance to score moments after; Keane fed the ball to Cantona whose shot was blocked by Seaman.[1][14] Kanchelskis created a further chance for Cantona; the Frenchman's effort once more was denied, this time by an Arsenal defender.[1] "These proved costly misses", opined Patrick Barclay, given United's tempo weakened, and Arsenal's John Jensen and Paul Davis started to impose themselves in midfield.[1] United captain Steve Bruce coped well against Campbell and Wright, but the latter striker equalised for Arsenal in the 40th minute.[1] A loose pass from Ryan Giggs was headed-on by Davis and the ball fell to Wright.[14] He, "some 20 yards out", hit the ball first time, which dipped past the underside of the crossbar.[14]
A tackle by Ince on Lee Dixon left the Arsenal defender with a damaged ankle; he came off at half time and was replaced by Martin Keown.[19] Arsenal's performance improved after Wright's goal; Paul Merson, a quiet figure in the first half, influenced their play in the second.[19] Ferguson responded to Arsenal's newfound impetus by substituting Giggs for Bryan Robson.[17] This tweaked United's formation to 4–3–3; in spite of Ince's well-rounded performance, his partner Keane started to tire as the game went on and United's game therefore suffered.[1][17] Keane was shifted onto the right to accommodate Robson, who brought control to United's play.[1] In the meantime, Nigel Winterburn prevented Cantona from scoring, following good play by Kanchelskis.[1] Arsenal's service to Wright and Campbell was infrequent throughout the second half, but both players tested Schmeichel in goal.[1] McGoldrick came on for his Arsenal debut in the 74th minute, a versatile player, able to "sweep, score from midfield or play wide".[14] Two minutes later, Seaman denied Keane from scoring with a one-handed save.[20] United continued to attack and a move was broken down after Jensen's tackle brought Ince down in the Arsenal's penalty area.[1] Gerald Ashby refused to award a penalty – "the referee's decision otherwise was not supported by television replays".[1]
No further goals meant the game was decided on a penalty shoot-out. The first four penalties were scored – Ince and Bruce for United and Winterburn and Jensen for Arsenal, before Seaman saved Irwin's effort. Wright missed his penalty, prompting jeers from the United supporters.[14] The shoot-out proceeded to sudden death; Robson scored and Seaman "saw his gentle penalty saved by his opposite number" to give United a 5–4 win and thereby the Shield.[14]
Details
[edit]| Arsenal | 1–1 | Manchester United |
|---|---|---|
Wright  40' |
[21] | Hughes 8' |
| Penalties | ||
Winterburn  Jensen Campbell Merson Wright  Seaman |
4–5 | Ince Bruce Irwin Keane Cantona Robson |
          Arsenal[22]
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  Manchester United[22]
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Match rules
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Post-match
[edit]The Charity Shield was presented to Bruce by former Arsenal manager Billy Wright.[23] Wright died barely a year later, aged 70.[24] Graham assumed both clubs would share the trophy, so when it came to a penalty shoot-out he entrusted his players to decide their order.[25] He described Wright's goal as "brilliant" and felt it was "unfortunate" that Seaman missed: "For a goalkeeper, he normally takes great penalties. He normally hits them hard but he decided to try and place this one and it didn't work."[25] Wright was unashamed of his penalty miss, "...just as long as I don't do it when it is important".[26]
Ferguson remarked the Shield should not have been settled on penalties; to him it was a "celebration of success", though ultimately he was delighted his team won.[18] He was pleased with the team's start – "I thought in the first 25 minutes we were really good and could have tied the match up then"[25] – and considered lining the team up in a 4–3–3 formation to begin with, though wanted to see "how Keane played with Ince, what the balance was like".[17] Ince believed he should have been awarded a penalty after Jensen fouled him: "I was past their last man and there was no way I would have dived from there."[25]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Barclay, Patrick (8 August 1993). "Able Seaman all at sea with penalty". The Observer. London. p. 40.
- ^ "The Times Today". The Times. 7 August 1993. p. 16.
- ^ a b "The FA Community Shield history". The Football Association. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ Lacey, David (21 August 1993). "Playing by squad numbers sows seeds of confusion". The Guardian. London. p. 15.
- ^ Thorpe, Martin (21 August 1993). "Thomas on the high road back". The Guardian. London. p. 15.
- ^ a b Thomas, Russell (7 August 1993). "Scots with little room for charity". The Guardian. London. p. 19.
- ^ "Gunners clinch FA and League Cup double". Arsenal F.C. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ^ Ball, Peter (3 May 1993). "United claim the glittering prize at last". The Times. p. 19.
- ^ a b Ross, James (15 August 2013). "List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ a b Miller, David (7 August 1993). "Arsenal should aim to please". The Times. p. 30.
- ^ "Tunnel of hate". Daily Mirror. London. 7 August 1993. pp. 26–7.
- ^ Curry, Steve (7 August 1993). "Glasgow glitter boys on parade". Daily Express. London. pp. 78–9.
- ^ Thomas, Russell (7 August 1993). "Keane widens the horizons". The Guardian. London. p. 19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Brown, Deryk (8 August 1993). "Wright kicks off with a screamer and a howler". The Sunday Times. London. p. S2.
- ^ Harris, Bob (30 May 1993). "TV in Charity Shield shocker". Sunday Mirror. London. p. 64.
- ^ "Display ad 26". The Guardian. London. 6 August 1993. p. A15.
- ^ a b c d e Ball, Peter (9 August 1993). "Resilient Arsenal dip United's wings". The Times. p. 20.
- ^ a b Lovejoy, Joe (9 August 1993). "United learning to live with their riches: Ferguson says he would have happily shared the spoils at Wembley". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ a b Fox, Norman (8 August 1993). "United have the last laugh in lottery". The Independent on Sunday. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
- ^ Lacey, David (9 August 1993). "Shoot-out spoils Shield's sweet charity". The Guardian. London. p. 12.
- ^ Harris, Bob (8 August 1993). "It's Gunner be all Wright". Daily Mirror. London. p. 54.
- ^ a b Arsenal v Manchester Utd FA Charity Shield 1993 (Television production). Sky Sports. 7 August 1993. Event occurs at 0:00–1:23. Archived from the original on 31 August 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Keys, Richard (presenter), Tyler, Martin (commentator) (7 August 1993). The Charity Shield: Arsenal v Manchester United (Television production). Sky Sports. Event occurs at 14:00:00–14:30:00.
- ^ "Billy Wright". The Times. 5 September 1994. p. 17.
- ^ a b c d Irwin, Mark (8 August 1993). "We're a mess". Sunday Mirror. London. p. 56.
- ^ Clarke, Nigel (9 August 1993). "Top gun can grab 50 goals". Daily Mirror. London. p. 33.
1993 FA Charity Shield
View on GrokipediaBackground
Qualification
The FA Charity Shield is traditionally contested between the winners of the Football League First Division (later the Premier League) and the FA Cup from the previous season, serving as a season-opening match to raise funds for charity. If the same team wins both competitions, the league runners-up qualify as opponents instead; this rule was not applicable in 1993, as the honours were divided between two clubs.[4] Manchester United secured their place by clinching the inaugural 1992–93 Premier League title, finishing first with 84 points from 24 wins, 12 draws, and 6 losses, 10 points ahead of runners-up Aston Villa. The season concluded on 11 May 1993, with United's championship mathematically confirmed earlier via a 3–1 home victory over Blackburn Rovers on 2 May. This marked their first top-flight title in 26 years, ending a long drought since 1967.[6][7] Arsenal earned qualification through victory in the 1992–93 FA Cup, defeating Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 after extra time in the replay on 20 May 1993 at Wembley Stadium, following a 1–1 draw in the original final on 15 May. Ian Wright opened the scoring in the 33rd minute of the replay, Chris Waddle equalized for Wednesday in the 68th, and Andy Linighan headed the winner in the 120+1st minute from a John Jensen corner. This triumph represented Arsenal's sixth FA Cup success and set the stage for their strong form entering the 1993–94 campaign.[8][9]Rivalry context
The Arsenal–Manchester United rivalry, longstanding but sporadic in intensity during much of the 20th century, escalated markedly in the late 1980s and early 1990s as both clubs emerged as leading contenders for major honours in English football. A defining flashpoint occurred on 20 October 1990, during a First Division match at Old Trafford, where Arsenal secured a 1–0 victory but the game descended into chaos post-whistle with a mass brawl involving 21 players from both sides, resulting in fines and two-point deductions for each club from the Football Association. This incident, often cited as the ignition of their modern antagonism, heightened tensions amid Arsenal's back-to-back league titles in 1989 and 1991, which denied Manchester United the championship during Alex Ferguson's early years at the club.[10] Central to this period's rivalry were the managers: George Graham, who guided Arsenal from 1986 to 1995 and built a formidable side known for defensive solidity and counter-attacking flair, and Alex Ferguson, Manchester United's manager from 1986 to 2013, who was steadily transforming the club into a powerhouse after initial struggles. Their personal dynamic added fuel, stemming from a 1986 job race at Arsenal where Graham edged out Ferguson for the role, fostering mutual respect laced with competitive edge; notable highlights included heated exchanges during matches and Graham's teams repeatedly thwarting Ferguson's title aspirations, such as Arsenal's 3–1 win over United at Highbury on 6 May 1991, a result that helped secure the Gunners' second league crown in three years.[11][12] The 1992–93 season exemplified the rivalry's competitiveness, with Manchester United edging Arsenal 1–0 at Highbury on 28 November 1992—Mark Hughes scoring the decisive goal—and the reverse fixture ending 0–0 at Old Trafford on 24 March 1993, as United pulled away to win the inaugural Premier League title by 10 points.[13] As the 1993 FA Charity Shield's participants—Manchester United as 1992–93 Premier League champions and Arsenal as 1992–93 FA Cup winners—the match embodied the fixture's role as English football's traditional season opener at Wembley Stadium, blending prestige with charity aims while serving as a high-stakes early test of ambitions between era-defining rivals.[14]Pre-match
Venue and arrangements
The 1993 FA Charity Shield was held at Wembley Stadium in London, serving as the traditional venue for the annual fixture since 1974. The stadium, known as the "Home of Football," accommodated a capacity of approximately 100,000 spectators during this era, though the match drew an attendance of 66,519. This event marked one of the many Charity Shields hosted at Wembley until 2000, underscoring the stadium's central role in English football traditions.[4][15][3] The match took place on Saturday, 7 August 1993, with kick-off scheduled at 3:00 PM. Officiating duties were led by referee Gerald Ashby from Worcestershire, supported by assistant linesmen. The game unfolded under clear conditions, contributing to a vibrant pre-season atmosphere at the iconic venue.[16][3] Live coverage of the match was provided by ITV, marking the broadcaster's return to airing the Charity Shield. Ticketing and gate receipts generated proceeds directed toward charitable causes. Pre-match arrangements featured the playing of the national anthem, formal team introductions on the pitch, and standard halftime entertainment to engage the crowd.[17][4]Team preparations
Arsenal entered the 1993 FA Charity Shield as the FA Cup winners, having secured the trophy in a replay against Sheffield Wednesday on 20 May 1993, which demanded significant physical and mental recovery during the summer break. Manager George Graham prioritized rebuilding squad rhythm through pre-season activities, including the integration of Danish midfielder John Jensen, signed from Brøndby in July 1992 for £1.1 million to replace David Rocastle and add tenacity to the central midfield. Jensen featured prominently in the cup final replay and contributed to Arsenal's defensive solidity throughout the previous campaign. The Gunners' pre-season fixtures featured a tour to South Africa, highlighted by a 2–0 friendly victory over Manchester United on 25 July 1993 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, where Ian Wright scored both goals from penalties in front of 70,000 spectators.[18][19][20] Graham previewed the match by stressing the need to defend their cup success aggressively, treating the Shield as an opportunity to assert dominance early in the season while building on their qualification motivation from the FA Cup triumph.[21] Manchester United, the reigning Premier League champions, approached the Charity Shield with confidence from their title-winning campaign, leveraging deep squad options including veterans like Bryan Robson and emerging talents such as Ryan Giggs. Eric Cantona's seamless integration since his £1.2 million transfer from Leeds United in November 1992 had transformed the attack, with the Frenchman scoring five league goals in limited appearances to help clinch the championship and providing creative flair in pre-season sessions. The squad's preparations included the aforementioned South Africa tour, where they faced Arsenal in the high-profile friendly, using it to fine-tune combinations ahead of the competitive opener.[22] Midfielder Paul Ince's fitness was carefully managed following a demanding end to the previous season, ensuring he could anchor the midfield without risk of recurrence. Alex Ferguson viewed the fixture as a vital competitive warm-up, emphasizing squad rotation to maintain sharpness while celebrating their league qualification as a foundation for another strong year.[23]Match
Line-ups
Arsenal lined up in a 4–4–2 formation, captained by Tony Adams. The starting XI consisted of David Seaman in goal; defenders Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Andy Linighan, and Nigel Winterburn; midfielders John Jensen, Paul Davis, Paul Merson, and Anders Limpar; and forwards Kevin Campbell and Ian Wright.[1] The bench included goalkeeper Alan Miller, defender Martin Keown, and midfielder Eddie McGoldrick. Arsenal made two substitutions during the match: Martin Keown replaced Lee Dixon at half-time, and Eddie McGoldrick came on for Anders Limpar in the 74th minute.[24] Manchester United also deployed a 4–4–2 formation, with Steve Bruce as captain. Their starting lineup featured Peter Schmeichel as goalkeeper; defenders Paul Parker, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, and Denis Irwin; midfielders Andrei Kanchelskis, Paul Ince, debutant Roy Keane, and Ryan Giggs; and forwards Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes.[3][24][25] The bench comprised goalkeeper Les Sealey, forward Brian McClair, winger Lee Sharpe, and midfielder Darren Ferguson, all of whom remained unused.[3] United's sole substitution saw Bryan Robson enter for Ryan Giggs in the 68th minute.[24]Match summary
The 1993 FA Charity Shield commenced with Manchester United exerting early dominance in the first half, capitalizing on their attacking intent to secure a 1–0 lead. Arsenal mounted a resilient response, equalizing later in the period to level the score at the interval.[3] In the second half, the contest devolved into a tactical stalemate characterized by robust defensive displays from both sides, resulting in no additional goals and the avoidance of extra time. The evenly matched line-up formations contributed to a balanced midfield engagement throughout.[24] The match concluded in a 1–1 draw after 90 minutes. Paul Ince earned Man of the Match honors for his commanding midfield performance.Key events
Manchester United took the lead in the 8th minute when Mark Hughes volleyed home a pass from Eric Cantona, beating David Seaman with a clinical finish.[26] Arsenal responded strongly toward the interval, equalizing in the 40th minute through Ian Wright, who chipped a first-time shot over Peter Schmeichel from outside the box following a loose ball.[26] The midfield battle was fiercely contested, with Paul Ince and Roy Keane dictating play for United. In the 76th minute, a penalty was denied to Manchester United after Paul Ince was fouled by John Jensen. Substitutions influenced the latter stages: Arsenal's introduction of Eddie McGoldrick added width to their attacking options on his debut, while Bryan Robson's entry for Ryan Giggs in the 68th minute injected late energy into United's engine room.[3][27] No yellow cards were issued throughout the match, underscoring a competitive but disciplined affair.[1]Post-match
Penalty shoot-out
Following the 1–1 draw after extra time, the 1993 FA Charity Shield was decided by a penalty shoot-out at Wembley Stadium.[24] The shoot-out unfolded under intense pressure from a crowd of 66,519, creating a charged atmosphere as both teams vied for the season's first silverware. Manchester United elected to go first, with Paul Ince confidently converting past Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman to open the scoring. Arsenal equalized immediately when Nigel Winterburn slotted his penalty beyond Peter Schmeichel. United's Steve Bruce maintained momentum by scoring their second, matched by John Jensen's precise finish for Arsenal. The tension escalated as Seaman dived to save Denis Irwin's effort, but Arsenal's Kevin Campbell then scored to take a 3–2 lead. Roy Keane steadied United by burying their fourth penalty, with Paul Merson equalizing for Arsenal. Eric Cantona scored United's fifth to level at 4–4 after five kicks each, before Ian Wright's miss kept the score tied. In sudden death, substitute Bryan Robson converted for United, and Schmeichel then saved David Seaman's attempt to secure a 5–4 triumph. The goalkeepers' interventions—Schmeichel's denial of Seaman and Seaman's stop on Irwin—proved decisive in the drama.[3][28][26]| Taker (Team) | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Ince (Manchester United) | Scored | 1–0 to United |
| Nigel Winterburn (Arsenal) | Scored | 1–1 |
| Steve Bruce (Manchester United) | Scored | 2–1 to United |
| John Jensen (Arsenal) | Scored | 2–2 |
| Denis Irwin (Manchester United) | Missed (saved by Seaman) | 2–2 |
| Kevin Campbell (Arsenal) | Scored | 3–2 to Arsenal |
| Roy Keane (Manchester United) | Scored | 3–3 |
| Paul Merson (Arsenal) | Scored | 4–3 to Arsenal |
| Eric Cantona (Manchester United) | Scored | 4–4 |
| Ian Wright (Arsenal) | Missed | 4–4 after five each |
| Bryan Robson (Manchester United) | Scored | 5–4 to United (sudden death) |
| David Seaman (Arsenal) | Missed (saved by Schmeichel) | United win 5–4 |