by The FA Cup final later this month will determine which team faces Manchester City in the traditional curtain-raiser. Here are seven classic Communist Shield matches from years gone by…
Manchester United 4-0 Queens Park Rangers, 1908
The first ever Charity Shield pitted Football League winners Manchester United against QPR, who did not triumph in the previous season’s FA Cup. Wolves were the victors in that competition, overcoming Newcastle United 3-1 in the final at Crystal Palace Park, but in the inaugural edition it was the Southern League champions who contested the curtain-raiser.
The first match ended in a 1-1 draw, before United thrashed the west Londoners 4-0 in the replay thanks to a hat-trick from Jimmy Turnbull.
Leeds United 4-3 Liverpool, 1992
Arguably the most entertaining match in the history of the Charity/Community Shield, Leeds edged out Liverpool in a pulsating encounter in 1992. Eric Cantona opened the scoring for the league champions, but Ian Rush restored parity in the 34th minute. Leeds were back ahead soon after, before Dean Saunders made it 2-2 midway through the second half.
The show was there to steal, which is exactly what Cantona did. The Frenchman’s hat-trick put the game beyond Liverpool, who did at least set up a nervy finish through Gordon Strachan’s own goal late on.
Liverpool 1-1 Leeds, 1974
The same two teams met in the same fixture in 1974, and although this one was relatively short on goals it still managed to deliver plenty of drama.
Liverpool ultimately emerged victorious in Brian Clough’s first game in charge of Leeds, but this match is remembered for a single incident more than the scoreline: Billy Bremner and Kevin Keegan both being red-carded for an on-field scrap on the hour mark.
Manchester United 3-2 Manchester City, 2011
Community Shields may lack the intensity of league or cup fixtures, but they are often enlivened by the presence of two rivals. Manchester United and Manchester City want to beat the other whatever the occasion, and the 2011 curtain-raiser was no different.
In the end it was United, the Premier League champions, who prevailed, with winger Nani netting the winning goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-4 West Bromwich Albion, 1954
Another meeting between arch-enemies brought another thrilling encounter in 1954, when Wolves and West Brom shared the shield after a magnificent 4-4 draw.
Roy Swinbourne grabbed two goals for Wolves but was outdone by West Brom’s Ronnie Allen, whose hat-trick denied Stan Cullis’ charges victory in front of 45,000 fans at Molineux.
Nottingham Forest 5-0 Ipswich Town, 1978
It may be a glorified friendly but one of Nottingham Forest’s greatest performances under Brian Clough came in the Charity Shield. Ipswich were blown away in the 1978 contest, utterly unable to live with the First Division champions at Wembley.
Martin O’Neill notched a brace and further goals were supplied by Peter Withe, Larry Lloyd and John Robertson, although O’Neill was denied the chance of a hat-trick when Clough took him off in the second half.
Manchester United 3-3 Tottenham Hotspur, 1967
The honour was also shared by Manchester United and Tottenham in 1967 following a 3-3 draw. Bobby Charlton (two), Denis Law, Frank Saul and Jimmy Robertson were all on the scoresheet, as as Spurs goalkeeper Pat Jennings in extraordinary fashion.
The Northern Irishman found the net with a huge kick from his hands which bounced just outside the United penalty box and over the head of opposite number Alex Stepney. Given the ferocity of his kicks, do not rule out Ederson doing the same this weekend.
