Their home is called The Theatre of Dreams and those few words probably sum up the heart and soul of Manchester United, one of the most famous football clubs in the world.

Dreams have been made and lost during the club’s long and distinguished history. Dreams have been shattered and dreams have turned into nightmares. Little boys have dreamed about playing for Manchester United and for the lucky few, those dreams have been realised. Great players have been discovered and their names live on in history. Bobby Charlton, George Best, Denis Law, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham. These are names everyone knows, regardless of their allegiance. Love them or hate them, Manchester United are the dream team, rich in assets, rich in talent and rich in trophies.

It’s a very far cry from 1878, the year in which the club was formed. Then, it was known as Newton Heath, being the works team for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot. They played in green and gold, faced going bankrupt in 1902 and their ground was even seized by the bailiffs at one point.

How different from today when the Theatre of Dreams stands tall and proud at Old Trafford, a multi-billion pound concern with fans world-wide.

The story goes that the old Newton Heath club could have been renamed Manchester Central or Manchester Celtic but for someone suggesting Manchester United. The new name came into being on April 26, 1902 and the colours changed to the famous red and white strip. It was only in 1960 that the logo of the red devil was added. United’s most illustrious manager, Sir Matt Busby had overheard the nickname being used in relation to the Salford Rugby League team which also played in red. The team has had many strips since but the most unpopular was the all-grey away strip of the 1995-96 season which was scrapped because every time they wore it, they never won.

From 1902 until the outbreak of the Second World War, the fortunes of Manchester United were mixed. There were many ups and downs and several spells out of the top flight. In 1908, the reds had been crowned First Division Football League champions and they won their first cup in 1909. In 1910, they relocated to Old Trafford, later to house the Theatre of Dreams. The trophy cabinet at the stadium is packed to the brim with silverware and there is nothing which has eluded them.

Today’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson is actually the most successful manger in the history of British football, winning more than 30 trophies during his two decades and more in charge. Even his story is a dream. He grew up in a back street tenement but became a professional footballer, playing for teams such as Glasgow Rangers and Ayr United, before moving into management.

His career has not been without controversy and his comments and actions are constantly thrown into the public limelight, as has his numerous fallings-out with top players. But Fergie, who received his knighthood for services to football, has never hidden the fact that he is a disciplinarian and expects his players to tow the line. He once imposed a fine on a player who overtook a car on a public road and was himself once on the verge of being sacked because of United’s poor performances.

Sir Alex became manager in 1986 following the sacking of Ron Atkinson and inherited a team of under-achievers. How times have changed. One of the team’s many highlights has been the treble winning season of 1998-99 when they achieved the Premiership title, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League Cup.

Sir Alex has even managed to ride high above the memory of Sir Matt Busby who became United’s manager in 1945. Under his guidance, the team flourished. United became the first British club to compete in Europe, reaching the semi-final but were beaten by Real Madrid. They won the FA Cup in 1963, the League title in 1965 and 1967 and the European Cup in 1968, the first club ever to do so against Benfica.

Those were the Busby years and the age of the Busy Babes – but it was an era filled with sorrow too. In the well-documented Munich air disaster of 1958 which shook the world, eight players lost their lives when the BA flight crashed on its third attempt to take-off from Munich airport in slush and ice. Sir Matt survived but it was a defining moment in the history of Manchester United.

During his career, Busby had signed many illustrious players, none more so than George Best. Many people may believe it is Bobby Charlton who tops the list of the most appearances for Manchester United but it is in fact Ryan Giggs, recently voted PFA Player of the Year. Busby resigned in 1969 and died in 1994.

Sir Alex too has been responsible for a string of high profile signings, including paying a record at the time of 1.2 million pounds for Eric Cantona. The enigmatic Frenchman won a legion of fans but might always be remembered for the time he jumped into the crowd to retaliate against a fan who had insulted his mother. Those actions resulted in an eight month ban.

Manchester United have won the Premiership title more than any other club, first lifting the crown in 1993, and Sir Alex has been awarded a host of honours for the part he has played. However, he has always insisted no-one is bigger than the club, despite its glorious triumphs, brilliant teams and legendary players. It really is what dreams are made of.