The great Manchester United entertainers and the story of a pioneering trip

Manchester United are touring the United States of America for the first time in five years this summer, as they have done eight times over the last two decades.

United have visited 17 times in total, with Sir Matt Busby's side being the first to venture over the Atlantic by boat in May 1950. After finishing fourth in the first division, three points behind second-time champions Portsmouth, United embarked on a six-week sojourn across the pond that saw them play a dozen matches across the United States and Canada.

Toronto was the first stop, 12 days after concluding the league season, to face an All-Star squad from Canada's National Soccer League. Busby's team began as they meant to go on by going in at half-time with a four-goal lead before adding another after the break to start the sojourn with a 5-0 win.

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United headed back over the border for their first fixture on US soil versus a New York All-Stars team. A convincing 9-2 victory followed led by Johnny Downie. After scoring twice in Toronto, the Scottish inside forward added four more to his tally in the second game. Downie would end the tour with a dozen goals to his name.

United were not the only European club touring the country either. Swedish side Jonkoping and Turkish giants Besiktas were also in the US and were willing opponents. Busby's side beat both in a pair of matches across New England over three days during June, scoring six goals without reply. They would later venture to Chicago for a rematch with their Scandinavian opponents, who, despite losing the first friendly 4-0, beat United 3-1 on the banks of Lake Michigan in what was their final tour match.

That meant the