Billy Meredith and the Bribe

OTD E0277 — 04 Aug 1905: Billy Meredith, Manchester City’s FA Cup hero and one of football’s first superstars, is suspended after being found guilty of trying to bribe Aston Villa captain Alec Leake. This episode traces Meredith’s rise from Welsh mining village to Manchester icon, City’s 1904 FA Cup win, the 1904-05 title chase, the £10 bribe allegation, the FA investigation, Manchester City’s illegal payments scandal, the forced sale of players to Manchester United, Meredith’s role in United’s first great team, his Players’ Union leadership, and how the scandal belongs in the longer corruption arc that includes the 1915 Good Friday Betting Scandal.Ideas: [email protected]