Gradually being tasked with looking after the first team kit the young Italian was also to
become the first official groundsman of the club in 1907.
At the beginning of 20th century Newton Heath LYR was struggling financially to keep
business running. In 1902 a local wealthy brewer JH Davies decided to invest and took over the
ownership. As the club had moved to Clayton a few years earlier and support from all over
Salford, Manchester, Lancashire led to a much needed name change. Names such as
‘Manchester Celtic’ or ‘Manchester Central’ were proposed but nobody were convinced. An idea
came up in Rocca’s mind. ”Gentleman” as legend records Rocca’s flash of divine inspiration,
“why don’t we call ourselves Manchester United?”
There it was, the most popular name in current football world, the most valuable sports brand
name came up and everybody accepted it.
Over the next few years, Louis Rocca had no particular position at the club but he was
helping in various aspects and gained popularity as “The Fixer”. In 1931 club secretary Walter
Crickmar stepped in as manager with Rocca as his assistant. The club was struggling again
financially after the death of JH Davies in 1927.Come the desperate second division days of winter
1932, when with bankruptcy looming and a crowd of less than 5000 scattered around Old
Trafford to witness once mighty United’s 1-0 defeat by the bottom of the table Bristol City, it was
Rocca who’s knack of finding the right man for right job came up trumps. He convinced
Crickmar to call upon James Gibson, a passionate mancunian and clothing business tycoon, at his
Cheshire mansion to plead for deliverance from extinction.
After taking over the club’s stewardship, Gibson set up MUJAC-Manchester United Junior
Athletic Club, a precursor of today’s academy. Rocca was appointed as chief scout and was charged
with bringing the best young players in local area to Manchester United. Rocca used his
connection with Manchester catholic sportsman club, appointed a network of scouts from
Catholic Church. He was the first to introduce organized scouting system in Britain.
“Rocca was notorious for scouting around lower Manchester and
Lancashire leagues, turning up in disguises.”
Smaller clubs were disgusted with him for consistently poaching their players.The first of the
success were legendary United captain Johnny Carey and Stan Pearson. As testimony to Rocca’s
fine efforts, when first of the three great united teams that Sir Matt Busby would build during his
25 years as manager, won the FA cup in 1948 and four of the brilliant forward line on that
day Johnny Morris, Jack Rowley,S tan Pearson and Charlie Mitten had been raised on the
cobbled streets surrounding Old Trafford. Throughout late 30’s and war years Rocca had treble
role of Chief Scout, Secretary Manager and Assistant Manager, as he and Crickmar struggled to
keep united alive .After the war, with no ground and a serious lack of new talent, fresh blood was
required to kick start the slumbering beast. United board decided to appoint a new manager.
Having come to trust Rocca implicitly on all football matters, Gibson handed his lieutenant the
responsibility of finding the right man to inspire United to greatness. Louis Rocca knew who
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