Whose handwriting is this?
This is where you can help us out. Some of the signatures on this page are perfectly legible and remind us of some of the best players ever to play for the U's. Others are, frankly, a bit of a mess. If you can help to identify the scribblers, please contact us here or email 100yearsofcoconuts@gmail.com. You can get a closer view by clicking on each image. And please consider helping Coconuts by lending us your own autograph collection for scanning.
Could this be George Best's signature n the programme for Steve Spriggs' and Steve Fallon's joint testimonial at the Abbey in 1985?
Our money is on Wes Maughan.
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This is from Terry O'Dell's collection. Pat Saward, Phil Hayes and Ted Ditchburn are in there. Any others?
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Jimmy Gibson, Jim Sharkey, Norman Bleanch … and AN Other.
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Roy Kirk, Phil Amato, Bill Tedds, Brian Foscolo and the David Bennett and Barrett, we reckon.
Er …
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No prizes for this one. His initials are DK.
One of our favourite forwards of all time. Take a bow, Tom Youngs.
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Rodney Slack, Peter Hobbs, Brian Boggis, Andy Smith, Jackie Scurr, Derek Finch and … over to you.
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Dai Jones and …? Another from Terry O'Dell.
Thanks for having clear handwriting, Billy Day.
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Matt McVittie, Len Vallard, Roy Kirk and Rodney Slack again. The others?
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Um …
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The programme for Trevor Roberts' testimonial in 1972, complete with players' signatures. Can you name them?
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Good luck with this lot from 2005, donated by Baskerville Boy Mark Collins. There's Steve Thompson, Shaun Marshall and … shrug.
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At least with autographs from Alan Burge (above, left and right) you get clues to the writers' identities. Click on the pictures to enlarge.
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This autograph and the 15 that follow are from the well-thumbed book of Dave York, who has done us the kindness of identifying each one. This one is from Tommy O'Neill.
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Chris Turner
John Docherty
Lindsay Smith
This one comes from Len Saward, and it was written by a 1950s football legend: Wilf Mannion.
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Graham 'Willie' Watson
Jamie Murray
Steve Fallon and Richard Key
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Tom Finney
Steve Spriggs
George Reilly
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Dave Donaldson
Malcolm Webster
Doug Evans
Roger Gibbins
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Floyd Streete
John Cozens
This from Bryan Boggis's personal collection: the man himself, Roy Kirk, Jackie Scurr et al.
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Above, team picture from the programme for the United v Chelsea friendly on 1 May 1970. Right, we reckon this signed official CUFC duster dates from 1980.
And another, this time from 1983/84. Click to enlarge the image and make out those signatures.
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Another official squad photograph, this time from 1980/81.
Two pages from Jean Cromar's autograph book: above, players from 1950/51 including Russell Crane, Albert George, Neville Haylock, Ray Ruffett, Harry Bullen, Eddie Connelly and Tony Gallego; left, from 1951/52 including Bill Whittaker, Len Crowe and the Bishop brothers Bob and Jack.
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