Soccer Extreme : In the build-up to this summer's tour we're looking back at United's previous trips to the Orient, beginning with the team's last visit to Indonesia…United's global popularity has exploded in the Premier League era, but the Reds were drawing in huge pre-season crowds in Asia more than 30 years ago.
Nowadays the champions go on pre-season tours every two years and have visited the Far East three times in the last decade.
But in the past it ! was uncommon for English sides to travel to the other side of the world in pre-season; most of the Reds' friendlies were instead against European opposition.
However, United blazed a trail in 1975 by embarking on a world tour that took in Iran, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
It soon became apparent why the then Second Division champions had made the journey, as more than 70,000 fans watched a goalless draw with local Indonesian side PSSI Tamtama in Jakarta on 1 June.
The friendly attracted more fans than could be housed at any English league match at the time – and the attendance was more than some Fourth Division clubs drew in an entire season.
crowd was topped by 10,000 as United went down 3-2 to Ajax in the Indonesian capital.
A Reds side featuring the likes of Sammy McIlroy and Arthur Albiston, now regulars on MUTV, took an eighth-minute lead through David McCreery.
Goals from Johnny Rep! , Willy Brokamp and Ruud Geels put Ajax in control, before McI! lroy pul led one back to cap a late United rally.
Hong Kong Rangers were the Reds' next opponents, and McIlroy was again on target in a 2-1 win for the visitors.
United's four Scotland internationals, Martin Buchan, Alex Forsyth, Stewart Houston and Lou Macari, all featured after missing the start of the tour.
Striker Chung Chor-Wai headed past a static United defence to put Hong Kong Rangers ahead, but soon after Macari cut down the right and passed for McIlroy to blast home from 18 yards.
United dominated the second half but seemed to be heading for a draw until, with three minutes left, Stuart Pearson pounced after goalkeeper Jimmy Liddell could only block Macari's powerful 20-yard shot.
PULLING POWER
World Tour 1975 – Asia leg
PSSI Tamtama 0-0 United
1 June, Jakarta
Attendance : 70,000
United 2-3 Ajax ! Amsterdam
3 June, Jakarta
Attendance : 80,000
UNITED: Roche; James, Albiston, Daly, Holton, Mitchell, Loughnane, Grimshaw, McIllroy, Pearson, McCreery.
Hong Kong Rangers 1-2 United
7 June, Hong Kong
UNITED: Roche, Forsyth, Houston, Grimshaw, Holton, Buchan, Macari, Loughnane, McIllroy, Pearson, Daly.
United - 1975
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