Manchester United were originally founded as Newton Heath LYR FC in 1878. The 'LYR' element stands for Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, the carriage and wagon department at the Newton Heath depot. The team mostly played against other rail company departments until 1880, when they recorded their first match against Bolton Wanderers reserves.
Urban legend suggests LYR's company colours were green and gold, incorporated into early kits, though the club states there is no definitive proof. By 1902, Newton Heath became Manchester United, and the famous red shirts were adopted. The 1992-94 away kit referenced these original colours, becoming a Premier League design classic.
By referencing these original kit colours, fans are signalling unhappiness at the direction of the club under the current owners. This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing