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May 13, 2006

The road to Leipzig

It's a year since the Glazers took over at Old Trafford and, as Tony Howard explains, FC United are marking the occasion with their first foreign excursion

FRIDAY MAY 12, 2006

Whisper it quietly, but it's a year this Friday (May 12) since Malcolm Glazer took over at Manchester United, and, for some former Old Trafford patrons, the doom we felt 12 months ago has lifted to such an extent that the anniversary will be more a celebration than a memorial.

Many of the Reds who refused to grease the American's palms will not this year be burning effigies outside Old Trafford. They will instead be in Leipzig, Germany to watch the club they formed in the wake of that fateful day as FC United embark on their first foreign excursion.

United fans have adapted to many new environments over the past year. No longer do we wonder at the size of the cantilever stands at some of Europe's great venues; we now talk enthusiastically about the size of the bus-stop style stands that adorn the tiny grounds of the North West Counties league. Where once we marvelled at trips to glamorous destinations like Barcelona or Milan; now we enthuse about the enjoyment to be had at places as obscure as Congleton or Clitheroe. Having formerly discussed the quality of the pitches at the Camp Nou or the Giuseppe Meazza; now we heap praise on the patrons of grounds that contain impressive grassy knolls which form the perfect back-drop to watching the game at this level.

It's been Cheadle instead of Chelsea, Nelson instead of Newcastle and Blackpool instead of Bolton (no-one can argue that's not an improvement). It's been a culture shock for some and in the harsh Lancashire winter that engulfed Accrington on a Monday night for one of our visits there, many of us were questioning our sanity. But it's all been worth it. Not least to hear the immortal line that has become the most common question filling the air of Manchester's pubs this week: "What yer doin for Leipzig?"

Not mithered by talk of when Tony will hand the reins to Gordon, Mancunians would much rather discuss how they're going to get to eastern Germany for a football friendly. Perspective, they call it. And why shouldn't we have an end of season blow-out? We've made something positive out of what was one of the darkest days in many of our lives.

I've been asked to write about the ups and downs of FC United this season, and some people have commented that my writing makes it appear that there isn't a grey cloud in the sky. But the truth is that despite the continued sadness at what has happened at our spiritual home, the sun has constantly shone through the snow, sleet and hail we've endured in our first season and it's been a joy. We've gone back to the future by recalling the great experiences of watching football in the past, set in the climate of a club run by fans which would present a very rosy template for tomorrow. And we can be forgiven for harking on about it. We hope our example will show fans of top-flight clubs, who continue to be treated like idiots by their clubs, players and governing board alike, that there is another way. Say, "Enough is enough," and walk away.

We were told by those who'd done similar, most notably Kris Stewart from AFC Wimbledon, that whatever happened this season we'd have one hell of a ride. And he's been proved correct. However, we were fully aware we'd be going to the likes of Flixton, Darwen and Leek - but I doubt anyone, even the most inebriated among us, would have predicted we'd be travelling to east Germany just 12 months after Glazer arrived.

Posted by ulrich at 03:12 AM | Comments (0)

May 06, 2006

Tommy United with football favourites

A FLINT man is being given the opportunity to line up against his football favourites after inviting them to play in his home town.

Tommy O’Neill wrote to FC United of Manchester, where he is a season ticket holder, asking them to consider visiting Flint for a pre-season friendly match against Flint Town United.

The club accepted the offer, and the match will take place at the Cae-y-Castell ground on July 8.

FC United was formed in 2005 by a group of Manchester United supporters – Tommy included – who were unhappy with the running of the Old Trafford club after the takeover by American tycoon Malcolm Glazer.

The team has just clinched promotion to the North-West Counties League first division and looks set to clinch the division two title.

They attract a following equivalent to many football league clubs and have received much national media attention.

The day will be extra special for Tommy, as not only will he see his team visit his home town, but he has also been offered the chance to play for Flint in the game.

He said: “At first I spoke to the Flint chairman and he agreed they’d host the game if it could be arranged.

“I wrote a letter to FC United thanking them for their efforts in running the club and all the good experiences I’ve had following them, and added at the bottom of the letter that Flint would be available for a friendly if they could make it. The next thing I knew they’d agreed to come here.

“It’s amazing for me to play against a team I have a season ticket for.

“As a Man United fan, that would never have happened and I’ll probably never have the chance to do it again.

Tommy, 23, head greenkeeper at Mountain Park Country Club in Flint, added: “Its great for Flint. This is probably the biggest thing for the club since Man United themselves played a friendly with David Beckham in the side a few years ago.

“I asked around the ground at the last FC United game and they’re already talking about it. The average away support is around 2,000, which is bigger than some Premiership sides can manage.”

Flint Town United club secretary Mike Gillham said the club was looking forward to a bumper crowd for the game.

He said: “We’re really over the moon about this. This will create a lot of interest locally.

“ We’ll be bringing in extra seating and we’re hoping to get an attendance of around 3,000.

“The proceeds from the game could set the club up for the whole season.”

Posted by ulrich at 05:56 AM | Comments (0)

In memory of Jamie Turner

THE GUARDIAN, LONDON

FC United's season isn't yet over - next week they're playing a benefit game for a fan left in a coma following an unprovoked attack by a gang armed with metal bars

Tony Howard
Friday May 5, 2006

They may have played their final league game and be reigning champions, but FC United's season isn't quite over as they have a further two important fixtures still to play. Following a 2-1 win in the last North West Counties League Two game against Padiham on Saturday, United are now preparing to take on AFC Telford United this weekend, and the following week the club will embark on their first ever European excursion.

Both games are important for different reasons. The significance of the club's continental debut is obvious as they play a friendly in Leipzig, Germany on Friday, May 12 - the anniversary of the day the Americans invaded Old Trafford.

But before then they will travel to Telford for a benefit game to raise funds for a United fan whose football-watching life changed forever, in another sense, just three days after the Glazers landed.

On Sunday, May 15 Jamie Turner was on the way to watch Manchester United at Southampton when he suffered a completely unprovoked attack by a gang armed with metal bars and baseball bats.

The vicious attack saw him in a coma for three weeks and his skull broken in two. He was left unable to show any emotion at all - he couldn't laugh, cry, or even smile. He has had to learn how to do even the simplest tasks all over again. Still struggling with his speech, he is currently awaiting an operation to replace a part of his skull.

Before the incident Jamie, a father of two, ran a family IT business having learnt his trade while serving his country in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Without the income from the business and having to give up work herself to care for him Karen, Jamie's wife of 23 years, has understandably found it difficult to cope.

Therefore the two fan-run clubs, FC United and Jamie's local team AFC Telford, decided to help the family with a benefit match.

FC are in a fortunate position to help a fan, due to the large supporter base, and the ethos of the club fits such a gesture. It's sobering to see that in the day and age where moneyed players still insist on staging testimonials that football can still make a positive difference where it counts. A good cause and well worth extending the season for.

For further information on the Jamie Turner Appeal visit the website: www.only1treble.com or for information on tickets for the FC United v AFC Telford game visit: www.fc-utd.co.uk.

Posted by ulrich at 05:51 AM | Comments (0)

May 05, 2006

Not For Sale?: The destruction and reformation of football communities

4 May 2006

A leading expert in popular culture will discuss the impact of the Glazer take-over of Manchester United FC at guest lecture in the University's Jordanstown campus this week.

Dr Adam Brown, a Senior Research Fellow at the Manchester Institute for Popular Culture at Manchester Metropolitan University, will present: 'Not For Sale?: The destruction and reformation of football communities in the Glazer take-over of Manchester United', on Friday 05 May at 11am in lecture theatre 15G13.

This lecture will explore the historical background, fan culture and scope of the oppositional stance taken by many Manchester United fans to the corporate takeover of their club by the US-based Glazer family and will situate the take-over battle within a number of trends, namely:

- The weakening of regulatory regimes
- The reassertion of locality among United's Mancunian fan base
- The formations of fan groups and their radicalisation at Manchester United

The lecture will conclude with some comments about the establishment of a new football club by disaffected and disillusioned United fans in Manchester - FC United of Manchester - and how this relates to notions of fan
community.

Dr Brown currently leads a major research project - Football and its Communities for the UK Football Foundation - and is a regional director of the Positive Futures case study research for the UK Home Office.

He also leads new research on fishing and social exclusion for the UK government and was formerly a prominent member of the UK Government's Football Task Force.

He is on the board of FC United of Manchester and is co-author of Not For Sale; editor of Fanatics! (Routledge 1998); and author of numerous articles relating to football, sport and community, sports policy, and cultural industries.

Posted by ulrich at 02:26 AM | Comments (0)