The Other Manchester F.C.

I’m talking of F.C. United of Manchester, the team created by disenfranchised fans who saw the Manchester United FC takeover by the Glazer family as the final straw that broke the camel’s back with regards to their relations with the club. Many long serving fans have been concerned with the direction that Man Utd F.C. was headed, no longer was the club concentrating on the fans, they were more concerned with winning trophies and making the fans pay for players’ high wage demands by high ticket prices. The takeover further alienated them, many felt their voices were ignored, forcing them to form a side that represented the things that Manchester United once stood for.

F.C. United of Manchester was built on supporter-ownership, with members voting for the board and policies; ticket prices are kept affordable for the fans at £7 for adults, £2 for under-16s. The club also has a youth policy which seeks to work with junior clubs who often feel exploited by the way professional clubs’ academies trawl for the best players. The club has also made partnerships with the surrounding community organizations and groups for the underprivileged, seeking to welcome marginalised groups and introduce football as a good presence in their lives. Created for the people, by the people F.C. United of Manchester has had a glorious run of success since its inception during the summer of 2005. In just two years the club has gained promotion into Northern Premiere League Division One North, the fifth tier in England’s National League System, and is setting records (attendance, goals and points) in the leagues they’ve residing in.

I still support Manchester United F.C., heck I have a blog based on them, but FCUoM represents all that is pure about football so I find them hard to ignore and thereby follow their progress. I pray as they march on through the league system towards the premiership they continue to stay true to their beliefs.