Showing posts with label FC United. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FC United. Show all posts

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

Altrincham FC-Probably The Worst Suppporters In Non-League Football

Altrincham's Ground
On Sunday FC United of Manchester, of the Evo Stik Northern Premier League, beat Altrincham FC of the Conference North in the FA Trophy. It's about 15 miles from Altrincham to Bury and Altrincham suggested that 400 fans would attend. In the event about 150 made the journey. Pretty poor by any standard.

FC United won the game, it seems the Altrincham players are as lacking motivation as their supporters. But then, if you take a look at the Altrincham fans' forum you find that they are even worse than the impression they gave on Sunday. Here are one or two of their comments about FC United:

until they fail to meet the conference's rule on security of tenure coz bury get bought by a lottery winning fan and kick fcum out, their numerous committees start in fighting on location of new ground reflected by a poor season on the pitch and everyone gives up and goes back to OT....they've not had a bad season yet.......lets see how they respond to failure and how that impacts on crowds and volunteers............alty could get taken over by a euro millions lottery winner......
Our third* season in this division, not won a trophy in two seasons. FC United do not have committees we have a board elected by the fans. We have planning permission for a new ground, by the earliest date we could possibly be in the Conference we will no longer be playing at Gigg Lane.


I didn't go yesterday on principle. I refuse to acknowledge their existence as a club in the same way that I dont recognise MK Dons. Starting a new club when things aren't going your way goes against everything I understand being a supporter of a club to be about.
The above comment typifies all that is wrong with football, and is perhaps partly the reason why Altrincham FC are in a huge mess.
As we all know, FCUM was set up by Man U fans who opposed the take over by the Glaziers. It would be interesting to see whether or not the FCUM fan base dropped if Man U was ever sold.
Another one who has obviously neither discussed FC United with an FC United fan nor done any basic research. If United were sold to another money grubbing millionaire nothing would change. It wasn't just the Glazers, it was the whole corporatisation of football that we rejected. No, I wouldn't go back and I doubt many would.

Fans at an FC United home game.
This next comment is obviously from somebody who really does need help:

So when fcum get into the BSP, are told to sit down by stewards at Luton, have to pay their players more to compete so come up with the marketting idea of having 3 kits a year, have to market themselves and become a brand name to progress find out they have to pay more than fans of Histon when they play cambridge, start to sign players from the south who don't represent manchester........wil they start up FC FC Utd?


While there is no end of local clubs with proud histories they could have changed allegiances to, they decided to create a toy that (as has been pointed out as their good points) is ruthlessly raking in cash to fund thier rise......they have become to all intents and purposes a mini Manchester Utd turning into the club doing all the things they said they left for....as soon as they started out they were having their traditional saturday kick off time of 3pm changed on police advice...and it wont be long before they are succumbing to the lure of TV money either.


They are a parady of themselves....
We have no problem with players who don't come from Manchester and never have. He's made that one up. If the board want to make a major decision there is a vote among the members. So if wer don't want to change the kit we vote not to, just as we voted against having a shirt sponsor. The Histon/Cambridge thing doesn't make any sense. If he means clubs putting up prices when they play us then I would boycott that game.

Yes we are raising funds to build a ground, you need go do that in the real world. But we are not being royally shafted by our club which "ruthlessly raking in cash" implies. We pay what we can when we can. Even our season tickets are sold on the basis of pay what we can afford.

As for changing allegiances to a local club with history, that really would have been the height of stupidity and hypocrisy. We hated the way football and our club had been taken over by greedy bastards so we go and take over another club!! On the other hand it would have given Altrincham fans even more to moan about. I can imagine the; "who do these arrogant ManU bastards think they are taking over my club" comments had we gone down that road. Personally I wanted to remain with a group of people I felt an affinity with and a shared purpose, that being football for the fans not the bank balances of multi-millionaires.

The following comment is, I suspect, made up. I doubt this person has ever consulted an FC United fan on the issue of moving games. If he had he'd have been told we attended the FA Cup game because we knew that games could be moved when we entered the competition. We boycotted a league game at Curzon Ashton because it was arbitrarily moved with no consultation.


That box has already been checked as well... And no FC United fan could explain to me how they still went to a Friday night match that was rescheduled just for TV when that was one of the major factors of them making a breakaway.
So it seems to me there are two options. Sit on your fat lazy arse moaning about your owner, manager and players as Altrincham fans do when not moaning about FC United. Or get off your fat lazy arse and do something positive like the founders of FC United did.

If you can bear to here is a link to the Altrincham fans' forum.

For a refreshing change here is a link to the FC United fans' forum.

Have a look and decide who you'd rather spend your Saturday afternoons with.

*It's been pointed out that this is actually our fourth season in this division, just proving how time flies when you're having fun!

Monday, 21 November 2011

FC United of Manchester v Altrincham-FA Trophy, Sunday 27 November 3-00pm

FC United take on Altrincham at Gigg Lane on Sunday at Gigg Lane, Bury. Kick off is 3-00pm and adults can enter the ground for £8, over 60s £5 and under 16s £2.

A bumper crowd of 2000 plus is expected with a derby day atmosphere. Local club Altrincham were only relegated from the Conference last year so should bring a decent following and provide a tough test for FC United of the Evostik Norther Premier League.

But don't forget, the appetiser is at Gigg Lane on Wednesday against Kendal Town, kick off 7-45pm.

For more info please visit the FC United website.

Thursday, 27 October 2011

FC United of Manchester-Moston Community Stadium

Manchester City Council have this afternoon approved FC United's planning application for their own ground.

More information from the FC United of Manchester website.

Friday, 14 October 2011

The Biggest Club Game In The World-FC United of Manchester v Chester FC

Well, maybe not, but it's certainly the biggest game in England tomorrow. FC United of Manchester take on Chester FC in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.

Kick off is at the proper football time of 3-00pm and a bumper gate is expected at Gigg Lane, Bury. A thousand Chester fans are expected to take the attendance to over 3,000.

Do yourself a favour and savour the atmosphere of football as it should be.

Thursday, 8 September 2011

Chorley FC v FC United of Manchester-Live in Moston!

Following the shambles caused by Chorley FC and Lancashire plod, FC United fans can now watch Saturday's game live in Manchester without having to put a penny into the coffers of Chorley FC.

From the FC United of Manchester website:
We are pleased to announce we have secured agreement from the League and Chorley FC to stream Saturday’s match live to a venue of our choosing and we have therefore chosen to show the match at Moston Miners Club.

We have developed great links with the Miners Club in recent months with the venue being the hub of much of the work we have been doing in the area.

We have been encouraged by the response from supporters to the club’s decision to decline an allocation of away tickets for the fixture and, by showing the game live, it allows those supporters to gather together to raise money for the club and for Moston Miners Club as they continue their re-development after the recent fire.

Doors will open at 10.00 onwards for breakfast, with the game scheduled to start at 12.30. We are asking that those attend make a £5 donation as a means of entry.

Many thanks to FCUM TV and FCUM Radio, who will be doing a simultaneousness broadcast to make the stream possible on Saturday.

Also on a Saturday morning, at 10am, FCUM Radio has a programme called Sown Ja Saturdaze, so if you’re looking for something to listen to whilst eating your breakfast, help yourself.

PLEASE be mindful of concerns over parking in Moston. There is plenty of parking on Lightbowne Road and its a short walk across the park to the venue at the Miners club. We urge all supporters to please use Lightbowne Road for parking.

Buses from Manchester city centre stop opposite Teddington Road for the Miners club, numbers 77, 51 and 24 from Lever Street or Piccadilly.

The venue:

The Miners Arts cafe. Teddington Road, Moston , M40 0DJ.

Alcohol and soft drinks will be on sale, plus food etc at the venue.





Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Chorley FC v FC United of Manchester-10 September-Well Done Lancashire Police!

Lancashire police close in on a man smoking in a pub!
I've lived in four police areas, Manchester, Derbyshire, London and now Lancashire. Without  a doubt, and I'm not going into a long list of reasons, Lancashire police are the most inept bunch of clowns I've come across. They are useless, in fact they are worse than useless.

Thanks to their ineptitude, and the idiots who run Chorley FC, a day out at a non-league football game has been ruined for hundreds, maybe thousands of people. Without any consultation with FC United Chorley met the police and announced the following restrictions for our game on September 10th:

-Kick off  moved from 3-00pm to 11-30am.
-Game to be all ticket.
-FC United to get 530 tickets to sell only to season ticket holders.
-Chorley fans, with a voucher from one of three previous home games, could buy four tickets each.

FC United have absolutely no history of trouble, home or away. Chorley claim the restrictions are in place because of their fans attacking Chester fans last season. So why restrict FC United fans?

It was Chorley fans, allegedly supporters of league clubs who attended for the day, who attacked Chester fans. So why allow Chorley fans to buy four tickets that could easily get into the hands of the yobs who caused trouble last season?

The trouble last year came about because the club skimped financially on segregation of Chester and Chorley fans. The segregation broke down and violence ensued.

The police insisted that Chester move their fans' coaches during the game. The Chester fans weren't informed, went to where they had left their coaches and were promptly attacked by yobs.

In a nutshell the Lancashire police and Chorley FC couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery. Anybody who has watched football for a few years could have told the police and Chorley that their organisation for the Chester game last season was inadequate.

FC United have the biggest support in the Evostick Northern Premier League. What has angered so many FC United fans is that regardless of our record of exemplary behaviour, the police and Chorley, with no consultation with officials from FC United, brought in these draconian restrictions merely as a dummy run for when Chorley host Chester again this season. So if you live in Lancashire, get dragged out of your bed in the early hours and taken to the local nick don't worry, it's probably just a dry run for when they have to nick a criminal!

But don't forget, FC United could probably have taken over 1000 fans to Chorley. So the cock-up suits them as their manager has publicly expressed his wish to see FC fans outnumbered by Chorley fans for the game.

Eventually the league ordered a meeting between the two clubs, the league and the police. That meeting took place yesterday.  There was complete intransigence on the part of the police and Chorley FC. This shows that Chorley and the Lancashire police have learnt nothing from last year's disastrous Chester game. The board of FC United are not prepared to put FC fans at risk,  so there will be no tickets sold to FC United supporters. Strangely, following that decision by FC United last night, Chorley moved the kick off to 12-30.

So thank you to Lancashire police and Chorley FC. You have screwed up between you a great day. Instead of running out to a crowd of maybe 2000+ and a great atmosphere the players will be running out to a few hundred and no atmosphere. And Chorley FC are likely to make a big loss on the game having to foot a huge policing bill but with  a fraction of the crowd they had expected.

Perhaps the lesson for Chorley to learn is that we may follow FC United home and away in huge numbers but don't take us for granted, we're not here to be dumped on. We left Manchester United to form a new club because we were tired of being treated like crap, the Glazers being the final straw. We sure aren't going to sit down and let Chorley FC and the Lancashire police shaft us.

Friday, 2 September 2011

Non-League Day and FC United of Manchester

On Saturday 3rd September 2011, clubs across the country will be hoping for larger crowds than normal when the non-league pyramid hosts Non-League Day.


The organisers of Non-League Day said: "It is a chance to shine a light on the hundreds of clubs in this country who are almost exclusively volunteer run, and do so much good for the local community, be it through coaching, fundraising or providing opportunities for local people."

So why not use this opportunity to bring someone along to Gigg Lane who wouldn’t normally attend. There’s no Premiership football due to the international weekend so it’s the perfect chance for people to try non-league football.

In addition, residents from Moston and the surrounding area have been invited to this match for free via vouchers that have been delivered to homes by our volunteers and is part of the wider consultation associated with FC United’s proposals for a community based football ground near to Broadhurst Park.

Anyone with a North Manchester Day voucher will be able to attend this match for free on production of the voucher through turnstiles 13 and 14.

Let’s show any non-league virgins, curious North Manchester residents and potential new supporters what’s so good about this thing of ours...

FC United vs. Rushall Olympic, Gigg Lane, Saturday 3rd September, kick off 3pm.





Monday, 22 August 2011

Moston Community Stadium Facility-FC United of Manchester

Next month sees Manchester City Council looking at FC United's planning application for their Community Stadium Facility in North Manchester.

The scheme will bring an invaluable resource to the people of Moston and a much awaited home for FC United, who have been groundsharing with Bury FC since their formation in protest at the Glazers' takeover of Manchester United in 2005.

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Chester FC v FC United of Manchester

In 2005 the Glazers bought Manchester United, or rather they borrowed millions to buy Manchester United then loaded the debt onto the club. To many of us it was the final straw in the gradual disillusionment that had started with the advent of PLCs, then the formation of the Premier league, and then the sale of the soul of football for TV money.

Thousands of us walked away from Old Trafford, binning our season tickets and turning our backs on the club we had supported as boys, as had our fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers. To the vast majority of Mancunians United is in our blood, but we also have pride and principle and while understanding why many couldn't and still can't make the break, despite ever more expensive tickets and other rip-offs, we left and began supporting a breakaway club, FC United of Manchester.

FC United is an idealistic club. Owned by the members it is an Industrial and Provident Society. Having rebelled against the crass commercialisation of top flight football one of the first votes of the membership was to reject spirt sponsorship. A few years back there was a boycott of a game when the kick off was brought forward for the benefit of internet TV. Kick off should be 3-00pm on a Saturday, not 8-00pm on a Monday or 1-00pm on a Sunday. In our second season there was a boycott of a game because the home club did away with concessionary prices for juniors and OAPs for our visit in an effort to cash in on the club's huge support.

Chester are also a fan owned club so there should be a natural affinity you would think. But Chester FC are charging £12 to enter the seated area of the ground, which is expensive when you think that the average admission price in that league is around £9. And Chester are seen by some clubs as trying to buy success, a poor man's Manchester City in a way, by poaching top players from other clubs.

As a football league club in a previous incarnation Chester's fans are also seen as arrogant and obsessed with regaining their status as a league club as if it's a God given right. A similar club, AFC Halifax Town were similarly unpopular, for the same reasons, last season as were Boston United fans before them.

In the 1990s I spent a lot of money travelling to support little Chester City, as they were, when they had a 'Fans United Day' to try and stave off bankruptcy, something they have had to do due to poor support on a regular basis. Fans from all over attended in a spirit of mutual support. United fans attended only to hear the majority of Chester fans chanting abuse about Manchester and United in particular, hardly in the spirit of the event. I decided then that I would never do anything to help Chester football club again, whatever form it took.

So what does this have to do with FC United playing Chester on 24 August? Well, while there is no organised boycott, a lot of FC United fans have decided that they will miss the Chester game. I'm in two minds myself. I'd prefer to boycott the game but want to support my team. Are we (FC United fans) getting a bit carried away with the idealism at times? Maybe, I'm not sure. Will I be there on 24 August? Maybe, I'm not sure, I'll just have to see what happens between now and then.

But in their own small way Chester FC/Chester City have given me at least as much cause to stay away as the Glazers have at Old Trafford. I no longer visit Munch, Florence, Milan or Lyon to watch football, maybe I'll add Chester to that list.

*A correction. I initially referred to them as AFC Chester in this post which they are not. It is confusing when Chester City they were, now they are Chester FC and there also seems to be a club called AFC Chester knocking about with some tenuous link to the other two. Mea culpa.

Friday, 29 July 2011

M40 4FC Supporting FC United of Manchester

M40 4FC is a pressure group in North Manchester supporting FC United of Manchester's efforts to build a new stadium, sport and community facility in the Moston area of Manchester.

They are on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FCUnitedofManchester/posts/10150318181280540

And Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/M40_4FC

Below you can see some YouTube clips of the group.



Keep up the good work!

Friday, 10 June 2011

FC United of Manchester-Moston Community Stadium

FC United of Manchester is to hold further consultation sessions over its plans to develop a community facility and sports stadium in Moston.

Four further sessions have been planned across the area for June as the club continues to talk to residents about its proposals.

The sessions will be held at the following venues:

Session 1
Venue: Moston Methodist Church, Moston Lane
Date: Tuesday 21st June 2011
Time: 6pm - 8pm

Session 2
Venue:Moston Labour Club, Moston Lane
Date: Wednesday 22nd June 2011
Time: 6pm - 8pm

Session 3
Venue: North City Library, Rochdale Road
Date: Wednesday 29th June 2011
Time: 6pm - 8pm

Session 4
Venue: Miners Community & Arts Centre, Teddington Road
Date: Thursday 30th June 2011
Time: 6pm - 8pm

The sessions have been organised by FC United and club representatives will be there, together with Moston Juniors Football Club, to explain the plans and answer questions. Representatives from Manchester City Council will also be there to answer questions and explain the council’s processes.
FC United general manager Andy Walsh said: "These sessions are part of our on-going consultation with the Moston community about our plans, aimed at giving as many people as possible the opportunity to put their views directly to us and Moston Juniors Football Club.

"We want as many people as possible to come along and tell us what they would like included in our plans for what would be a community facility. Equally this is not a done deal so we want to hear any concerns so we can take these into consideration as we develop our proposals.

"We will be working closely with the council to keep the community informed as our consultation progresses."

FC United’s proposals for the development include a 5,000 capacity stadium, community changing facilities and classroom, a function space open for public bookings, two additional community pitches and landscaped public areas. The development represents around £3.5 million of investment in Moston.

ENDS

Saturday, 14 May 2011

Manchester United Champions


I gave my season ticket up, and haven't been to Old Trafford since 2005, but it's absolutely fantastic that in spite of the Glazers United have won their 19th title.

Bloody magic!

Manchester United 19 Liverpool 18. He certainly knocked them Scousers off their perch.

Sunday, 8 May 2011

FC United of Manchester-An 'Away' Fan's View

Since 2005, and the Glazer takeover of Manchester United, many of us have been followinjg the breakaway club, FC United of Manchester. The lads who set the club up can be rightly proud of their hard work and those of us who follow FC think it's a model club, owned and run by the fans and for the fans, not a massive profit. Or in the words of one of the club's many fine and imaginative banners: "Making Friends Not Millionaires".

But that's my possibly my myopic view of FC. I thought I'd ask a friend, who supports rival club Buxton FC, to give us an idea what fans of other non-league clubs think of us. Here's what John thinks:
I along with many neutrals have kept an eye on the progress of FCUM since their formation.
I remember the first league match in the North West Counties league vs Leek CSOB ( only because a lad from work went) and I think there was something like 4000 people there. So you knew something special was starting.

We neutrals watched as they stormed to the title in that 1st season, then the next league, then the next until they reached the Premier Division of the NPL where my team (Buxton) had reached and had mixed seasons.
Tough league this one.

Now as a Bucks fan, and knowing about the size of the following, FCUM was one of the fixtures to look out for as well as our personal old friends, Matlock. The first time we hosted FC there were over 2000 people in our football ground, it was superb. The atmosphere from both sides was amazing and nothing I'd experienced at Buxton in my time supporting my club.

This time round FC didn't storm to the title, as I said earlier it's a tough league this one. In fact after 3 seasons FC are still with us, only just though after missing out in the play off final this season.

As an away supporter watching my boys play away to FC is also a great experience. Going watching my team play at a 'big and proper' stadium at Bury with again a superb atmosphere created from the home fans. When FC get they're own ground, I honestly think they will start to storm this league and the next two and will be in the football league. Financially having to pay Bury for the use of Gigg Lane must be draining so once they are 'home' they will fly.

I have no bad opinions on FC so long may they continue, the aforementioned support has helped many clubs financially so how can anyone not like them. The only thing I didn't agree on was the FA cup games being televised. You can understand from FC's point of view, money towards the ground, but wasn't it one if the reasons the club was formed? Football at 3pm on a Saturday?

Anyway, that's only a small bug bare? Long may they continue and as long as my team are in the same division, we will all look out for FCUM at home when the fixtures come out.

Saturday, 30 April 2011

FC United of Manchester United FC

Happy days for the red two thirds of Manchester. For those of us who binned our season tickets after the Glazer takeover at Old Trafford our club, FC United of Manchester, play in the play off final at Colwyn Bay on Monday. A place in the Conference North is the prize for the winner.

After the sheer joy of the semi-final win at Bardford on Thursday I can't get a ticket for the final sadly. Colwyn Bay only have a capacity of 2500 but it is restricted to 2000 for this game, 1000 allocated to us. Why, oh why do the powers that be give a stadium a 2500 capacity then, the first time they get to fill it, they reduce the capacity to 2000 for safety reasons? 'Elf 'n' safety gorn mad!

Tomorrow Manchester United take on Arsenal at the Emiroids. A win there will put United on the brink of a historic and record breaking 19th title. We might hate the Glazers and refuse to help pay their debts, but would still much rather United win trophies than any other club, especially those who have sold their souls for filthy lucre. You know who you are.

COME ON YOU REDS!!!!

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

FC United of Manchester

The story of FC United so far, in a short film. Great fun it is too watching FC United:

Monday, 12 October 2009

FC United of Manchester

Due to an unfortunate mishap on the M6 en route, I missed yesterday's wonderful (by all accounts) 3-3 draw with Stalybridge Celtic in the FA Cup. But I will be driving very carefully on Tuesday to the replay.

As some consolation I received these photos of the game via Twitter.

Ooohh FC United!

Thanks to FCUM and Helen for Tweeting details.

Tuesday, 1 September 2009

FC United Win

Ossett 1 FC United 2

Missed the game today but well done chaps. Will be there on Saturday at Kendal.

Saturday, 22 August 2009

Retford 1 FC United of Manchester 1

First point of the season for FC, well done lads.

And Man United won 5-0 at Wigan.

Not a bad day, shame the Berties won though, they'll be getting all giddy again.