Don't leave (MCR) without...

 Edited from: Virgin Australia inflight Magazine (no online content)
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 Football fans should take an official tour of Manchester United or Man City's home grounds of Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium respectively. But, if you want to get a real flavour of the local football scene (without spending a fortune on a Premiership ticket), see the Football Club United of Manchester (www.fc-utd.co.uk), a team formed in 2005 by Manchester United supporters in protest of the takeover of their club by US owner Malcolm Glazer. Part of the Northern Premier League, FC United is a members-owned club and attracts crowds of about 2000 at games.
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Tigers beaten by FC United’s nine men

 Source: Worksop Guardian

 OUTPLAYED by 11 men, outworked and beaten by nine – Tigers’ season hit an ‘embarrassing’ new low on Saturday.

Despite playing the final 26 minutes at Gigg Lane with a two man advantage, Worksop lost 3-1 to hosts FC United of Manchester.

The prospects of their first ever away win over the Red Rebels seemed good at half-time, just 2-1 down and set for 45 minutes against 10 men.

But the next goal was a vital one for the home side, and even another red card failed to spur Tigers on to claw their way back.

The last time Worksop Town visited Gigg Lane they were struggling for fit strikers, in the midst of an injury crisis.

This time round they had two fit strikers sat on the bench, Jamie Jackson and Massiah McDonald failing to get starts after poor form. But even when they did get on, they were ineffective.

Visiting a play-off hunting FC United was always going to be a tough task, so giving the ball away in their own half and conceding a free-kick in a dangerous position 25 yards out was hardly an ideal start, but Carlos Roca bent the ball over the wall.

It was very nearly 1-0 in the 10th minute when Roca’s deep swinging cross from the left fell behind Owain Warlow and Mike Norton headed goalwards, Sean Cuff getting a touch and Luke Shiels heading off the line.

The FC United forward wasn’t to be denied just six minutes later as a crisp passing move unlocked Tigers on the left, Stephen Johnson played in the perfect centre and Norton, in space, thumped a header home giving Cuff no chance.

Worksop looked for a response, Shiels striding out of defence and finding Burbeary who flicked over Spencer however Greg Stones cleared off the line with ease.

A brutal but fair challenge by Ryan Clarke set up a tetchy passage of play that ended in Young taking a swipe at James Cottrell.

Although the Worksop skipper missed entirely the intent was clear and he saw yellow.

Worksop’s best spell of pressure on the half hour mark saw a couple of crosses drilled into the box, and the final one was nodded at goal by Clarke, Spencer making a sharp stop.

Johnson’s pace was troubling Chris Wood and on the third occasion that he sped past the full-back he drove at goal from an acute angle, Cuff untroubled.

There was little the keeper could do with 10 minutes left in the half, Warlow unsuccessfully appealing for a free-kick as Roca sped away and crossed the ball for an unmarked Matty Wolfenden to glance a header into the corner of the net.

But Welshman Warlow made amends in the 40th minute with an unlikely yet brilliant goal.

Tigers broke through Luke Sharry on the right and although he looked to have delayed his cross too long, when he did swing it to the back post left-back Warlow was there to head superbly back across goal and beat Spencer.

Tensions erupted in the final minute of the half, Tigers boss Simon Clark receiving a shove in the back on the touchline from Norton who was looking to retrieve the ball.

Once the dust had settled and the two sides had been separated Clark’s assistant Simon Frecklington was sent to the stands, and Norton was red carded.

There could have been another sending off in stoppage time when Roca kicked out at Warlow, but referee Chris Akers showed just a yellow.

Jackson made an appearance for the second half, taking Wood’s place as Young moved to full-back and Worksop went to 4-4-2.

The two sides engaged in a 10 minute ‘feeling out’ period after the break as FC United adjusted to going a man down and Worksop switched their mindset from countering to pressing.

It wasn’t long before Mr Akers had his cards out again, flashing yellow at Johnson for a studs up tackle on Beeson.

Much to the frustration of the sizable and vocal travelling support, the 10 men of FC United went further ahead on 58 minutes, a corner from the left causing all sorts of problems and as the ball bobbled into his path Lee Neville lashed it onto the post and into the net.

But Tigers got yet another lifeline when, after a tussle with Shiels, Dean Stott threw a punch at the defender.

Somehow the officials got the wrong man, and sent Wolfenden off, enraging the home side further.

As FC United looked to lose their cool, Adam Jones was yellow carded for dissent, and then Jackson was knocked to the ground outside the box giving Worksop a free-kick.

Beeson cracked an effort goalwards and it flew inches wide of the target.

Clark pushed his men high up the field with an abundance of space appearing, McDonald skinning his marker and almost finding Jackson in the box with Spencer beaten but United cleared again.

Seconds later the ball dropped to Steve Melton and his volley cannoned off the bar.

The midfielder was on target with a header from Beeson’s corner but Spencer saved on his line.

Although an onslaught was to be expected in the final stages, Worksop couldn’t find a way through the nine men and Clark was left a frustrated and angry figure on the touchline.

Two minutes of the five that the referee added on had elapsed when Jackson’s shot from six yards was headed away from goal, and Spencer then punched the resulting corner clear.

The only incident of note in the remainder of the game was a yellow for Melton for his foul on Neville, and the whistle went to end a remarkable and bitterly disappointing game for Tigers.

FCUM: Spencer, Jacobs (Battersby 89), Neville, Cottrell, Jones, Stones, Roca (Mulholland 68), Wolfenden, Norton, Stott, Johnson (Platt 78). Not used: Grimshaw, Cheetham.

Worksop: Cuff 5, Wood 4 (Jackson 45 5), Warlow 5, Melton 4, Shiels 4, Clarke 4, Beeson 4, Sharry 4, Burbeary 5, YOUNG 5, King 5 (McDonald 59). Not used: Nightingale, Colton, Ziccardi.

Referee: Chris Akers.

Assistants: James Bell, John Oldfield.

Goalscorers: Norton 16, Wolfenden 35, Neville 58; Warlow 40.

Yellows: Roca 45, Johnson 56, Jones 65, Cottrell 75; Young 25, Melton 90.

Red: Norton 44, Wolfenden 64.

Attendance: 2,873.

FC United host day of free kids’ football fun

 Source: Bury Times

 STUDENTS and under-18s are being encouraged to watch a crunch football match in Bury on Saturday — and it will not cost a penny.

Supporter-owned club FC United of Manchester are holding their annual Youth United Day at Gigg Lane when they entertain Worksop Town in their bid for promotion.

Hundreds of youngsters from all over Greater Manchester can enjoy a series of fun activities in the run-up to the 3pm kick-off, including dance and drama workshops, street football sessions, banner and flag-making workshops.

People can also have their faces painted, try making badges, tackle a climbing wall, and get players’ autographs.

Among the special guests will be Mad Theatre Company, North Manchester West African Drumming Circle and Drama 2 Dance.

FC United spokesman Andy Walker said: “We hope that schools and youth groups across Greater Manchester will get involved in Youth United Day to celebrate their achievements and promote what they are doing.

“We would also like for people with links to youth organisations or groups, junior football/sports clubs who would like to help or get involved in Youth United Day to contact youthunitedday@ fc-utd.co.uk or promotions@ fc-utd.co.uk”

FC United started life in July 2005 based at Gigg Lane, although construction of their own stadium in Moston is due to start later this year.

The team has been promoted three times and currently play in the Evo-Stick League Premier Division, and narrowly missed out on promotion last season after a play-off final defeat at Colwyn Bay.

Activities begin at 12.30pm at Gigg Lane and at Holy Cross College on nearby Manchester Road.

Entry to the game costs £8 for adults and £5 for over 60s.

Vics and FC United huge home games for Blues

 Source: Whitby Gazette

 WHITBY Town face a huge eight days in their battle to remain in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier, including back-to-back home games this week, writes Andrew Snaith.

Darren Williams’ men tackle FC United of Manchester on Wednesday, before travelling to leaders Chester three days later - but it’s second-placed Northwich Victoria at the Turnbull Ground this Saturday (24 Mar).

The Cheshire side, who are living a nomadic existence after being kicked out of their Football League-standard stadium, have just one league defeat in six, though that was a 4-1 drubbing at mid-table Kendal earlier this month.

Managed by ex-Port Vale schemer Martin Foyle, the Vics squeezed past basement club Burscough 2-1 on Tuesday.

The title-chasers, who trail Chester by five points, had to come from behind to edge their midweek outing.

However, the former Conference club have the best away record in the league, with just two losses and 39 points netted from 17 outings.

The Blues have never beaten them, with a 4-2 defeat in last season’s corresponding game at a fog-swept Upgang Lane and a 2-2 draw in the FA Trophy, followed by injury-time heartbreak in the replay.

Last November, in Williams’ fifth game in charge, Northwich won 2-0 at their former Victoria Stadium home, despite a spirited Town display.

The victory at Marine last weekend, against the division’s seventh-placed team, just four points from the play-offs, was both spirited and accomplished.

Whitby defender Alex White (23) agreed it was the Blues’ best showing of the season, describing it as: “An all round great performance that showed we can match higher teams in our league.”

He added: “We played as if it’s a home game, with confidence and that definitely puts teams off.”

Victory tomorrow would again give the Seasiders a chance to climb out of the four relegation positions.

Nearest club Frickley, just one point above the Blues, host strong-travellers Marine, while Mickleover, on the same tally, visit Burscough.

Chasetown, who Town can also overtake providing they lose and Whitby win, have a six-pointer at home to second-bottom Buxton.

West Midlands outfit Chase have beefed up their survival hopes by signing ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie (34) this week, after his release from Blue Square Premier neighbours Kidderminster Harriers.

Meanwhile, White, a former Hartlepool United and Stranraer centre-half, also told the Whitby Gazette: “The results lately have proved how strong we are as a team and showed the strength in depth we’ve got.

“We’ve won five out of six away games and not many teams have done that, not even Northwich Victoria, so it shows how well we’re doing.

“We should be going in confident and we’re at home as well, that makes things better, with our fans behind us.”

The Blues then play host to one of the division’s best-supported sides in FC United of Manchester.

The Red Rebels currently sit sixth, but could be as high as third by the time they arrive at the Turnbull Ground, on Wednesday night.

It was estimated that the postponement of the original fixture against the Lancastrians, first set for the opening Saturday in February but ruined by a hard frost, could cost the Blues more than £6,000 in lost revenue.

However, a good turn-out, with player-boss Williams insisting that Town supporters can be the club’s “twelfth man” in the battle to stay up, should make a big dent in that figure.

United have played in front of four-figure crowds in their last six games, losing just once and defeating fourth-placed Hednesford Town on their travels, last week.

They’re another side that Whitby have yet to beat in seven attempts, though three of the last four clashes have ended all square.

FC eased past the Blues last September, in their first meeting this season. Watched by 1,408 people at Gigg Lane, Bury, they won 3-0 against the lacklustre visitors, then led by former chief Tommy Cassidy.

Whitby’s physio Kenny Bolton fully expects Williams to shrug off hamstring and ankle knocks ahead of a busy playing schedule, with defender Ibby Hassan also set to overcome a calf strain that forced him off last weekend.

Hassan and his team-mates will need to be wary of the Reds’ strike pairing of Matt Wolfenden and Mike Norton, with the duo grabbing 29 goals between them, so far in the current campaign.

Admission for both games is still just £8 for adults, £5 concessions and £2 for under 16s. Northwich is a 3pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon, while United’s visit is a 7.45pm start, with supporters advised to arrive early.

The Blues visit runaway leaders Chester, for the first ever time, a week on Saturday (31 Mar).

Congratulations, once again, are due to FC United of Manchester

 Source: Daily Mirror

 The club, born in 2005 when a committed band of Manchester United fans grew disillusioned with the Glazer regime and the commercial rapacity of the modern game, has raised £1.6million from a community share issue.

It is believed that the figure represents the largest sum ever raised by football supporters independently and it will go towards the construction of a permanent home for the club in Moston, north east Manchester.

FC United are now only three promotions away from a place in the Football League but their biggest achievement is remaining true to the principles that brought them into existence

Oliver Holt, 21st March 2012

Head boys Adam Jones and Lee Neville hand Rebels three points

 Source: MEN

 Adam Jones and Lee Neville were unlikely match-winners for FC United as the Rebels triumphed in their Evo-Stik Premier promotion battle at Hednesford, writes Tony Glennon.

The two defenders each struck with headers from set-pieces inside the opening quarter of an hour to secure a potentially priceless 2-1 victory.

Jones took just two minutes to open the scoring, nodding in from a corner, and Neville quickly doubled FC’s lead.

Matthew Wolfenden then missed a glorious chance to add a third, failing to hit the target after rounding keeper Dan Crane, after which the Rebels spent much of the rest of the game with their backs to the wall.

Jermaine Johnson reduced their arrears just before the hour mark, but United held on for a win which takes them to within a point of a play-off place with just eight games left.

Challenge

Ashton United lost 2-1 to Stocksbridge, but Northwich Victoria and Chorley each joined FC United in stepping up their respective promotion challenges.

Vics came from behind to beat visiting neighbours Nantwich 2-1, while Magpies’ new boy Ciaran Kilheeney, signed from Droylsden, scored twice on his debut in a 5-1 romp at Worksop.

Title-chasing Curzon Ashton held on to top spot in Evo-Stik North with Connor Hampton, Kristian Dennis and Samuel Walker on target in a comfortable 3-1 win at Durham.

Trafford’s 2-1 defeat to AFC Fylde means the second-placed seasiders remain in hot pursuit of the Nash but Curzon will increase their lead to six points if they can overcome old foes Woodley Sports at the Tameside Stadium tonight (7.45pm).

Woodley, meanwhile, got their play-off bid back on track by thrashing Salford 4 0, while Mossley won their derby date with Radcliffe 2-0.

Lee Gaskell’s third-minute penalty put North West Counties League leaders Ramsbottom on their way to a 3-0 victory at Flixton.

Tony Glennon March 19, 2012

Mission Accomplished: FC United Of Manchester’s Great Leap Forward

 Source: Twohundred Percent

 In amongst all of the filth and fury of this week, one simple truism has remained unchallenged: it has to be like this. Although modern fashion likes to talk of football supporters as if we are “valued customers” or even – God forbid – “stake-holders”, the truth of the matter is that, by and large, we’re not. Customers wouldn’t put up with being treated in the way that football supporters are as a matter of routine. They’d take their business elsewhere. Stake-holders wouldn’t tolerate perpetual hyper-inflation and the implication that, somehow, we owe those that deliver the game to us a debt of gratitude rather than the other way around.

As such, the relationship between a football club and a supporter of a football club might be be more akin to the relationship between a drug dealer and a junkie. They feed our addiction. They charge what they can get away with – and we don’t even know what the upper limit of that pricing policy might be yet – and we grumble, but we still turn out in our millions. If we complain too loudly, there is a reasonable chance that we will simply be cast asunder, in the full knowledge that there are plenty of others that will take our place. We are divided and conquered, beaten into submission. We are treated with such suspicion by the authorities that it is not difficult to start to feel like criminals, even if all we are doing is partaking of a pastime.

Our clubs are administered, broadly speaking, by dolts and fools who chase pots of fools gold at the end of non-existent rainbows, and when the inevitable conclusion of attempting to run something as a business whilst blithely disregarding many of the fundamental principles of running a successful business – rule number one: keep costs under control! – plays out to a the brink of a financial cataclysm, they throw their hands in the air, find someone else to blame and, if they are unable to rescue the train wreck that they have caused, sneak out through the back door. Indeed, such is the brass neck if the sort of person that involves themselves in this sort of behaviour that they will often turn up at another club a few months down the line, full of the same platitudes and empty promises. The administrators, meanwhile, do nothing or next to nothing. Sometimes they are one and the same. Sometimes they are merely in their thrall. The end result remains depressingly familiar and we are told – ad nauseum – that “this is the way that things are”, as if there is some sort of cosmic alignment that places the job lot of the football supporter into a similar territory to the laws of gravity or thermodynamics.

It isn’t, of course, and there is proof all around us. Late last night, FC United of Manchester, the high water mark of the alternative vision of what football clubs in this country could be like, announced what their supporters have been waiting to hear for a considerable amount of time – this club, playing in the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League, six divisions below the gaudy opulence of the Premier League, has reached its target of £1.6m towards building a home of its own in the Moston area of the city of Manchester. The money has been raised through a Community Share scheme, through the club working closely with Co-ops UK. Such schemes are designed to enable co-operative organisations to raise finance from their communities to support development without having to refer back traditional methods of funding such as borrowing from banks. The £1.6m figure was critical for the club, because it was this amount that they had to raise in order to obtain funding through grants for the other £3m required to complete the facility. It is now hoped that work will be able to start on the new ground soon.

As regular readers of this site and those that keep a close eye on non-league football will already be aware, FC United of Manchester have a history of lateral thinking that other football clubs would do well to follow. This is a club that was borne – in part – from disillusionment with football’s status quo and a burning belief that there had to be a better way. To understand the club requires something of a shift of perception. The traditional football supporters’ perspective of winning at all costs has, to a point, been sacrificed to make a club of which its supporters can be proud. It is a football club that is built upon principles that would be considered almost perverse elsewhere. Ticket prices are kept down in order to make their matches as affordable as possible. The supporters trust model of ownership is rigorously managed, and ideas such as slashing season ticket prices but requesting donations from supporters are indicative of a club that will do things differently. Moreover, the atmosphere at Gigg Lane – the clubs home away from home since its formation in 2004 – is unlike anything that would usually be seen or heard at anything the level of football at which they play. It is a truly extraordinary, run by remarkable, committed, passionate people.

In spite of all the bad news, then, we can still find nuggets to celebrate in football. We should be delighted for FC United of Manchester, and we should be awe-struck at their achievement in raising this amount of money. An enormous amount of hard work has gone into getting this money raised, and we can say with a degree of certainty that it has been raised by the right people, for the right reasons and for a project that couldn’t be in safer hands. One journey has ended, but another one will begin when the shovel hits the ground at the site of the new ground for the first time and work starts on building this club’s future. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – it couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of people – living, breathing proof that no, it doesn’t have to be like that.

FC United raises £1.6m through community share issue

 Source: Third Sector

 Club formed by disenchanted Manchester United fans charged £200 per share to build new ground in Moston, north Manchester

Community-owned football club FC United of Manchester has raised £1.6m to buy a new ground through a community share issue.

This community share issue is the largest outside the energy sector, which has much more predictable returns for investors. A community share issue involves ordinary people buying shares in an industrial and provident society, which will then pay interest on those shares.

About 1,400 people invested at least £200 each to buy a share in the club. Each shareholder will have one vote in the administration of the club, regardless of how many shares they own.

The club will look to pay interest on shares, and shareholders will be able to withdraw their shares but not sell them on.

The share issue has been given advance approval by HM Revenue & Customs for the Enterprise Investment Scheme, which allows share purchasers to claim up to 30 per cent tax relief.

FC United was formed by Manchester United fans disappointed with the takeover of their club by the Glazer family. Its new ground will be in Moston, north Manchester.

The club expects to raise £4.6m in total for the ground. Other funding includes a grant of £550,000 from Manchester City Council and a possible £1.4m from Sport England and the Football Foundation, which is expected to be confirmed next month.

The rest has been raised through smaller grants and donations. If necessary, the club may take a further £500,000 loan from the council.

Andy Walsh, general manager at FC United, said: "Reaching our £1.6m target from the share issue is a fantastic achievement, especially in the current economic climate.

"Community shares give a tangible way for fans to raise significant sums of money while preserving the football club as a community asset. We believe a community share scheme is preferable to borrowing from banks and more sustainable than relying on wealthy individuals who might not always have the best interest of the club at heart.

"By buying community shares, FC United members are supporting a better way for football to deliver genuine community benefit."

By David Ainsworth, Third Sector Online, 16 March 2012

FC United raise enough money to move from Bury

 Source: Prestwich and Whitefield Guide

 Fan-owned football club FC United of Manchester has raised £1.6m to help fund the building of a new ground that will see them move from Bury to Moston.

A community share issue was launched to pay for a new football ground and community sports facility in Moston, north Manchester.

The club currently plays at Bury FC's Gigg Lane stadium.

Reaching the £1.6m target enables the club to unlock the grant funding they need to meet the costs of the £4.6m project and enable building to start on the Moston site in the spring.

FC United general manager Andy Walsh, said: "Reaching our £1.6m target from the share issue is a fantastic achievement, especially in the current economic climate.

"We believe this is the largest amount ever raised by football supporters independently.

Raising capital through community shares is a unique development in English football and has been recognised as offering a real alternative to the way football is run and financed."

FC United of Manchester has worked closely with Co-ops UK.

The share schemes are designed to enable cooperative organisations like FC United to raise finance from local communities to support expansion and development much more effectively than through traditional methods such as bank borrowing.

9:52am Friday 16th March 2012

La pasión de los 'red rebels'

 Source: deia.com (Spain). Google translation.

 La adquisición del Manchester United por parte de un magnate americano en 2005 propició que varios socios desencantados fundaran un nuevo club

César Ortuzar - Domingo, 4 de Marzo de 2012 - Actualizado a las 05:40h

Piensa cómo es el United que ni sus socios lo quieren", desliza caótica Rachel, aficionada del City, cuando habla sobre el Manchester United. La reflexión, cebada con pólvora y espoleta de una historia bella por extraordinaria, enmarca la escisión que se produjo en el Manchester United en 2005, cuando un buen puñado de socios del club, contrarios a la adquisición de la entidad por parte de la millonaria familia norteamericana Glazier, fundaron el United of Manchester en señal de protesta por la compra del magnate, que pasaba a ser el propietario del United, contrariando el espíritu del acta fundacional donde los socios eran los garantes del club, no solo una persona. Los red devils vieron cómo de esa decisión florecían los red rebels. Estos eran una facción de los socios que todavía soñaban con poder mantener el club con la idea original de que les perteneciese a los socios y las decisiones fueran asamblearias, democráticas, bajo el epígrafe de "un socio, un voto".

Completada la venta a Malcolm Glazer, los red rebels cerraron la opulenta puerta del Manchester United y abrieron una escueta y pequeña ventana por la que airearse del aire viciado del fútbol hiperprofesionalizado. Fieles a su ideario, el 14 de julio de 2005 dieron alas el FC United of Manchester, testigo del formato primigenio del club de sus amores tras recibir la aportación de más de 4.000 socios que ingresaron 100.000 libras para saltar al vacío, a un viaje inicial. Cuando Alex Ferguson conoció la fundación del FC United, criticó la formación del club afirmando que el club y su gestión parecían estar más interesados en sí mismos que en el Manchester United.

Casting de jugadores La singladura del Manchester "auténtico", como fue bautizada la aventura de estos románticos y apasionados del fútbol, recibió el reconocimiento popular desde el inicio por lo que suponía de la rehabilitación a una manera de entender conceptualmente el fútbol. Reseteado su pasado, organizó un casting para la selección de jugadores. Se presentaron 900 futbolistas y en una primera criba quedaron 200. En el siguiente proceso de selección sobrevivieron 17. Esos representarían al FC United of Manchester, que bajó a las catacumbas de las categorías del fútbol inglés desde donde comenzó a un viaje espacial del United. Desde el sótano, en sus tres primeras temporadas encadenó sendos ascensos de categoría. El club, que decidió jugar sus partidos como local en el estadio del Bury, Gigg Lane, logró la mayor gesta de su corta, pero estimulante andadura, el 5 de noviembre de 2010 cuando en la 1ª ronda de la FA Cup superó a un club de la League One, el Rochdale United por 2-3.

Con todo, siendo el aspecto deportivo un aliciente para cualquier competidor, el verdadero objetivo del FC United, encuadrado en la Northerm Premier League Premier Division es, según destaca en su web, considerarse depositario del auténtico espíritu del fútbol como deporte noble, aglutinador de voluntades y exponente del juego limpio. El socio es el garante de la filosofía del club, cuya motivación es revertir en la entidad cualquier ganancia que se pudiera producir, lejos del mercantilismo que atosiga al fútbol. Sus hinchas son fieles seguidores de esta doctrina que pretende desterrar el bazar del fútbol. Eric Cantona, uno de los jugadores más impactantes y que más huella dejó vistiendo la camiseta del Manchester United, aseguró sobre el United de Manchester, una escisión de la nave nodriza, que "tan solo espero que este club tan especial siga creciendo y ojalá dentro de 50 años podamos estar hablando de un club campeón de Europa".