Nugent sets sights on a United double

Stuart Brennan
Source: Manchester Evening News

ROB Nugent is aiming for a big Red double on Saturday - by cheering Manchester United to derby victory and then putting on his boots to keep FC United on course for FA Vase glory.

The 23-year-old defender describes the day as one of the biggest of his football life, but will be forced to miss most of the second half of the lunchtime Old Trafford clash with the Blues in order to prepare for the visit of Quorn to Gigg Lane.

"I will be getting to Gigg Lane earlier than usual to watch the derby in the social club," said the FC central defender, who signed up to join the rebel club on the day of its inception.

"But I will have to tear myself away for the manager's pre-match team talk, so will miss most of the second half. I just hope United can beat City and then we can make our fans doubly happy by seeing off Quorn."

Protests

Nugent is a dyed-in-the-wool Red, who joined the protests against Malcolm Glazer's takeover and, as a former Sheffield United reserve team captain, was a natural to play for the club born out of that protest.

"I have been a United fan since I was a little lad, but have become disillusioned with the way the club, and Premiership football in general, is going," said Nugent, now a trainee accountant with Trafford Borough Council.

"It all came to a head with Glazer and his debt, but there are a lot of different issues such as unaffordable prices, not being able to take kids, and the atmosphere."

Now Nugent is revving up for what he believes is the biggest game in the new club's history.

"In the last round, people were saying the Salford City game was the biggest, so this one has to be bigger," he added.

A win would put FC into the national phase of the competition.