Outside the Green Door #3

Twomowers…It’s so plausible I can’t believe it!
Outside the Green Door

This is our town that wants to be a city
Did yers all see them ‘contemporary’ and ‘innovative’ “this is our city” ads pasted up all over the place? The marketing genius behind it is a London based blue season-ticket holder from Timperley called Julian who reckons it’s a poster that’ll make you smile whether red or blue. Now I know that Julian will say that any mention of the ads means they’re a success because they’re provoking debate so here I’m giving the blue ponce what he wants. But I’ve got to admit I smiled at the smart rotating one on the A6 in Stockport centre and smiled again when the one near Grey Mare Lane market got sorted but me biggest smile was for the one next to the Star and Garter on Fairfield st. near where prossers hang out. On close inspection it had a used joey bag stuck to its bottom right hand corner.

A bridge too near
These local away matches are right up my street, no not literally but metaphorically, but some of them are literally round the corner. However, Trevor, watch out if you’re going to these small towns giving it the big I am. You could, as our Kid (aka Jellmo out of unsigned layabout band Hedz Jellmo) found, be shitting on your own doorstep. When FC United forced Cheadle to play at Ashton (sic.), he was rubbing his hands together at the thought of a cheapo awayday out on the razzle-dazzle. He hit the chemic at 11 in the morn and by 5 in the afto is out of the game. Me mam who had just been to Cassons on the indoor market to return a pair of badly fitting slippers spots him on a bench with his head in his chips ‘n’ gravy and had to sort him a lift home – he’d have got the slipper but she’d opted for a refund rather than an exchange. Stalybridge native and UWS king of music Conrad Murray had a similar probleemo when FC had a pre-season friendly in his home town. Swaggering about Vegas like he owned the place with a can of Scandia Super in one hand and a king size Peter Stuyvesant in the other he was booting over bins with his cherry red docs in Staly bus station when his mam got off a 236 and promptly marched him home to bed. Luckily she let my bessy mate Connie out the following Wednesday to do his GMR show with bessy mate Tex Christian.

The Great FC’UM Bank-Roll Swindle
Anyways I’ve had enough of these FC United fookers. What a corrupt bunch of bazturds they turned out to be. Punk football? Well I wouldn’t be shocked if someone told me Malcolm McLaren was behind it all – a personal cash cow for a few mavericks behind an anti-establishment façade if ever I saw one. Grass roots? Fookin flash suits more like. The cracks started appearing when United’s marketing director Peter Draper exposed that the only difference between FCUM and MUFC was ‘scale’. It worried me a bit; the bloke obviously knows his marketing onions and then I start to read about the arrogant bully boy tactics, the team running out to Patti Smith’s Free Money and the truth behind FC – that it is based on a hybrid Stalinist/Abramovich model. And I start to worry more. Then a mate tells me he’s in this pub where the board are having an informal meeting and they keep going to the bogs together and reappearing with traces of sherbet dib-dab down their shirts. Spotted in Tesco Droylsden – a board member buying salmon with members’ bugs. To top that Eccleshall’s secretary finds a horse’s head in his bed forcing his titchy club to move their fixture with FCUM to Stafford. I wasn’t happy with this but needed to investigate further. After the game at Stafford the UWS editor smuggled me into the players lounge and it was like Booze Britain and Caligula all rolled into one. Players were buying drinks with cash from a shoebox clearly marked “MEMBER’S PLEDGES”. Champagne corks were popping after a 0-0 draw and Margy was strutting around in what looked to me like a ¾ length minx fur coat, like the one Tony Wilson used to wear in the Stretford End. There was more jewellery on display than a Beswick Hen party. And that’s not the end of it. For team bus read 14-seater stretch limo, 4 of, to cart around the squad and its massive entourage that makes J- Lo’s look like Syd Little’s. Don’t be surprised if you see these Derek Nimmos parked outside your local prosser parlour. To top the lot, the next day, I swear I spotted FCUM supremo – moneybags Andy Walsh speeding down Ashton Old Rd. in a brand spanking Fiat Punto looking like the cat that got the cream and almost running over a single mother and her pram on the pelican crossing outside kwik save. Yes FCUM, take a good look into the MUFC mirror and you’ll see yourselves, albeit smaller, like a wobbly dwarf, a bit like them mirrors on Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
twomowers {a} hotmail.com

The Guardian: We all know that Torpey wears a thong

Source: The Guardian: We all know that Torpey wears a thong

'We all know that Torpey wears a thong'

FC United's Tony Howard discovers that supporters' lyrical enthusiasm remains inspired - even in the North West Counties League

Wednesday October 26, 2005

One of the traditional attractions of top-flight football has always been the vocal interaction between supporters. But, this season, fans who have traded Old Trafford for FC United are finding new means of entertaining themselves off the pitch.

With few, if any, away fans in the North West Counties League to aim songs at, the red army have created a series of anthems that every man, woman and ball-boy joins in with. Unlike at Old Trafford, where a simple shout of "United!" would be greeted with quizzical looks from tourists, at Gigg Lane a new choral community has flourished.


"Marginson's fruit and veg army" take their name from the contents of manager and delivery driver Karl Marginson's van. Accompanying songs range from United classics to an adaption of Spandau Ballet's 'Gold' for striker Aidie Orr. "Always believe in the Orr, he's got the power to score, he's indestructible," they sing. He's responded with 12 goals, including two in the 5-0 win over Nelson on Saturday.

At one recent trip to the pub, the players let slip Steve Torpey's choice of underwear. Ever since he has been regaled with: "We all know that Torpey wears a thong," to the tune of Yellow Submarine.

The opposition goalkeepers receive a warm welcome; a favourite among fans up and down the land, the Kaiser Chiefs' 'I Predict A Riot' has become "I predict a diet" for portly custodians. To their great credit, visiting players have lapped it up.

There's even banter between 'rival' stands with many claiming the Main Stand is replacing the 'Singing End' as the place to go. But the songs that sum up the ethos of the club are still aimed at current employees of Malcolm Glazer.

Rio Ferdinand's summer contract drama has inspired, to The Inspiral Carpets' hit 'This is How it Feels', "I don't care about Rio, he don't care about me. All I care about is watching FC."

And even Sir Alex Ferguson isn't spared. In response to his comment that fans unhappy with Old Trafford should go watch Chelsea, he is mocked to Salford-inspired 'Dirty Old Town', made famous by The Pogues. "And Fergie said: 'Go and watch Chelsea'. Are you having a laugh? We'll be watching FC." Having a laugh we are - away fans or not.

Visit website: www.fc-utd.co.uk for further details

Irish Daily Star: Sweet FC For Angry Reds

Date: 24/10/05
Source: Irelands Daily Star (No Online version)

Disgruntled Manchester United fan Richie Evans swapped Old Trafford for FC United - the breakaway team formed in protest to the Glazer takeover.

I WAS THERE; front row seat, soaked to the skin; on the night, twelve months ago, when the 'Unbeatables' were stopped in their tracks.
Arsenal were beaten 2-0 by a resolute Manchester United side, urged on by an impassioned rain-battered Old Trafford crowd.
I was at Old Trafford many more times last season, but that night now just reminds me of what has been lost. It'll be a long time before I take a place in the Streford End again.
Having invested time,money and, more significantly, my emotions in Shareholder Uniteds determined, but unsuccessful, campaign to prevent the Glazer takeover, I , like many other United supporters, cannot support my club under Glazer.
I'm still a United Supporter. A lifetime's support, born watching 'Pancho' Pearson's glorious opener in the 1977 FA Cup Final against Liverpool, doesn't disappear overnight.But I won't watch them at Old Trafford and put money into Glazer's pockets.
It felt odd then to be back in Manchester two weeks ago,with a destination of Bury's Gigg Lane instead of Old Trafford, for my first FC United of Manchester game. The Breakaway club ,formed back in June using E147,000 raised from 3,000 disgruntled Manchester United supporters, plays in the North West Counties league Division 2.
Some of the FC United regulars still go to Old Trafford, but many more handed back their season tickets. For those completely leaving Manchester Utd. behind, it was a huge wrench, though none were sorry to bid farewell to rising ticket prices and the sterile match-day experience.
Scott Taylor, who had been going to see United for almost 40 years, admitted to a few sleepless nights when he returned his season ticket "For a while I wasn't sure i was doing the right thing. Had i been too hasty?" said Taylor, now an FC United season ticket holder "FC United provides a focal point for those of us who won't be going back to Old Trafford as long as it's in the hands of Glazer.Without it, that sense of community we enjoyed on match days, all that might well have been lost."
In a division where crowds usually number 50-150, FC United, playing in red, white and black,has become a non-league phenomenon.The average home attendance of 2,500 was smashed when a record crowd of 3,808 turned up for the game against Daisy Hill.
With England playing at Old Trafford, this game had been billed as a 'United United' day, to demonstrate to any doubting 'Big United' supporters that FC Utd is anything but the anti- Man Utd. entity some have claimed it to be.
Acting General Manager Andy Walsh, whom I found working the merchandise stall after the game, believes FC Utd can become a great example of a community-based club, run by the fans, for the fans."The feed-back we have been getting tells us that supporters have been so enthused by what they have seen on the pitch, and experienced on the terraces, that they intend to bring more friends and family."

Another ex-Man United season ticket holder, believes the heart and soul of Manchester Utd is in safe hands at Gigg Lane.
"This kind of emotion and enjoyment has been stifled at Old Trafford for years" he said. "You can come here, stand with your friends, and sing to your hearts content. Look around, everyone is smiling, and the kids love it. It's brilliant."
As this is Manchester, there has to be an Irish connection. Dubliner Phil Sheeran is on the elected FC United Board, and doubles as stadium director of operations on match days, while Derry man Rory Patterson is the clubs joint top scorer with seven goals so far this season.
"When I played for Rochdale," said Patterson, "one game against Hull was in front of 10,000, but this crowd makes the nosie of 10,000, it's unreal."
With one defeat from ten games to date, Patterson believes FC United has the players to continue the successful start to the season. "We've got a few players with league and conference experience, so there's no reason we shouldn't challenge for promotion."
Whatever happens at Old Trafford, you get the feeling FC United is here to stay. As I left Gigg Lane, I though back to my first visit to Old Trafford, the Matt Busby testimonial against an Ireland XI in August '91. Matt Busby was always one for breaking new ground, he did what he believed in. The people at FC Utd. have no doubts but that the great man would have approved.
Check out www.fcunitedofmanchester.co.uk

FC United 5 - Nelson 0

My photo Gallery Here

We thought Monday night football was in the past

Source: Guardian

Thursday October 20, 2005

FC United's Tony Howard enjoys Monday Night Football, without a Sky camera in sight



Manchester United fans who walked away from the Premiership to form their own club could have been forgiven for thinking that Monday Night Football was a thing of the past. Not so. For this Monday, FC United played Cheadle Town ... in Tameside.

Let me explain. Apart from the first league game away at Leek, every other opponent has had to find alternative locations to host FC's followers, with the majority of grounds in the North West Counties league unable to cope with the increased capacity required. The game against Ashton Town was one such example, having to be switched from their home near Wigan, to Northwich in Cheshire.

Article continues
Cheadle Town were confident they could host this week's League Challenge Cup encounter though, and 2,000 tickets were quickly snapped up. Nearby League Two side Stockport County were approached to hold the game originally, but according to Cheadle, the owners of their ground reportedly didn't want the footballers to "ruin the pitch". The owners of their ground? Sale Sharks rugby union club.

A temporary stand was considered but was too expensive and Cheadle assured FC United's board that the police and safety officers deemed their Park Road home acceptable.

Then, just eight days before the game, North West Counties officials visited, and in the words of Cheadle themselves, "Stockport Council's health and safety officer got involved". The game was cancelled.

A frantic rearrangement was sought and Curzon Ashton from Tameside saved the day, offering their 4,500-capacity stadium for the night - although that number was reduced on police advice. The whole episode was an example of the difficulties involved with running a brand new club with a large support at non-league level.

However, these problems were soon forgotten as the 2,500 in attendance witnessed a terrific cup tie, played in a fantastic atmosphere. Adie Orr, a former Manchester City youngster, fired the club's first hat-trick to help United win 5-1.

The supporters did what they had done for years before the introduction of Sky and Monday Night Football. They stood on the terraces and sang their hearts out.

FC United play home games at Gigg Lane, Bury and reduced season tickets for the rest of the season are now available at £84 for adults, £52 for OAPs and £21 for under 18s. Visit website www.fc-utd.co.uk for more information

Seeing red in England - Manchester United fans' message to Glazers is still clear

Source: Edited from: NY Daily News



Part of the campaign is against modern corporate sport itself. European soccer fans have had the same complaints as many American sports fans: ticket prices are too high, the crowds are too corporate, the athletes too aloof.

"It's not like it used to be, people singing the entire 90 minutes," Bones says.

Some fans have responded by establishing their own clubs. FC United of Manchester, for instance, started playing this summer in a league the equivalent of low Single-A baseball, with donors kicking in the startup costs and more than 1,000 players coming to a tryout. They have drawn as many as 3,000 to some games and will move up to the next division next season if they continue to win.

"FC United came about partly in response to Glazer, but also because of the disassociation of modern football," Houston says. "I've been to a few, and yes, people are reconnecting. They can stand up, drink, smoke, swear, whatever. It's less about the football on the pitch. It's not just trophies and silverware, it's all the people singing at the same time the whole match."

It's a tough tradeoff for some. They don't want the Glazers to succeed, and they don't want Man U. to fail. They want to enjoy the familial, affordable atmosphere of the FC United games, but when they want to watch the best players in the world they turn on the television or watch at a pub.

The FA: Standing United

Source: The FA Website

Standing United

By Tony Incenzo. Tuesday, 18 October 2005.

FC United of Manchester were formed in the summer by disillusioned Manchester United fans.

The new club play their home games at Bury FC's Gigg Lane ground and are currently top of the Moore & Co Construction Solicitors (North West Counties) League Division Two.

Club spokesman Andy Walsh talks to TheFA.com about the new club.

Q. Andy, how pleasing is it to see the new club thriving?
A. Everyone connected with FC United is very happy with the progress we have made both on and off the pitch. Last week, we had two home gates in excess of 3,000. In fact the attendance of 3,808 versus Daisy Hill on 8 October was our best so far. Those crowds have exceeded all the expectations we had when we started the club back in the summer.

Q. How much effort did it take to get FC United off the ground?
A. It required an immense amount of work by a lot of people. We had to ensure that the club was properly constituted and that we made proper applications to The FA and the North West Counties League.

None of that could have been achieved without the efforts of many fans connected to the club. And also we are grateful for the support and advice we received from others in the non-league game, plus the NWCL and the Manchester County FA as well.

Q. Everything moved quite quickly didn't it?
A. Yes. Back in May when Mr Glazer made his move for Manchester United, we very quickly decided that something had to be done for all those fans who would no longer be going along to support Glazer's business.

We wanted to keep that community together. It wasn't a question of being anti-Manchester United. We just wanted to link all those people who were opposed to Glazer and who had pledged not to give any of their money to back him.

Q. How is the groundsharing at Bury FC going?
A. It has been very successful and we are very grateful to their directors for all the assistance they have given us.

We have a groundsharing arrangement with them for this season and an option to continue into the next campaign as well. But we have already started to explore the possibilities of actually establishing a ground of our own.

Q. What are the options there?
A. It would take a lot of work and discussions are at a very early stage at the moment. But it is something we feel obliged to plan for.

Q. You are top of the league so can you keep it going?
A. We've had a good start on the pitch and the players are starting to bond now. It is very difficult to get a team to gel straight away, so the manager and coaches have done a wonderful job.

Q. What reaction have you had from other clubs in your league?
A. Opposing players have let us know that they have enjoyed playing in front of our crowds. And opposing clubs have benefited financially. So everyone is a winner all round.

Q. What is the future potential?
A. At the moment, we are still reeling from the success we have had. We have set ourselves some targets as a board in terms of developing the club. The supporters themselves have plenty of ideas about how matters should move forward over the course of the next few months.

Things are still at a very early stage. But any fears that we initially had that the project may not take off have now been replaced by considerations about how we can deal with the problems of growth and the enormous support that we have enjoyed.

We want to make sure that we are laying down foundations now for the long-term stability of the club. No one here sees this as a flash in the pan.

What we need to do is to make sure that the support of the fans is consolidated and that the club's future is secured.

If you'd like to find out more about FC United of Manchester, click here to visit their official website.

Cheadle 1 FC United 5

a great night out in Tameside... click the pic above for bigger version, doesn't scale down well

MEN Match report Here

My Pics are here - not too many from tonight

First Cheadle goal in blur-o-vision here

And Adies first goal for FC here

FC United fury over 'profiteering' jibes

Stuart Brennan
Source: Manchester Evening News


FC UNITED have accused Manchester United of "spectacularly missing the point" when they spoke out about the rebel club for the first time.

Old Trafford marketing director Peter Draper angered many FC United supporters when he said in that the breakaway club was just a scaled-down version of the Premiership giants.

He went on: "The most interesting thing is that they aren't letting anyone in for free. They will have a sponsor in due course. If they win promotion they will want to buy better players.


"In order to fulfil that wish they will start to sell nice butties rather than curly ones."

FC United spokesman Jules Spencer says that his club, formed in response to Malcolm Glazer's takeover and the increasing commercialisation of Manchester United, is at the opposite end of the spectrum, whatever Draper says.

"He spectacularly misses the point," said Spencer. "But we don't blame him for those views - it is indicative of the bubble that people who run the top level of football in this country, live in.

"We have never had an issue with commercialism at Manchester United, only the nature of it, and where the money is ending up - a great deal of it ended up in shareholders' pockets and now it ends up in Malcolm Glazer's pockets.

"Any money we make at FC United goes straight back into the club. Not a penny is siphoned off."

Supporters

Spencer also points out that FC United now have sponsors - the main club sponsor is the Bhopal Medical Appeal charity, which helps victims of the horrific chemical spillage in India in 1984 which killed 20,000 and has left the city still in serious trouble.

"They have become sponsors because they believe in the ethos and the principles we stand for, as we believe in theirs," said Spencer. "And despite what Peter Draper says, any ticket price rises we institute will be dictated by the supporters on a one person, one vote basis.

"It is strange that Peter should mention that we don't let anyone in for free, just a couple of weeks after we let 700 kids in for free.

"He should know that it simply wouldn't be viable to let people in for free on a regular basis, but we will strive to do things like that as often as we can."

The timing of Draper's comments have interested many at FC United - it came just days after the club had a record 3,808 attendance for their 6-0 win over Daisy Hill.

FC United are getting used to such disinformation - the Padiham manager whose team faced the Rebels in the first game at Gigg Lane in August told his players in his pre-match talk that FC's players were on £600 a man and manager Karl Marginson was getting £900 a week.

Delivery

That rumour has taken hold, with a whisper doing the rounds that FC have a £5,000-a-week wage bill, which is laughed off by acting general manager Andy Walsh. It also came as news to Marginson, who is still getting up at 4am to start his food delivery rounds.

But where IS the money going? When FC United took its first breath in the summer, formed by Manchester United supporters angered by Glazer's takeover, around 4,000 financial pledges raised around £100,000.

And now, with crowds flocking to Gigg Lane to witness a football revolution - fuelled by discontent with high prices, poor atmosphere and the greed endemic in the higher echelons of the game - cash is still rolling into the FC United coffers.

The last two home games have seen crowd figures of 3,110 and 3,808, giving them an average home crowd higher than hosts Bury and neighbouring Rochdale get in League Two.

For their next home game, against Nelson on October 22, FC United will open up the South Stand at Gigg Lane. Hitherto they have only opened the Manchester Road End and Main Stand.

The amazing crowds have brought in an average of around £15,000 a game, with supporters paying £7 a time and £2 for juniors. And that is without totting up the income from replica shirts, scarves, badges and other merchandise, the demand for which are far outstripping the club's current ability to supply.

The cynics have sneered that the club's founding principle, of football for the love of the game rather than for greed, have already been compromised.

Difference

Not the case, snaps Walsh, one of the leading lights in the club's formation, and now a key man in the day-to-day running of the club. "The difference is that every penny we get, through the turnstiles, or from merchandise, is going back into developing the club," he said.

"The £100,000 in donations at the start of the season gave the league, and our players, some surety that we could see the season out even if nobody had come through the turnstiles.

"But we are now in the position where we can look to expand and take our message out to a wider audience. We are also building a fund so that we can eventually have our own ground.

"We have plans for a community scheme starting in a couple of months, including a coaching programme for kids and also a chance for supporters and players to get their own coaching badges. We are also looking at a scheme to produce referees."

Stockport Express: Safety fears blow whistle on historic match

12th October 2005
Alex Scapens
Source:Stockport Express


They say the security arrangements planned for the visit of FC United to their Park Road stadium for a 2,000 sell out game on Saturday had been approved by police and North West Counties League (NWCL) bosses four weeks ago.

But at a meeting with these organisations plus Stockport Council this week the club says the decision was overturned and they were ordered to postpone the match after it was decided the ground had insufficient emergency exits.

The club now faces a potential £2,500 bill in ticket refunds, is stuck with refreshments already ordered for the day and says fans from as far away as Scandinavia have cancelled their trip.

The council say they understood the game was originally going to be played elsewhere, while the NWCL maintain the postponement decision was made as quickly as possible, only a day after receiving the specific safety arrangements at Cheadle’s ground, including the emergency exit provisions.

A council spokesman said: We understood the game was originally going to be played elsewhere. The council, police, league and FC United all had safety concerns.

But club chairman Chris Davies said: The whole club is fuming over the decision, if it was going to be made it should have been made four weeks ago, this is a big bureaucratic oversight.

When we informed the police and league of our arrangements they were happy.

We would have been proud to hold this game at Cheadle but it seems people are trying to create problems that aren’t there, an extra emergency exit could easily be added.

The game will now take place at the larger Tameside Stadium, in Ashton, on Monday night. But with tickets sold as far afield as Bristol, London, Wales, Carlisle and even Sweden it is feared many will not be able to attend.

After council officers read about the game, which would have dwarfed Cheadle’s previous record attendance of 1,007, in last week’s Express an environmental health representative visited the ground.

This was followed by last Friday’s meeting where it was decided two emergency exits were not enough for the NWCL Challenge Cup clash.

Alan Farnworth, vice chair of the NWCL, said: I had heard some weeks ago Cheadle were planning to stage the game but the final details did not come through until Thursday and we then acted immediately.

We have a duty of care to other supporters and the ground does not lend itself to safety with 2,000 people there.

It is hoped the larger capacity at Tameside will make up at least some of the money the switch has cost Cheadle.

FC United, the club formed by Manchester United supporters unhappy with Malcolm Glazer’s takeover, have attracted huge crowds for non-league football in their debut season.

So far every opponent has switched their home game to a bigger venue.

Cheadle are used to crowds of 100 in the NWCL but after a proposed switch to Stockport County’s ground fell through last month they were confident their facilities could cope.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: The match between FC United and Cheadle Town is a non-league fixture to which normal footballing legislature and regulations do not apply.

As a result we do not normally have any input into whether the matches should be allowed to go ahead or not.

We did not in this case make any decision about where or when the fixture should be held.