Football Club United of Manchester was formed by disillusioned Manchester United supporters in 2005 primarily, though not exclusively, after the aggressive takeover of United by American businessman Malcolm Glazer. This takeover was to become the straw which broke the camels back for some supporters who had been through a lot with Manchester United including relegation to the second division in the early 1970s. Therefore, to contemplate leaving now, when the team had seen unrivalled success, the situation must have being dire. It was! We were sick of being given door mat treatment watching big business ruin our game and more importantly our club with no opposition, not even from the board. On the contrary they were compliant and, indeed, benefited from the takeover. It was time to act.

There is no doubt that FC United would probably not have happened but for the Glazers coming on the scene it was, however, this which was the catalyst. The takeover was the tip of a pyramid of destruction, with, among many examples, changing kick-off times to suit the television companies, soulless all seating stadia totally lacking in atmosphere which are full of new supporters, or customers as they are referred to by the Glazers regime at Old Trafford, who are content to sit back with their “prawn sandwiches” taking no part, vocal or otherwise, in the occasion. Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, now employs stewards who adopt Gestapo style tactics, obviously with the clubs blessing, and on many occasions their behaviour is unacceptable. To furnish the huge debts the Glazers incurred to steal United under UK law from us, we were all small shareholders until now, huge price hikes to get into the ground, outside the reach on many working class people, have been introduced.

Our crowds at Gigg Lane Bury, home of Bury FC who we share with, are between 1,500-2,000, by far the largest in the league at this level, and we are waiting to move into our own ground at Moston, we have upwards of 3,000 members. Most FC United fans still follow the fortunes of Manchester United, league position, results etc and may attend away games providing FCUM are not playing but not Old Trafford, patronising Glazer. We have our own constitution and the management board are elected by the membership/co-owners on a yearly basis. What we wanted, and got, OUR CLUB, OUR RULES, a democratic non for profit organisation created by Manchester United fans. We want to maintain the best of the good old days at Old Trafford, songs which once bellowed from the Stretford End, racist, homophobic etc. chants will not be tolerated, the atmosphere etc and marry this to the new FC United way, with new chants specific to FCUM. In this we are succeeding.

Caoimhin O’Muraile
FCUM Member/Co-owner