FCUM fans considering an official boycott on 27th

[bhaexpress]

Disagree - 15% is the rule for Cup games and we should be decent enough to honour that.

Woking was, to a degree, a 'local derby' so I'd imagine any police concerns would have been greater for that game than for some noddy team from 250 miles away (or whatever it is).

Agree with this assuming the club have the option. As there may be other factors involved such as Policing then that's another matter however there should be some public explanation from the club to clear the air.

 

[The Large One]

As a general rule, I'd say 'good luck' to them in their efforts.

However, in this instance, while under other circumstances they might well have been entitled to an extra 400 seats, to say they'd consider boycotting is pathetic.

Come down or don't come down, you're more than welcome - but don't f***ing grizzle on the back of this...

 

[The Merry Prankster]

I hope they don't boycott it. I'm already a bit pissed off with AFC Wimbledon and their attitude to a potential match with MK Dons, I don't want to add FCUM to that list.

I've missed that. What is their attitude?

 

[sillioussodduss]

I tried to register using Gmail...

So "free" web based emails are banned? CAn I ask why?

also you have a sub forum all about MANCHESTER UNITED so you did not turn your backs on them? you are just in waiting?

Do your homework before spouting what you want to believe is the truth. We have never turned our backs on MUFC, we have refused to pay Glazers debt and have withdrawn our finances.

 

[Kumquat]

Had an interesting chat with a FCUM fan last night who says the fans are disillusioned with the players who they feel don't support the cause as much as they do. He said that FCUM games have been ill-tempered and said he'd be avoiding it. He thinks there will be trouble in their end beacuse they are not happy bunnies and he is himself regretting not doing what people here have been suggesting, i.e fighting from within. Can't vouch for how true this is as it's just one man's view, but to be warned. But may be one reason why Brighton are keen to keep their contingent as low as possible.

 

[bhaexpress]

I've missed that. What is their attitude?

They are understandably unhappy at the prospect of playing the team that 'stole' their league position and status. The other side of the coin is that in their original form they were unable to sustain the level of football that they were in under the circumstances that they were in at the time. Of course unlike some they didn't go into administration. However I used to live in that area and have met more than a few ex-Wimbledon fans who felt that getting to Selhurst was too much trouble. Whilst it;s not that simple a journey it's no Brighton to Gillingham trip either.

 

[Icy Gull]

Bit precious this tribute Man U team aren't they?

Do I give a shit if they boycott? The only losers are them.

 

[sillioussodduss]

As a general rule, I'd say 'good luck' to them in their efforts.

However, in this instance, while under other circumstances they might well have been entitled to an extra 400 seats, to say they'd consider boycotting is pathetic.

Come down or don't come down, you're more than welcome - but don't f***ing grizzle on the back of this...

I like your cut, no nonsense straight to the point.
There will be a min of 845 at the game I assure you. I think some of FC have got upset as its the biggest game of our history so far, 5 years in and we are playing Brighton in the 2nd round of the FA Cup its pretty special to us and emotions are riding high with the small allocation. Its just a shame we couldnt have played you at your new ground.
Either way, we will be coming for what hopefully will be another great FA cup match (there was no trouble at Spotland, just a few giddy fans on the pitch for a minute, nothing major at all) and may the best team win
Now who are we going to get in the next round

 

[bhaexpress]

Bit precious this tribute Man U team aren't they?

Do I give a shit if they boycott? The only losers are them.

I can see their point of view but they are kicking off a bit too much. However until a reason is given as to why they are restricted to 10% of the gate it's hard to have a valid opinion.

 

[mrhoppy22]

Tears of an FC United fan

Read the article below ive posted this because reading some of your comments most of you seem too be very ill informed about Fc United we represent in my opinion a new way forward in football as fans of Brighton you yourselves have been shafted by greed think Goldstone ground we only want to come and support OUR club a club formed because we will not be forced into paying debt loaded on to Manchester United we are the true United the club that carrys the hopes and dreams of all Mancunians we look forward too our historic game next week and don't underestimate us Rochdale found too their cost that passion and pride goes a long long way were on a mission for all football fans as we are the ones who have the club in our hearts not greedy corporate businessmen


By John Darwin
Lifelong Manchester United fan and long-term Old Trafford season ticket holder until 2005, when he became a founder member of FC United of Manchester




I am 48 and have followed Manchester United all my life but the last game of theirs I went to was the 2005 FA Cup final against Arsenal, when fans wore black to protest against the Glazer takeover.

The arrival of the Glazers left United with more than £500m of debt and helped trigger the formation of FC United of Manchester by fans like me who were angry about what was happening to our club, but also disillusioned by Premier League football.

The years since then have taken us on an incredible journey, which started in Division Two of the North West Counties League. The latest landmark has come in the FA Cup and, although it is only the first round proper of a competition I regularly saw 'big' United win at Wembley, watching FC United play Rochdale on Friday night will be something really special.

The biggest game in this club's history was probably our first, against Leigh RMI in July 2005, but what I used to consider our best day came the week after that when we played a friendly against AFC Wimbledon, who are virtually our sister club because of their history and all the help they gave us in setting up.


A lot of FC fans in the crowd had tears in their eyes afterwards, and I must admit I got a bit emotional myself




That was a great moment, and was probably my favourite right up until the fourth-qualifying round win over Barrow last month that set up the tie with Rochdale. That one will take a lot of beating.

A lot of FC fans in the crowd had tears in their eyes afterwards, and I must admit I got a bit emotional myself. That is definitely part of football and I'm not ashamed to say it.

Reaching the first round of the Cup is a great achievement but everything we have done in the five years since we were set up is definitely something to be proud of. AFC Wimbledon had already shown that fan ownership can work, and we are another example of that.

There was a lot of hand-wringing by some fans about whether forming a new club was the best way to protest against the Glazers but, for me, it wasn't a difficult decision to get involved with FC from the start

What do you think of FC United's achievements in the last five years... and their plans for the future?

I began going to Old Trafford in 1976 as a young teenager, and watched United regularly for 30 seasons home and away - but the Glazers' arrival was definitely the right time to stop.

With the other things that were going on, like the way supporters were being treated over issues like standing and pricing, plus the general over-commercialisation of the game, I'd really just had enough.

I still follow United on TV, when the games don't clash with FC's fixtures. In fact, it's very rare I miss them. It's just I am trying to divorce the football from everything that goes on around it.

I was also in favour of the 'Green and Gold' anti-Glazer protests by United fans who still attend matches, because anything that raises the profile of the issue is a good thing.

But I believe that, ultimately, the only way to get the message across to the Glazers is by hitting them in the wallet - by not giving them my money.

I know other people, no matter what they think about the Glazers, cannot give United up. Most of the friends I went to United with are still going to Old Trafford but, to be honest, I don't miss anything about watching United there. I didn't like the attitude of the stewards, or the atmosphere.

To some extent I do miss going to away games, but I get the same feeling from following FC anyway.

Obviously, as a United fan, I had the mindset of expecting success most of the time. Winning sort of became the be-all-and-end-all and I used to wonder how and why supporters of lowly teams carried on. But I sort of understand that now.

It's not really about winning at all. Yes, FC have won promotion three times and are now one level down from Blue Square Bet North - but the main thing about this club is its sense of community - the rapport among the supporters and making a contribution to the local area.


To me, fans are as important to a club as the players, the manager or the stadium. I don't see FC and United as being different clubs now, we are part of the same thing - and we are all in this together




We have crowds of about 2,000, which is League Two level, but I actually don't want us to climb further up the pyramid yet because we cannot afford to do it until we have got our own ground built. That is our main priority at the moment.

We are currently tenants at Bury's Gigg Lane ground, but there are plans in place for a £3.5m community stadium in Newton Heath, the area where United started. We have got a grant for £650,000 from Manchester City Council but have to find the rest ourselves, which is where the Cup run comes in handy.

There has been a community share issue to raise some of the money we need for the ground but, no matter how much any individual contributes, they only get one vote over the club's future - the same as anyone who pays £12 a year to be a member. That is to preserve democracy, which is one of the core principles of FC.

It's great to see our club doing well, and in the spotlight again with what will be worldwide exposure. And I'm pleased for our players too because some of them could undoubtedly play at a higher level, or get paid more elsewhere, and this is some reward for their loyalty.

But the best thing about our game being televised is that it means the club will get £67,500 to boost our club funds. We need to improve our finances if we are going to progress. We are in this for the long haul and, if and when the Glazers do leave United, the foundations we are putting in place will hopefully sustain us.

To me, fans are as important to a club as the players, the manager or the stadium. I don't see FC and United as being different clubs now, we are part of the same thing - and we are all in this together.

 

[Husty]

Do your homework before spouting what you want to believe is the truth. We have never turned our backs on MUFC, we have refused to pay Glazers debt and have withdrawn our finances.

So what are you going to do when the Glazers sell up, return? And just leave FCUM to fall apart?

 

[Icy Gull]

I can see their point of view but they are kicking off a bit too much. However until a reason is given as to why they are restricted to 10% of the gate it's hard to have a valid opinion.

I agree, I just like having a dig at Man U, in whatever format

 

[sillioussodduss]

Had an interesting chat with a FCUM fan last night who says the fans are disillusioned with the players who they feel don't support the cause as much as they do. He said that FCUM games have been ill-tempered and said he'd be avoiding it. He thinks there will be trouble in their end beacuse they are not happy bunnies and he is himself regretting not doing what people here have been suggesting, i.e fighting from within. Can't vouch for how true this is as it's just one man's view, but to be warned. But may be one reason why Brighton are keen to keep their contingent as low as possible.

Healthy debate, nothing more. We dont hold back in what we say, true, but trouble amongst our own at the game ? No , i dont see it

 

[Arthur]

The 6,500 Villa allocated us last season was MORE than our average home attendance and still didn't meet demand .
Give 'em the full 15% I say .

Spot on!

Some people on this board have very short memories. People we're pissing their pants because in recent years we've sold out at Spurs, West Ham and Villa and they haven't given us any more tickets.

In fact I recall a thread on here last week when there was a rumour going round that we had sold out at Woking and people were demanding more tickets.

Oh and the jibes about Utd fans not being from Manchester are as about as tiresome and predictable as the ones about us being gaylords!

 

[mrhoppy22]

Spot on!

Some people on this board have very short memories. People we're pissing their pants because in recent years we've sold out at Spurs, West Ham and Villa and they haven't given us any more tickets.

In fact I recall a thread on here last week when there was a rumour going round that we had sold out at Woking and people were demanding more tickets.

Oh and the jibes about Utd fans not being from Manchester are as about as tiresome and predictable as the ones about us being gaylords!

Gaylords and I am from Manchester

 

[Gwylan]

Not really. I remember speaking to a member of the Manchester United marketing team who boasted that 99% of Man Utd fans had never set foot in Old Trafford. So, if the club is admitting they only have a small number of local fans I don't see why the rest of us can't say it.

 

[bhaexpress]

I agree, I just like having a dig at Man U, in whatever format

I have nothing against the club (except the perpetual moaning of Ferguesson) but I do get hacked off with their myriad of armchair fans. Granted they're not alone there as Chelsea and Liverpool amongst others have their armchair glory hunters too.

I, like quite a few others, wonder where these fans will stand when the Glaziers pay off the debts they have incurred. Can't see the Glaziers leaving for a while though.

 

[sillioussodduss]

So what are you going to do when the Glazers sell up, return? And just leave FCUM to fall apart?

There is considerably more to the creation of FCUM and I wont bother you with it right now, but if you are genuinely interested in why, ask someone at the match, we are a friendly bunch who love football. I am sure you will get answers to all the questions you ask. As i often say its not a perfect world and one mans reason for following FCUM may not be a carbon copy of the next's but most people just dont like top flight modern football and all the crap that comes with it.
Yeah, were out there to get shot at, cheap shots if you will but we dont care, FCUM !

 

[The Growler]

More like down to local immigration rules ..... If 1200 turn up you can guarantee only 800 will return ....

 

[Da Man Clay]

I, like quite a few others, wonder where these fans will stand when the Glaziers pay off the debts they have incurred. Can't see the Glaziers leaving for a while though.

I imagine they'll still stick around. The reason it was set up was not just the Glazers.