Gary Neville is planning a multi-million pound ‘thank you’ to the United fans. The lifelong Red, who made more than 600 first-team appearances during his 17-year Old Trafford career, called it quits in February.
Juventus come to Manchester for the 36-year-old right-back’s testimonial match at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
And part of the proceeds from the benefit evening will be pumped into a project to build a United Supporters Club on Sir Matt Busby Way, adjacent to the Bridgewater Canal in the shadow of the stadium.
The club will house 1,500 Reds on match days and there will be hotel accommodation as part of the unique building.
It is an independent project conceived by Neville (right) but has the approval of the club.
“I am a fan. I have always been a fan. I wanted to do something for the fans,” Neville told M.E.N. Sport.
“I have said that publicly for the last 15 years.
“You can choose many a good charity or project. I just thought it was something I know would give me satisfaction and fulfil what I believe to be a thank you, so the fans can go and enjoy knowing it is there for them to use. That was important for me.
“I’ve had it in my mind for about 15 years that if I ever got to the point where I played for the club and had earned a testimonial, I wanted to do something for the fans as part of that.
“This project already has outline planning permission, we need to get detailed planning permission now and we’ll be working very closely with Trafford Council.
“We aim to start on site early next year and complete it for the start of the 2013/14 season. The idea behind it is we can create a venue for Manchester United fans to go and socialise.
“I’m excited about it. There’s a little bit of trepidation – it’s a difficult project, a big project, but something I want to make sure happens.
“There are a few hoops to jump through as always with things like this, but hopefully we’ll get there. There have been a number of players who have looked at the testimonial
proceeds and I’m going to do three projects. This is one of them.
“I’m going to do something for the Manchester United supporters’ club in Malta because they’re very close to my heart and there will be some sustainable projects announced in the next couple of days as well.
“I wanted to try and make them all community and fan based because these are the people who have been most special in my life. I wanted to try and create something they could enjoy. There isn’t an official building for the fans to go and enjoy. Obviously they love coming to Old Trafford on matchdays, but outside of matchdays this will provide them with the ability to go and enjoy their own supporters’ club.”
It’s a refreshing idea to come out of the outdated idea of testimonials for lavishly-paid Premier League players.
“I can’t speak for any player about what they do and how they go about it but this is what I wanted to do,” added Neville.
“A cynical attitude has developed in the last 10 to 15 years about the amount of money footballers earn. But look across all sports – tennis, golf, formula one. It is huge. It connects everybody all over the world. Nothing more than football.
“You see the television and the media. There is so much money being poured into the game. The people who are out there on the pitch provide the spectacle.
“Ultimately, the players are going to be well paid. That is an inevitability. You cannot get away from that.
“People do point the finger at football players. The reality is the lads at this club came into football because they love playing football. They didn’t start kicking a football around in the hallway at home when they were three because they thought of money. They did it because they liked it. They wanted to learn.
“That is why football players should never forget their roots. If they continue that love of the game throughout, I don’t think anyone would begrudge them money.”
Neville’s former United colleagues from the Class of ’92, who went on to become Red Treble winners, will star against Juventus on Tuesday.
David Beckham has been invited and Neville is hoping his big buddy will get the green light to come over from the States by LA Galaxy.
“I’m in contact with David. It’s looking positive but we’ve still got a couple of things to sort out,” he said.
“Hopefully, it’ll be an enjoyable game for the fans and, four days before Wembley, it’ll be like a celebration and send-off for the lads who have done so well this season.”
* Tickets are available for the May 24 testimonial at Old Trafford against Juventus. Call 0161 868 8000 or go online at ManUtd.com
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So a free hotel and all them free drinks for the muppets who will attend thanks gaz even ex players are cashing in on you mugs you could put your embarrasing banners up there as well.
WILL IT BE ECO FRIENDLY,,, PUT IT DEEP UNDER GROUND
“You can choose many a good charity or project. I just thought it was something I know would give me satisfaction"
Remind everyone again why everyone hates this guy ...
This is the sort of thing the club should be doing not ex-players. You put that lot to shame Gary son. What a star.....love you to bits. .............................................................
So, it all depends on detailed planning approval from Trafford Council. Gary would have more chance of getting timely planning consent if Basil Fawlty made the decision even though the decision making process would likely be the same...
Thanks anyway Gary and all the best on Sky, one pundit making intelligent comments will be most welcome by us all...
Cost of pint in Stretford shoots up to London rates.
Why don't the millionaires at the club have a whip round and pay for it out of the proceeds?
How about giving the money to a baby care unit or to help terminally ill children. Gary Neville even by your own pittifully low standards this is a shameful waste of money.
To quote another (excellent post) "Remind everyone again why everyone hates this guy ... "
Make sure that you build a Panic Room for when those MIB's come a-calling!
Supporters club, 1500 people, will there be that many reds left in Manchester after the games, CHUCKLE BROTHERS, spot on.............
First of all don't you have a surpporters club, poor sods, secondly have the club no money to put one up for you, and lastly who gets the profits.
Wow! Infested by Blues...
Gary Neville does a huge amount of charitable work. He is absolutely right to want to give something back to the fans who have supported him his whole professional career. He is an honest, smart, passionate, down-to-earth man - we were incredibly lucky to have him. The fact that he is so disliked by the blue side raises him even higher in my estimation.
Seriously, haven't you anything better to do? Now you've won your first trophy in 35 years, shouldn't you all be bleating about what you're going to win next - I'm sure it will come twice as fast! See you in 2029...
I'am wondering if this will be done through his consultancy business King Associates, where he will get the money back through this business, and not loss anything, this is just a ploy
Let me get this right Gazza. You will build a hotel and club for the fans with the proceeds of the testimonial.
“I am a fan. I have always been a fan. I wanted to do something for the fans,” PAID FOR BY THE FANS.
Even your ex players are ripping you off.
LMFAO.
All these blues on here having a go at Gary for doing something not one of your merceranies would even dream of doing. I suppose the fact that we have had a few locally born and truly loyal players who've played out their whole careers at our club is just another thing for you all to be bitter about. In fact I can't think of one player who's stayed at City for 10 years plus maybe you Blues can?
Fantactic Gesture! Well done Gary, a credit to the club!
Red Army!
Has the Bertties page closed down as they are all avidly reading the aricle on the best right back this country has ever produced who is willing to put someting back in for the fans.
Lets see what the bitters players put in when they leave
Tevez in the summer nil
Balotelli in Jan 2012 nothing
Ya Ya Yo Yo summer 2012 not a bean
The council will elp you all out by reducing the rent as the place is never full
BELIEVE
Oh come on. Even the most one eyed red must be able to see he is using your money to make even more money. You can't be so gullable.
Hang on a minute Gary.
You're going to pay back the fans by charging them to fund your new business venture. Then you're going to charge them again to make your business work and make even more money for yourself.
Testimonials usually make money for charities these days. Charity obviously begins at (teletubby) home in this case
Lovely gesture Gary, but this should be a project for the billionaire owners to fund for the fans who after all follow the club in a magnificent way.
Your cash donation would be more appreciated by the many Manchester charities who have fallen on hard times.
Red to the core Gary. Love it.
Bitters,..... go and troll somewhere else. Your United crazy the lot of ya. Cant keep away..!
Looks like he's struck a nerve here !!! hard tobelieve these comments are coming from supporters of the Comedy Club, Poznan branch.
So, it all depends on detailed planning approval from Trafford Council.
Why not Manchester Council? Oh I forgot ..Your from Trafford not Manchester..NUFF SAID
a thank you ?.... do something for the fans ?
no... it's an investment.
Just be honest eh chuckle
Good investment Gary, nice to see something like this outside Old Trafford amongst the 74,000+ loyal fans week in week out.
Maybe City should ask the Council to build a Travelodge next to the Asda, not too many rooms though don't want them half empty all the time and don't think many people would want to stay over to go see the magnificent trophy cabinet at Eastlands.