United not planning to put poppy on shirt

November 03, 2009

MANCHESTER United are one of eight clubs in the Premier League who have not yet asked for permission to embroider a poppy into their shirt for this weekend's Premier League match with Chelsea.

Birmingham wore a shirt with a poppy on against City at the weekend, and then auctioned the strip off in aid of the British Legion.

A United spokesman told the Daily Mail: "We don't think it's particularly necessary. We sell poppies around the ground and all our officials wear them and we work with the Armed Forces charities in a lot of other ways throughout the year."

United are not helped by the fact their shirt is red.

Should United wear a poppy on their shirt? Have your say.

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edinburgh red, edinburgh (03/11/2009 at 11:27)

Obviously we aren't helped by the red shirt but it's a bit of a pr disaster could we not have an armband made

United 18, Huddersfield Town 3, City 2 (League Titles), Wilmslow (03/11/2009 at 11:36)

Cue the comments from the bitters that go along these lines...

"United are a disgrace, first their manager is punished by the FA for saying the referee is Fat, then their fans throw ketchup on the pitch at Barnsley and NOW they dishonour the dead who fought for them in the War!!!! BAN THEM FROM FOOTBALL ALL TOGETHER!!! ...now has anyone got any lemons for me to suck on please"

Quiet news day M.E.N ?

Johnniejohn, Tunbridge Wells (03/11/2009 at 11:41)

I am sick to death of, in Jon Snow's words, 'poppy fascism'. Reminds me of all the nonsense about players singing the national anthem. Poppy wearing should be an individual choice, freely entered into, not forced upon all and sundry.

Sparky was the best ever (03/11/2009 at 15:03)

I hope they do wear them. There aren't many causes more worthy.

bobbydazzler (03/11/2009 at 15:22)

johhnie john

behave will you , many fine young men lost their lives whilst serving our country. i would hope that united find some way on sunday of showing some solidarity for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Paul Peters (03/11/2009 at 15:52)

Doesn't suprise me as they probably have the least patriotic supporters in the Premiership.

Johnniejohn, Tunbridge Wells (03/11/2009 at 17:05)

The point BobbyD is absolutely nothing to do with the cause. I have nothing but the utmost admiration for the cause. However why is this suddenly an issue? How many decades have we had poppies? Why suddenly this pressure for football clubs to come in line with the poppy police? Surely it is a matter for the individual conscience of everyone? It is the same with the Nov 11/nearest Sunday debacle. Rightly or wrongly, some decades ago, the actual ceremony etc was moved to the nearest sunday. Suddenly in recent years, there has been pressure to observe this on both dates.
People should wear a poppy because they want to wear one, not because they are forced to do so.
BTW, I saw a photo of Wayne and Colleen leaving hospital with the new baby. Shock horror, they were not wearing poppies. How dare they offend the poppy police. Meltdown at the Daily Mail no doubt.

Red Bill, Salford (03/11/2009 at 17:59)

The red poppy could have been placed in the black V. All very well for officials to wear them but the players are role models for todays younger generation. No excuses. It should have been done as a mark of respect.

diarmuid mullins (03/11/2009 at 18:57)

they should not put it on there shirt,it should not be in sport, what if the irish players honored the people who died for irish freedom.

tooth&claw, manchester (03/11/2009 at 22:35)

I agree with JohnnieJohn, why is that a private charitable act insists that it's compulsary to display your participation? I never, ever signify what charities I support. I eschew pink ribbons, yellow wristbands, poppies and any other paraphanalia. Charitable acts should always be private. Between you and your conscience. Should United shirts favour poppies over AIDS crosses, breast cancer crosses, famine appeals, help the aged, mental health charities or donkey sanctuaries? or should we just sell space on the shirts to charities on a weekly basis. We are assailed on a daily basis by people who manipulate our compassion or our guilt to extract money from us for 'good causes'. I can do without my football club doing the same. I already know what I have to do, charitywise.

barca99, Salford (03/11/2009 at 22:47)

What a load of rubbish. Why on earth should they wear poppies? Wear one outside of work (and after all it is a job, albeit a well payed one) if they choose too, i myself wear one for work but by choice, if however i didnt and my gaffer ordered me too wear one i'd object, why on earth in this country do we use footballers as some sort of benchmark to aspire too? Whats annoys me more than anything is the lack of poppies on people in general certainly on our youth, perhaps in our secondary schools we should educate our kids about how our forefathers fought for this country

jordy, Middleton (03/11/2009 at 22:56)

No need, just remember the likes of Sandy Turnbull who played for United and with great distinction. He died in the first world war.....

Parlpoe (05/11/2009 at 13:01)

To all the No brigade - some with more educated opinion than others.

Have you considered that it it might the sight of a poppy on the chest of a childs hero that could generate the important question as to why? And thus their education into why the poppy is worn.

Don't make me laugh about the shirt colour either, other teams who wear red manage it.

tooth&claw, manchester (05/11/2009 at 14:31)

Parlpoe, I can't imagine a child's first view of a poppy would on a football shirt.

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