FC UNITED come up against the Manchester City of the UniBond League premier division when Eastwood Town visit Gigg Lane tomorrow.
The Nottinghamshire club has a weekly wage budget of around £9,000, roughly six times that of the Rebels, spending power which made them the pre-season bookies’ favourites to win the title, and a place in Conference South.
But FC manager Karl Marginson (pictured) is untroubled by such a cash disadvantage, with most of his club’s revenue being swallowed up by the rent paid to landlords Bury.
“It looks like being another topsy-turvy season in this division,” he says. “On the last day of last season, there were nine clubs in this division which could have been relegated, and it could be another close league.”
On the plus side, winger Jerome Wright completed his first 90 minutes of the season in Monday’s defeat at Bradford Park Avenue, Adam Carden returned to action, and he drafted in new boy Jacob Wood for an impressive debut as a makeshift centre half.
Wood, normally a right back, was released by Stockport County in the summer and saw a stint at Stalybridge come to nothing, but he is set to keep his place on Saturday.
“We threw him in at the deep end and he came oput of it with a lot of credit,” said Marginson. “We asked him to do a job, and he did it very well, and with Adam Turner still suspended and Rob Nugent still not right, we need him.”
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George Kane, Stretford (04/09/2008 at 14:32)
Free Red, Manchester (04/09/2008 at 14:38)
I've had a right laugh on this site today and that one lines the best yet. The bookies favourites aren't even in the top 6. They are one place ahead of Leigh Genesis, the Unibond club with professional players, who are in 10th place. I'll give my prediction. In much the same way it will take more than money to win the Premiership so it will take more than money to win the Unibond. I wouldn't make FC United favourites either but I'm willing to be we'll be there about for the playoffs. In any case I'd prefer a good cup run.
Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (04/09/2008 at 15:49)
Drifter, Mancunia (04/09/2008 at 21:01)
Drifter, Mancunia (04/09/2008 at 21:46)
FC United's community team hosted a group of 23 young people and their carers from Cheetham Hill at the game against Whitby Town. The young people were awarded medals and trophies from local housing association Guinness Northern Counties on Saturday 30th August for their participation and achievements in an exciting summer sports activities programme.
The awards ceremony was the grand finale to a month-long action-packed programme called Street Box Strikers, organised by the housing association.
The young people, all aged between 5 and 15 years, benefited from free professional training in boxing, street dancing and football.
TV street dancing hit 'Flava', semi-finalists from 'Britain's Got Talent', travelled up from Cornwall to Guinness Northern Counties' head office at Bower House, Hollinwood, Oldham to present each of the 23 young participants with a medal and certificate. 'Flava' also presented 12 of the young people with trophies for Coach's Choice, Most Improved and Best Performer across the three activities.
The young people and their families were then whisked away to watch the FC United match at Gigg Lane. FC United provided the football training for the programme along with visits to the ground and match tickets. All of the children then had the chance to meet the players at the end of Saturday's match.
Three of the children were named Street Box Strikers Champions and were presented with trophies and signed footballs by FC United team members on the pitch at half time. They were Josephine Ryan aged 12, Harry O'Hagan aged 8 and Lee Hindmarsh aged 11. Josephine said: "I am absolutely over the moon with the award, I really can't believe what an amazing day I have had".
Claire Roberts Wheeler, Housing Officer for Guinness Northern Counties helped organise the 'Street Box Strikers' along with her colleague Hazel Booth. Claire said: "It's been a fantastic end to a really brilliant programme of activities. The young people from the Cheetham area have really excelled in their chosen sports and proved what they're capable of, given the right opportunity and encouragement.
"We'd like to thank all the young people and their families who took part, as well as our brilliant coaches and our special guests from FC United and Flava for making the awards event so special.
"We'd also like to thank Manchester City Council's Youth Contact Team, Tung Sing Housing Association, Manchester City Council, Northwards Housing, Ashiana Housing Association and all the other agencies who helped support the project."
FCUoM just don't get enough credit for this type of thing MEN. I hear the fans team FCUM SFC also wow there first game ever vs Whitby SFC fans team as well. Up the Reds!
phil m, cumbria (05/09/2008 at 12:33)
Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (05/09/2008 at 16:22)
Drifter, Mancunia (05/09/2008 at 17:49)