FC UNITED will have over 2,000 Eric Cantonas on their side as they seek a place in the Unibond premier play-offs.
Fans attending Saturday’s crunch match against fellow promotion chasers Bradford Park Avenue will be handed rubber masks for a publicity stunt organised by the company behind the new Ken Loach film “Looking for Eric”.
Cantona has expressed his support for FC United, who can match a British record of four successive promotions in the football pyramid if they earn a place in the Blue Square North for next season.
“They have a great idea and I hope they win the European Cup in 50 years’ time,” said the United idol, who stars in the film, which is launched at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18 and has its UK premiere at Salford’s Lowry Theatre on June 1.
Cantona appears alongside FC United fans and other United supporters in the film, which tells the story of a Manchester postman and United fan, set against the backdrop of the Glazer takeover.
Loach, who also directed British classics “Kes” and “Cathy Come Home”, approached FC for help with the film – and manager Karl Marginson also makes a cameo appearance.
FC United general manager Andy Walsh: “It’s not a film about FC United, but Ken wanted it to deal with issues from the angle of being a football supporter, and FC United was part of that mix.”
Once the masks are off again, FC will knuckle down to play a game which they must win to ensure their hopes of a fourth successive promotion stay alive.
Even a victory will not assure FC of a place in the top five – if Kendal can beat Buxton by three goals more, the Rebels could end up slipping to sixth on goal difference in a tight finish to a great season.
Manager Karl Marginson has been boosted by the expected return of striker Carl Lomax after suspension and illness, anmd he feels his team has the bit between its teeth after last week’s last-minute win at second-placed Ilkeston.
“We have been building towards this for a while, but every game for the last six or seven weeks has been a ‘must-win’ and the players have responded magnificently,” he says.
“They say you make your own luck, in terms of effort, and that must mean we are the luckiest team in the league.
“It was tight at Ilkeston last week but they hadn’t been beaten for 23 games – we were the last team to beat them, in fact – but some of our football was great.”
FC were boosted by Bradford’s shock midweek defeat at relegated Leigh Genesis, but Marginson will warn his players that that plus might have a negative side.
“That was a defeat Bradford weren’t expecting, but it might be one that sharpens their focus,” he says. “If they had gone to Leigh and steamrollered them, they would have come to Gigg Lane on Saturday only needing a draw. Now they have to win, we have to win as well, and winning well would be a bonus for us.
“If Kendal can score a bucketload of goals against Buxton they will deserve it, because Buxton don’t normally concede many.”
Fans attending Saturday’s crunch match against fellow promotion chasers Bradford Park Avenue will be handed rubber masks for a publicity stunt organised by the company behind the new Ken Loach film “Looking for Eric”.
Cantona has expressed his support for FC United, who can match a British record of four successive promotions in the football pyramid if they earn a place in the Blue Square North for next season.
“They have a great idea and I hope they win the European Cup in 50 years’ time,” said the United idol, who stars in the film, which is launched at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18 and has its UK premiere at Salford’s Lowry Theatre on June 1.
Cantona appears alongside FC United fans and other United supporters in the film, which tells the story of a Manchester postman and United fan, set against the backdrop of the Glazer takeover.
Loach, who also directed British classics “Kes” and “Cathy Come Home”, approached FC for help with the film – and manager Karl Marginson also makes a cameo appearance.
FC United general manager Andy Walsh: “It’s not a film about FC United, but Ken wanted it to deal with issues from the angle of being a football supporter, and FC United was part of that mix.”
Once the masks are off again, FC will knuckle down to play a game which they must win to ensure their hopes of a fourth successive promotion stay alive.
Even a victory will not assure FC of a place in the top five – if Kendal can beat Buxton by three goals more, the Rebels could end up slipping to sixth on goal difference in a tight finish to a great season.
Manager Karl Marginson has been boosted by the expected return of striker Carl Lomax after suspension and illness, anmd he feels his team has the bit between its teeth after last week’s last-minute win at second-placed Ilkeston.
“We have been building towards this for a while, but every game for the last six or seven weeks has been a ‘must-win’ and the players have responded magnificently,” he says.
“They say you make your own luck, in terms of effort, and that must mean we are the luckiest team in the league.
“It was tight at Ilkeston last week but they hadn’t been beaten for 23 games – we were the last team to beat them, in fact – but some of our football was great.”
FC were boosted by Bradford’s shock midweek defeat at relegated Leigh Genesis, but Marginson will warn his players that that plus might have a negative side.
“That was a defeat Bradford weren’t expecting, but it might be one that sharpens their focus,” he says. “If they had gone to Leigh and steamrollered them, they would have come to Gigg Lane on Saturday only needing a draw. Now they have to win, we have to win as well, and winning well would be a bonus for us.
“If Kendal can score a bucketload of goals against Buxton they will deserve it, because Buxton don’t normally concede many.”
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Prestwich Red, Prestwich (23/04/2009 at 12:32)
BRING ON UNITED!
F C JOHN, LADYBARN (23/04/2009 at 13:04)
Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (23/04/2009 at 13:38)
Pushkin (23/04/2009 at 13:59)
F C JOHN, LADYBARN (23/04/2009 at 15:30)
Prestwich Red, Prestwich (23/04/2009 at 18:09)
Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (23/04/2009 at 23:23)
beswick red (24/04/2009 at 00:22)
Free Red, Manchester (24/04/2009 at 08:52)
Stad, Manchester (24/04/2009 at 12:04)
alan quinn (24/04/2009 at 16:20)
Dear dear, yet another clueless, out of town bitter blue having a go at FC United! The fool is illiterate too.
Free Red, Manchester (25/04/2009 at 00:52)
Soulboy, Love City (25/04/2009 at 18:19)
You don't half sound like bitters with all that tosh!
Football's about winning. That's why United fill the stadium every week. And you can't stand the fact you were all wrong about the Glazers.
One Love. And I actually mean it!
Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (26/04/2009 at 01:37)
Free Red, Manchester (26/04/2009 at 01:42)
Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (26/04/2009 at 13:05)
Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (26/04/2009 at 13:09)
Soulboy, Love City (26/04/2009 at 16:52)
Well, can I suggest that every Saturday morning you get yourself down to Carrington or the Cliff and watch the youth teams... it's free. Or go and see the reserves (home and away), it's about £4 a game.
If you were a REAL United fan that's what you'd do... but you don't. Instead you start up a new club that is guaranteed success due to its finamcial muscle. You have simply swapped one set of all-conquering bullies for another!
So no more of this guff and about how it's just about "fun" and "enjoying the day". You've watched three successive promotions, crushed a variety of pub teams along the way... and you've all behaved as if Tommy Doc's Red and White Army was still in existence.
Now you've hit the wall and actually failed. Aw diddums. But it's not just all about winning is it?
I remember City fans coming up with this stuff, about how they loved their club and it wasn't about winning... and United fans laughed at the "Losers". Remember?
Like I say, one love. Not a bit on the side.
Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (26/04/2009 at 19:20)
Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (26/04/2009 at 19:52)
Free Red, Manchester (26/04/2009 at 22:32)
F C JOHN, LADYBARN (27/04/2009 at 12:52)
kenro (27/04/2009 at 13:03)
Says everything you need to know about Soulboy - he hasn't got a clue that United haven't always won things. Thinks football was invented in 1992.
Doesn't realise that Old Trafford is constantly full because A. there is a hard-core of loyal support who can't kick the habit, even if they want to and B. increasingly, seats are sold on to day-trippers and glory-hunters (like Soulboy, if he goes at all) who haven't got a clue what United are all about.
The Glazers have already said prices will continue to rise until they can no longer automaticaly fill the stadium. Doesn't that bother you at all? Mug.
Frank Kelly, Didsbury (27/04/2009 at 16:01)
Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (28/04/2009 at 00:18)