FC UNITED hope to move into their own ground in Manchester in two years’ time.
The Rebels have signed an extension to their ground-share deal with Bury which lasts until 2011 – and by then the Unibond League club is planning to have built its own stadium.
FC narrowly missed out on promotion this season after three successive leaps up the non-league pyramid since their inception in 2005, and also saw a slight increase in their average crowd to 2,152 for the season just ended.
The club has always intended building its own stadium, but the rental of Gigg Lane for around £5,000 a match – which has furnished the Shakers with much-needed revenue.
Said an FC United spokesman: “We have played home games at Gigg Lane for the last four successful seasons and, while we would like to have somewhere closer to the city centre, we are grateful to Bury for the use of the excellent facilities at Gigg Lane.
“Discussions with Manchester City Council about a ground of our own continue to progress positively and the extension to the agreement with Bury will hopefully see the club through to the fulfilment of our plans.”
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Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (28/04/2009 at 17:33)
26/04/2009 at 19:20
What a bunch of hypocrites you really are!!!, look at the above and tell me that if there is no money because you are the poorest in the league, where is the money coming from to build a new stadium???.
I will tell you where, commercialism, adverts (With cantona), anything that pays hard cash!, comon boys, be honest enough to admit that you are as bad as the Glazers, just on a much smaller scale.
Free Red, Manchester (28/04/2009 at 21:49)
Free Red, Manchester (28/04/2009 at 23:48)
The club, who play in the UniBond Football League, have been an Industrial and Provident Society since the club's first EGM in July 2005.
The members of the club have a policy of one member, one vote and vote on issues ranging from electing the board, setting ticket prices, deciding how much membership will cost, choosing how often the team's playing strip will change and whether it will carry a sponsor or not.
Dame Pauline Green, Chief Executive at Co-operativesUK, says: 'I am very excited to welcome FC United into the membership of Co-operativesUK. The club has been very successful since its inception and demonstrates how the co-operative model of business can be used in a wider range of business situations, from running shops to sports clubs.'
Andy Walsh, General Manager at FC United says: 'We are proud to be an Industrial and Provident Society and it felt like a natural progression to join Co-operativesUK. The whole ethos of the club is to let the people who really matter in football - the fans - have a vital role in the way the club is run. Every member owns an equal share in the club and has an equal say in how it is run and who runs it and this co-operative model of business is the best way to run our club.'
The annual membership fee for FC United is 10 pounds�for adults and 3 pounds�for juniors and you can become a member by e-mailing membership@fc-utd.co.uk�or�by sending a cheque payable to FC United to: Membership, FC United of Manchester, Hope Mill, 113 Pollard St, Manchester, M4 7JA.
Find out more about FC United by visiting www.fc-utd.co.uk.
Vegas-blue, Stalyvegas (29/04/2009 at 09:40)
F C JOHN, LADYBARN (29/04/2009 at 12:38)
Prestwich Red, Prestwich (29/04/2009 at 13:01)
The development fund is slowly building thanks to the hard work and dedication of many fans. There is no magic wand and (thankfully) no Arab sugar daddy to bail us out. FC United will continue to evolve as a community club without violating the constitution which is so important to us.
OUR club, OUR rules. What a special thing we have.
Prestwich Red, Prestwich (29/04/2009 at 13:08)
Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (29/04/2009 at 15:33)
Stad, Manchester (29/04/2009 at 15:58)
Dash,everyone at FC United wishes big United all the best but YOU sound like a glory hunting muppet, the sort that gives fans of other clubs the excuse to mock Manchester United fans and Duckinfield Blue I see you have been on the Manchester United site recently spouting you usual drivel and it was funny to notice that you even get slated by your fellow bitters on the City site for posting stupid comments.
F C JOHN, LADYBARN (29/04/2009 at 17:05)
Johnniejohn, Tunbridge Wells (29/04/2009 at 17:33)
'50 years later, the "faithful" will still be showing up Gigg Lane. Meanwhile I will have been celebrating with MUFC at least 25 more PL titles and a dozen CL titles.'
by your own words you must be childishly young and barely out of nappies. Can you even remember how many Christmasses ago you predicted FCUM would not last till Christmas? Anyway, keeping asking Santa for that to come true, and he can then tell you that if you are a good boy you might get your wish. Dream on Walnut, and your duck egg dullard fellow mockers, FCUM is here to stay.
Free Red, Manchester (29/04/2009 at 22:35)
George Kane, Stretford (30/04/2009 at 00:12)
Free Red, Manchester (30/04/2009 at 10:12)
FrostySnowman (30/04/2009 at 10:19)
Free Red, Manchester (01/05/2009 at 11:45)
Si, East Manchester, Audenshaw (01/05/2009 at 16:46)
The ground developement fund is a seperate entity to players fees and general club costs and has been steadily growing for 4 years due to a lot of hard work by the supporters and club officials etc. The club brings in revenue from advertising in the match programme etc much as any football club does but it all goes back into the club for the proposed ground build. A good number of fans have also made donations out of their own pockets from the start. As for Cantona adverts what particular adverts are you referring to Mr Bitter? Surely not the recent activity from the Looking for Eric film? No money was made by the club at all from that! Your comparison with the Glazers is of course complete nonsense (again) as at what point have we borrowed money to acquire anything? What exactly is the same as them in what we do? Anything that pays hard cash? Again what does that mean? As in the loose change barrels we have in place before each game?
You know nothing about us fella and as someone has already pointed out you are well known for posting nonsense on City's threads as much as here.
Holywood Trev, Broadway, Moston (05/05/2009 at 15:20)
I agree we are in danger of becoming exactly like the parent club. I have already been on an excurision down to London to recruit southern fans. Try this link
www.thiswebsitedoesnotexist/united.co.uk
If it doesnt work pop it into google.
Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (06/05/2009 at 12:18)
It seems I am upsetting some people for not only pointing this out but suggesting that it is somewhat hypocritical to the reasons they claim they set up FC in the first place.
Its also worth mentioning who do these people really support?, FC or the real utd because it seems to me that they spend all their time talking about how they love FC, the atmosphere etc etc etc and in the next breath they are all watching sky cheering on their real heroes during their champions league exploits. I thought you had left that all behind??? Come on guys, I know i am blue but at least I only have one love and thats city, you lot seem to pick and choose who you are loving on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.
vagas-blue, Stalyvegas (06/05/2009 at 15:05)
Stad, Manchester (06/05/2009 at 16:32)
Reds can support one or both. Some go to both, some watch big United on telly but go to FC either out of principle or for an affordable but enjoyable matchday experience.
You attitude sums up exactly what is holding city back, the fans are obsessed with United (and now FC United as well)The most imporant thing in your life is what United are doing.
How many other Unibond league teams websites do you visit to post childish comments?
George Kane, Stretford (07/05/2009 at 08:23)
What don t you understand about why should our cash strapped City Council support this folly,when Manchester has its very own Premiership football club,City ? Get real. You have an office in Manchester,so what MUFC have them all round the world,so your point is what exactly ?
Free Red, Manchester (07/05/2009 at 09:57)
Prestwich Red, Prestwich (07/05/2009 at 12:38)
Dash Walny Manchester via Poland (07/05/2009 at 16:37)