FC United breaks record again

January 03, 2006

BREAKAWAY club FC United of Manchester shattered the North-West Counties League attendance record once more when 4,328 turned out to watch their 2-1 win over Winsford at Gigg Lane.

Although many believed the early enthusiasm at the new venture - set up as a protest at the globalisation of Manchester United and the arrival of Malcolm Glazer as Red Devils owner - would fade as the months passed, instead interest has risen.

The gate was higher than eight in the Football League, all 11 in the Conference and bigger than any crowd Bury have managed at the same stadium all season.

The victory moved FC United 14 points clear at the top of the table, although second-placed Winsford do have three games in hand.

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John R, Manchester (03/01/2006 at 11:07)

I don't understand. It was all supposed to fizzle out by Christmas. Shurely shome mishtake.

DonnyRed, Doncaster (03/01/2006 at 11:33)

"It will never get off the ground" "It will die before christmas". 4328 people would like to say, as our American cousins would put it, "What-ever". FCcccccccc

Eddie, Golcar (03/01/2006 at 12:26)

Superb second half. The atmosphere was amazing, and the attendance was top notch. Missing OT? You must be joking!

no prawns ere, manchester (03/01/2006 at 12:34)

yip i heared the same, that we would all go back to our heated seats at O.T
not a chance yesterday was just brilliant!!its a long time since i roar like i did yesterday,thanks fc united for bringing football back home.

Sidney Snape, Leigh (03/01/2006 at 13:02)

Well as someone who was actually there I don't know where the supposed 4.000 "fans" came from. It looked much more like 2,000 to me. I couldn't believe it when FC United managed to fluke a win.

Nick, Manchester (03/01/2006 at 13:20)

It'll never last! ;o)What a top day out that was!

Manchester Man, Manchester (la la la) (03/01/2006 at 14:19)

Sidney Snape you obviously wasn't there as the MRE, Main Stand and opposite goal end were nearly all full.

Let the bitters and wind up merchants come, don't let it ditter you from the joy that is FC

Someone else who can't count, Manchester (03/01/2006 at 14:40)

Sidney Snape. Actually, it looked like about 158,000 to me, but it seems we were both wrong weren't we?

Bruce Willis, under the boardwalk watchin FCeeee (03/01/2006 at 14:48)

How good was it 10 minutes before the game when everyone started chanting "Bring on United". Never heard it that loud before a game any where before....

kev, stretford (03/01/2006 at 15:26)

great game, great crowd, great day - 'nuff said.

Out of interest where were you sat Sidney South Stand??

Ron B., Bury (03/01/2006 at 15:27)

Sidney Snape,Get to the optician quick,before you get run over.Simply awesome day,Bring on United.FFFFFFFFFFantastic--CCCCCCCCChampions.

Bruce Willis, under the boardwalk watchin FCeeee (03/01/2006 at 16:31)

Someone else who can't count. You are obviously a blue nose cause i rememeber the time Siddy took 250,000 to Blackburn when they got promoted. HA ha!! BRING on UNITED!!!!!

no prawns ere, manchester (03/01/2006 at 16:31)

come on lets be real they was no way
158k there,BUT it sounded like there
was.bring on united
bring on united.

John (the big guy who punched the ball), Left Side, MRE, FCU (03/01/2006 at 17:52)

5k for 7th Jan? Will that beat Sunday's crowd FA Cup 3rd Round?

RED RIVS, SALE (03/01/2006 at 23:49)

CANT WAIT FOR THE DARWEN MATCH LETS GO FOR 5000 COME ON FC!!!!!!

Blue Viagra, Clayton (04/01/2006 at 07:21)

Should break another gate record on Sat after last night's display by the 'big' boys. Good Luck FCU. More power to your elbow.

Free Red, Manchester (05/01/2006 at 00:36)

A great result against our closest promotion rivals. Even if Winsford win their games in hand, we will still be 5 points clear at the top. There is no room for complacency though. With every opponent treating their games against us like cup finals, we really must keep up the vocal momentum and do our bit to cheer our team on. It hasnt escaped my notice that there are no more than 2 points separating Winsford from Flixton and Padiham. They also have 3 games in hand, so the title race is well and truly on. I still cant believe how were sat in the Cemetery end last Saturday, what with it being empty over there for months (other than our incredible singing ball boys). On a different note, I noticed the MEN sports pull out page 7 dated 3 January 06 gave a results round up service for all football divisions from the Prem through to the NWCFL Div.2. Nice tough MEN. I think a weekend fixtures list on the adjacent page would be a welcome addition, it would benefit all that play in those divisions. Next up Darwen at home Saturday 7 January 06 k.o. 3.00pm. Other NWCFL Div.2. fixtures being played the same day to look out for. Ashton Town v. Padiham. Blackpool Mech. v. New Mills. Flixton v. Cheadle. Great Harwood Town v. Castleton Gabs. Holker v. Chadderton. Nelson v. Daisy Hill. Oldham Town v. Winsford. Viva la revolution, come on FC.

PC, Wilmslow (05/01/2006 at 13:43)

I turned up 10mins before kick off with my dad. The MRE was full so we queued for the Main Stand. We reached the very front, and the turnstile closed. We turned to see the enormous queue for the Cemetary End, and eventually decided to slum it in the away section. Once inside we sneaked through a gap and sat with the Reds at last. I couldn't help but notice the empty seats at the Council House last night!

We now have the 2nd highest average attendance in non-league football. Long may it last.

I don't want to worry you, Free Red, but if Norton win their games in hand, they'll only be 3 points behind. Will they win 8 games in hand?!!

Also, does anyone know where the D2 Trophy semi is played? And the final for that matter?

Lets hope for an ever-evolving attendance against Darwen!

Dash, Walny (05/01/2006 at 16:23)

I showed up at Gigg Lane this past match and agree there were a lot of people there. The play is this league is so poor though, I think people will wake up to its inferiority and stop coming to matches. My son's U15 team could have beaten both squads on the pitch. Not sure how Barrie let that one goal by. It was an easy stop.

To maintain promotion every year this squad will need to replace everyone of the players every year and bring in someone to compete. Once the novelty wears off, which I think is getting closer, the team will go back to being an also ran. I'm sure more glory hunters will show up though each time they win. The first year they don't win the league will be the downfall of the facade. Man Yoo is in second place in the league table?? Screw that, let's go watch FC! They are at the top of the pub league! Glory hunters will always be glory hunters no matter the smallness of the prize. In this case pretty damn small.

Andy M, Heywood (05/01/2006 at 18:24)

Re comments by Dash. I'll be polite and say your'e missing the point. Its Punk football, 2 fingers to Rio's B#100k per week and Colleen's B#1200 belts, relating to the players, feeling part of a club, having a say some control in how it's run. I think your'e wrong about the standard of footie though. The club was only formed in July and I think most FC supporters realise about upping the standard for next season anyway, give Margy a chance, he'll do it.
There's no glory hunting at Darwen, Stafford Rangers ground or Barrow!
The main thing for us though is that we exist and were enjoying every minute of it.

Tammy, Tompa (05/01/2006 at 19:31)

Here we go again. The Andy Walsh anagram has been analysing internet pics again. Your yank accent comes through even when you try to write in the style of a local. Now repeat after me, I AM ONLY FOOLING MYSELF!

DonnyRed, Doncaster (05/01/2006 at 20:23)

Dash, Walny thanks, that's the funniest thing I've read in ages. The BBC should be commissioning you!

B.S. Detector, Newton Heath (06/01/2006 at 09:55)

I've been coming to this site for a while now, and I've read the postings of the terrible two from Tampa. My BS antennae have detected a major flaw in their argument. If FC fans are going to be reviled for being followers of "pub football", how the heck can they at the same time be glory hunters?

Bruce Willis, under the boardwalk watchin FCeeee (06/01/2006 at 10:52)

Dash/Tommy/Malc who ever,who cares. You are correct in what you say,when the quality gets better up the leagues and the games become not so easy to win for FCee you see the true supporters. But there are so many anti-Glazier fans (not anti MUFC fans) out there who enjoy going to the match then the support will be there as long as FCee are. There might not be 4000 every week but the fans who are there are there to give their support not like at O/T where fans are there just to tell their work colleagues where they went at weekend!!!! Comparing your sons under 15 side to the quality of football at Fcee shows you just talk crap!

Free Red, Manchester (06/01/2006 at 11:32)

PC, Wilmslow. You make a fair point about Norton United. I was wondering why they have so many fixtures outstanding? We may see a dark horse yet, but their results so far would suggest otherwise. Placed 13 in the league, having won 5 drawn 4 and lost 2 their form looks a bit patchy to me. Their stuffy win against us said more about FC being a scratch team with defensive frailties than them being a class act. But Im not worried, our team is improving with every game. I donbTMt know about the semi and final for the Div.2. Trophy. I will post when I find out. Bring on Darwen, come on FC.

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