DARREN Lyons, who had a spell at Bury during his League career, is back at Gigg Lane as player-coach with the ground-sharing record-breakers FC United and can't believe the buzz the Red rebels are causing.
They broke the North West Counties League attendance record for the second time in four days as a remarkable 3,808 crowd watched the second division leaders demolish Daisy Hill 6-0, despite the counter TV attraction of the England match.
Lyons, 37, who also played for Macclesfield and Altrincham, said: "I've played in the North West Counties League for a while and know what it's about. But the atmosphere that has been created this season with FC United is a bit strange and surreal."
The attendance was nearly 1,450 higher than the 2,369 that watched Bury's win at Rushden on Friday and also in excess of those at League Two matches at Mansfield and Torquay. Macclesfield recently had a gate of under 1,900 for a home game.
FC United's figure was larger than at any of Saturday's seven Nationwide Conference matches - as well as the 3,000 who watched Lithuania lose 2-0 at home to Serbia and Montenegro in a Group Seven World Cup qualifier!
Shake-up
Lyons, recalled to the side in a tactical shake-up, put them ahead after 28 minutes with a trademark blast through the wall from a free-kick on the edge of the penalty box.
But the game was all over soon afterwards with three goals in five minutes from man-of-the-match Jonathan Mitten (32), Simon Carden (33) and Rory Patterson (37) after Mitten's shot had been parried by the keeper.
United were caught out too often by Daisy Hill's offside trap in the second half but Adie Orr made it 5-0 after 54 minutes and rounded off the rout six minutes from time with a 25-yard hot-shot into the roof of the net.
A penalty by Colin Little on the stroke of half-time gave Altrincham a 1-1 Conference draw at Canvey Island who had taken the lead through Marlo Noto after 34 minutes.
Droylsden completed the record five-figure signing of striker Terry Fearns from Southport in time for the home Nationwide North game with Worksop and he marked his debut with a penalty in a 3-1 home win.
Ashton came from behind twice to land a 2-2 UniBond Premier draw at Marine, but Radcliffe lost 3-1 at Ilkeston.
What do you think of the FC United experience? Have your say.
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I admire the idea behind FC United. I think football has now become something totally different to what I was introduced some 25 years ago. The clubs attitude towards the fans is appalling, overpriced tickets, shirts and anything remotely associated with the club. Football is now 22 millionaires running around with no real attachment to the club. So yes its refreshing to see someone trying to restore a normality to football. Good luck lads.
Having being going to Old Trafford for 30 years and have seen many changes over the years. I still love MUFC, but can't support Glazer Regime and it's inflated ticket prices and over commercilisation.
FC United is going back to how I remember united, I didn't think I would ever get to relive those days, but now I am, and truley is an awesome experience.
It costs B#11 for myself and 2 kids to get in. It would cost more than 1 kids ticket at Old Trafford.
You need to go to believe it and experience FC United for yourself. I have absolutley no doubt what so ever that FC United will develop into Manchester's third regional football club.
1000% better atmospere than the sterile theme park atmosphere at Old Trafford.
Watching Fc is like taking a breath of fresh air after the stench that the over-hyped, over-priced, corporate entertainment that premier league football is.
trust me - go to one match and see what you think, I've taken a blue, a bury fan, and numerous reds and they've all come back for more.
Fc has made me fall in love with football again - thank you.
Football Fan,Manc. Hopefully the tide is turning and we will all get our version of what a football club should be. FC United, AFC Wimbledon and AFC Telford could be just the tip of ice-berg. Who know's what will happen at OT but at least one things for sure, its that the soul of Man United will carry on through FC United. Football should always be for the fans and not about making profit for leeches.
the re-birth of our national
game has started, sample it
for yourself... its not just for fcum fans, but for all to enjoy
B#16 for a family everybody smiling again, 500kids running
round, good football, cheap prices,standing,cracking day
out for all to enjoy..
As a MUFC support for 40 years I took the decision to go along to watch FC United at Leek. Since then I have been attending matchs at Gigg Lane and away. The at atmosphere at these games has been unbeliverable. And what has been a bit of a shock to me has been the standard of football. It has been very entertaining. With this and the atmosphere in the grounds it has been a great expereince and a bit of a culture shock. Thanks to the people who have made this happen. It has given me my football and Saturdays back.
Great comment from somebody a while back. Football is sick and we are the cure.
Also a great idea about having a Cuban flag day and a Che T-shirt day. Call out the instigators, because there's something in the air....
A.R. Manc. One member One vote. Fair play to you.
Just awesome reminds me of when me Grandad walked round Bank Street with a blanket with other fans collecting pennies to keep the Club going . A far cry from the present situation i do feel though they should also include a reference to Newton Heath. City fans who get fed up with being ripped of also !will see a reincarnation of Gorton & Ardwick KEEP it up wish I was their
Walking up to the turnstiles at Gigg Lane on Sat 30 miniutes before kick off and hearing the crowd inside in full voice was fantastic a throwback to the 70s, a great buzz and top day the heart and soul of MUFC is on show with FCUM, the empty shell has been left at Old Trafford , enjoy Glazer
Takes me back to the Scoreboard Paddock, when I was 16. Superb atmosphere, great fun, lively craic, fantastic singing, realistic prices, good food & some excellent football thrown in to boot. My throat has just about recovered by Wednesday. What better value could you get for just B#9? Thank you MG for getting me to cancel my son's & my MU membership.
I think the great thing about FC United is that people are actually doing something about a situation that they don't like (ie the formation of the plc, the growing rootlessness of the whole Man Yoo phenomenon, and finally, the last straw, the Glazer takeover). It could have been so easy to just sit back and moan, but full credit to everybody associated with FC. They went out and DID something. People who criticise FC and its followers do so because they do not, cannot understand just what a sense of loss many people feel, having witnessed the transformation of their beloved club into a sterile global brand. It's a fair comment that United was never owned by its fans, and I agree with Malcolm that not enough was done before to voice our concerns about the way the club was going. But sometimes in life something occurs which makes everything so much clearer. Just such a turning point was the purchase of United by the Glazers. The saddling of the club with so much debt, and the concern about how that debt is to be paid back, has really got even the normal everyday punter's hackles to rise. OT will continue to sell out ever week with people from Kuala Lumpur to Tromso, but for a genuine match day experience, get yourselves down to Gigg Lane.
Fidel, Bay of Pigs. If DOING something is simulation or emulation you are absolutely right. FCUM have DONE something. So remind me what have you DONE that is actually different? As for Cuba. Great news in terms of literacy and health bad news in terms of sexual preference, artistic expression or freedom of speech. A litte like those pesky Czechs and Hungarians. They didn't know what was best for them did they? Now where did I park my tank?
Malcolm this is a football thread. We don't want to hear you harping on about politics.
I'm a blue but i've got to hand it to you lot, great job well done! I can't wait for the ironic time when FC United actually buy a player off the rags. I also truly believe, FC United will become Manchesters second team after the others go under! Once again, well done!
i love the way that fans of every club other than those blinkered at mufc have taken to fc united. and most of those at OT appreciate that we have a point and that PL football is rotting and stale.
long live fc- we're already bigger than city's 3007!
Long live our revolution.
Malcolm, you are very fond of using long, important-sounding words, but I'm afraid very, very little of what you say actually makes sense. Your pompous, self-important contributions are spoilt by bad spelling (grateful, not greatful) and poor grammar (NOT neither... or). Your grasp of vocabulary is equally tenuous, to say the least. For example, are you aware of what words like simulation and emulation actually MEAN? It seems you are also blissfully unaware of what even the little, humble words mean, such as DONE. It's there for all to see what FC have DONE. As for the political points, I would like to answer those, too, but I am unsure what the editorial policy on this is, since I had one posting (a reply to Tommy) rejected a few days ago. It also seems that your comment about Cuba has GOOGLE written all over it, since it took you a few days to come up with it. But one last question, one which you have consistently avoided answering. Why do you continue to contribute to this site? Answer that, preferably using words which you understand. (You know, those containing just the one syllable - that is if you know what a syllable is).
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has vowed to stop "greed ruling the world of football" A big Cuban cigar for the president. Viva la Sepp.
Eric the Red - It wasn't Malcolm that turned this message board into politics 101. I think it was Adam Brown and Andy Walsh turning the Northwest Counties league into their own societal experiment. Lots of idealism, politics and mostly gibberish out of those two and their cronies. I can't wait till FC United gets big enough where they want to buy a grounds of their own. The money they wlll need to raise will be spelled L-O-A-N. Maybe I can buy the naming rights and it can be known as TOMMYTAMPA Stadium. I'lll need it to be big though and shaped like a big sombrero.
Tommy. Why do you continue to contribute to this site?
Can I just say that even as a blue I have nothing but respect and admiration for the club and followers of FC United!! I wish you all the best. I think it's testament to the real fans of Man Utd that you are treating the game as it should be. Football, Pie, Football, Pint and Football!! In some ways I envy you!! Here's hoping to see the real derby in a few years time, City Vs FC United!!
Quick lads, get the wagons in a circle and pull on your Che Guevara 'T' shirts. Let's raise the Cuban flag and rally support from Castro. Another Tampa bandit's on his way. Viva la football revolution.