Great occasion. The Best tribute added obviously (have to admit I couldnt help shedding tears when two guys brought in a banner reading "Thanks George, RIP". Thanks lads, nice touch.
Can FC survive in higher league? Definately. I think the question is can they win or compete at the top of that league. I have to confess to some doubts there. But you never know, the crowd are like an extra man for the team, no doubt. I also assume we would bring in better players for next year (see, I am taking it as read that promotion is sorted!). Whilst some players are very good, some areas bother me, but Margy knows what he is doing and next year will take care of itself. Right now, lets win this league.

By the way Stockport County Pies are top notch!

Saturday was a top day and the tribute to Bestie was fantastic. I though for excitement it was the best game so far this season. Second half, apart from being done for pace for their third FC always looked like we were going to score. I've watched a lot of football at this level and if the North Esast Counties equivalent division is anything to go by then FC United would win that as well. The current squad will be good enough to win the First Division next season and with an out and out goal scorer like Jody Banim or Stuart Rudd or someone like them to take the pressure of Adie Orr and Jozzer and maybe sharpen them up. Jozzer is immense and contributes well he just needs a couple to go in to boost his confidence. Banim and Rudd would thrive on the service that Torpey puts in. Margie has built this current squad with the aim of getting out of this league and I as a supporter trust him and the board implicitly to do that. Whoever replaces Chadwick in time to come has big boots to fill he is awesome as a leader. Plans for the next tier will have been thought out as well. Currently we have a crop of young players mixed with lads like Carden, Mitten, Coyne, Power, Rawlinsion etc who know this level. Margies no fool All teams that play FC raise their game it's their Cup Final and good luck to them. Gordon McQueen said that 90 percent of players want to play for Manchester United the other ten percent are liars. It's the same at this level most of the players at our level (and higher) would jump at the chance of playing for FC. Dead right about the pies. Did anybody get into Jonjo Greenes in Stockport for a bevy before the game?

Can FCU compete in a higher league??? Can't believe that is a serious question. The answer is purely and simply yes, and will continue to be so until they hit the Conference. The reason is 2 fold.

1) Support - as long as the 2000-3000+ crowds continue then the better players will always want to play for this club rather than turning out for another team with 84 people watching and this is meant in no disrespect to any of the other teams.

2) Finances - like it or not FCU is the Man Utd of the bottom rung of the ladder, financially this club is not only on a different planet to everything around it, it is in a different galaxy, as such very few of the players required to suceed at this level and the 3 or 4 levels above are out of FCU's reach.

Which means it's down to one thing really, management - Margy over to you.

Can we succeed at a higher level? Well, attack-wise Steve Torpey and Rory Patterson are a handful for any non league defenders and Adie Orr and Joz are not far behind. It is in defence where we are suspect. Barry George has got the defence out of trouble on quite a few occasions. There's no lack of commitment or skill, we just need more pace and concentration. I'm sure Margy and the players will get it right in time and then watch us go.

Neil is bang on. FC United are in a different galaxy to other Clubs in as far as support and finances are concerned and it will continue. The Conference North, providing the promotions come, is only 4 seasons away and I can see the Club being full time by then. This is only the first season it was all put together in a very short time so at present we only have a first team. I'm sure there are plans to introduce a reserve team and youth teams as feeders. FC United are in a position to attract players from higher leagues but they won't be held to ransom with wage demands. The current squad is a blend of experience and young players and more will come and go during the summer. I remember the sceptics when AFC Wimbledon started up and they've done okay on the field. FC will carry on being successful b" no doubt about that. As Neil said it's all down to management and Margy is the man. By the way Malcolm/Tommy and all the other pseudonyms used by the anti FC community the question is "If FC win promotion, are they strong enough to compete at a higher level? " so don't bother with all the usual nonsense and spouting. Thanks. Under the boardwalk watching FCeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I was just going to read this week, but the match on Wednesday night v. Chadderton has been called off. See http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/news/story.php?story_id=144

It pains me to say this but yes they can

Great day for all, just a pity we couldnt hold onto the lead. Never mind. FC did look a bit jaded and i think the previous win over Cheadle kind of created false sense of security.
From Cheadles programme it was obvious they had trained hard for this game and it showed.
Im glad Chadderton is cancelled as it gives the team time to rest. Dont forget some are fitting windows all week etc etc so i am forgiving.
Its a very long road for FC and all i want is promotion, couldnt care about cups etc.
The fact that we can attract a good following will sustain FC and help it progress. The amount of success i guess is somewhat down to us the fans.
The wonderful vocal support is the 12th man. We can change the game by what we do in the stand. It is very intimidating for any team to play FC and lets keep it that way.
I get ribbed all the time at work for being a traitor to MUFC. But my love for MUFC has never changed and never will. I often wonder though what would happen to FC if the gnome caved in and sold out to the Phoenix Fund or some other fans organisation. Would FC disappear in a puff of smoke???
Any ideas anyone??

I notice that less and less hype over FC the farther up the Premier table MUFC moves. I think the flock is trying to get back into the fold.

Red Rivs b" I really hope that it does n't happen I would be totally gutted if this Club was to fold. In such a short time a lot has been done and the foundations laid for a good future. As long as there is an FC I will go to the games and support the Club. To be honest with you I am enjoying myself too much. Every game is like a cup game as all the teams are putting in that extra effort to beat FC. MUFC is always the first result I look for but FC is the team I support. I got offered a freebie including corporate tickets with all the gubbins etc for the game against Spurs but there was only one place I was going that day.

The messages from Tommy must be the most pitiful, abject contributions anywhere on the MEN site. This deluded, obsessive individual sits there in his den, scouring the pages to count FC's attendance figures, getting excuses ready if they're higher than he predicts (which they usually are), and constantly trying to belittle FC United and the standard of football. Tommy, we KNOW how far down the league pyramid we are. We KNOW the NW Counties league is way, way below the Premiership. To criticise the league for being of a lesser standard than higher leagues is an exercise in utter pointlessness. So why does he do it? He is worried. And don't try to deny it, Tommy. You are very, very, VERY worried. Nobody who was in any way confident of their argument would spend hours and hours writing to this site, as you do. You are very worried, but you lack sufficient insight into your own character to realise how other people see you. How do we see you? We all see you as a truly pathetic, pitiable figure.

I have no doubt that FC United will be playing League football within a decade. The Cheadle FC v. FC United game has to have been the greatest Reds tribute to George Best never wrote. Stockport County FC proved a wonderful venue and were terrific hosts for game. Edgeley Road was comparatively palatial compared to some of the away grounds we have become accustom to. I think George Best would have been flattered by the tribute he was paid by club. The day was all about George Best and true to his presents, the attendance record for a FC away game was smashed for my boyhood idol. It's a rare occasion you get to see well seasoned Red-vets with tears in their eyes, but that was the case at the Cheadle game last Saturday. With United playing away Sunday at another daft k.o. time, Edgeley Road became a focal point for some Reds with fans there I haven't seen since I was a regular at Old Trafford. A banner reading "Night George from all at FCUM 1946-2005" was paraded into the Stadium and stood prominent for the duration of the game. The one minute silence was broken by a number of stragglers outside the ground who failed to realise it had started. So we sang the "number one was Georgie Best..." song to drown them out, which we have been singing at every games since he went into hospital. The atmosphere inside the ground was electric and reminiscent of United of old. There was even had a fair turn out of home support from Cheadle which gave for some banter trading. Unfortunately, I couldn't here them over our lot, but thanks for trying Cheadle. The game had everything but a win. They scored, we equalised, we took the lead, they equalised, they took the lead again, we missed a pen and in the dyeing minutes of the game we equalised again and the stand erupted. After the game, the last supporters to leave were the ones who were holding aloft the banner for George. With our nearest rivals Winsford FC v. Padiham FC also getting a draw the same day and Cheadle FC v. Padiham FC three games ago finishing 3 all, the league table is pretty much as you were over the month. Next up New Mills FC away in the NWCL Division 2 Trophy. The game has been switched to the Moss Rose Ground home of Macclesfield FC. For those going by coach from Chorlton street or The Bishops Blaze (that haven't already done so), an opportunity to drop in at Old Trafford to sign the book of condolences and leave a scarf on the railings. God bless George.

RED RIVS, SALE - Que Sera Sera, what ever will be will be. But one thing's for certain; I will not contribute so much as one penny towards paying off Glazers artificially imposed debt. That will never change. I will help build a new club for myself, my children, their descendants and all those who are unable to keep pace with the constant price hikes at Old Trafford to enjoy.