RUSSELL Delaney was a true football hero. And it was fitting that, on a night when the names of Roy Keane and George Best were on the lips of FC United supporters at Gigg Lane, that of the modest Red was also sung, loud and proud.
Russell had been a founder of FC United and his fellow board members decided that, rather than the usual minute's silence to mark his death earlier this month, they would hold a minute's applause.
The FC supporters, in their own inimitable fashion, turned that into a lyrical tribute to the man.
FC United general manager Andy Walsh said: "The idea that we should mark Russell's passing with a minute's silence would have filled him with horror, so we paid our tribute with a minute's applause and singing in the spirit of FC United."
Russell died of pulmonary sarcoidosis, a condition that affects the heart and lungs, just months after the fight to prevent Malcolm Glazer's takeover of his beloved Manchester United, in which he was a main mover, had failed.
But he also died knowing that from the ashes of that effort had risen the success story of FC United.
The 47-year-old would travel from his home in the south-east of England for supporters' meetings when the fight against the Glazers was at its height, the oxygen tanks sometimes needed to help him breathe tucked into the foot-well on the passenger side of his car.
Russell knew in the last few months of his life that he needed a heart and lung transplant, which may have extended his life by four or five years, but he continued to try to effect a supporter takeover of United, and then to bring about the birth of FC United, undaunted.
Leading the tributes to Russell was Walsh, a close associate of his in the fight against Glazer and the formation of FCUM.
Supporters
Russell's troubles began when he caught tuberculosis as a teenager, weakening his lungs. His health was further affected when he picked up an infection when he travelled to watch United play in Barcelona in 1984.
His condition worsened down the years, but he was determined to oppose the Glazer takeover. He had urged supporters to try to take over the club themselves as long ago as 1989.
Walsh said: "Russell was actually in hospital when Glazer made his move in May. Russell had been our contact with the camp of John Magnier and JP McManus, who had assured us the day before that there was nothing in the offing. He had discussed with them the possibility of the supporters buying their stake in the club and had set up a meeting with former Football League chairman Keith Harris and the Nomura bank to that end.
"When the Glazers took over, Russell himself felt personally responsible because he didn't see it coming, but that was nonsense.
"He threw himself into establishing FC after that - I remember that in the run-up to the deadline for admission to the North West Counties League he spent the best part of 36 hours in our office in Rusholme, filling in paperwork, researching details and establishing the club's constitution.
"It all had to be done in two weeks and that would not have happened without Russ."
Russell lived long enough to realise that his hard work had resulted in a great success - FC United's three home attendances in October all broke the 3,000 barrier.
The tribute took place at the first home game since his death, against New Mills. FC United manager Karl Marginson dedicated the Rebels' 6-1 win to Russell.
He said: "It is only right to dedicate this win to Russ. Any victory that we get we appreciate because if it wasn't for Russ and the steering committee he was such a big part of, then I wouldn't be here and neither would anyone else.
"I can't describe how brave a man he was. I am just sad I didn't get to know him for longer."
Russell's family have asked that anyone wishing to make a donation in his memory should do so to FC United. Payments should be made to the Russell Delaney Memorial Fund and sent to 104 Ducie House, Ducie Street, Manchester M1 2JW.
FC UNITED'S home game with Chadderton, due to be played tonight, has been postponed.
The pitch is frozen and, even though a thaw was expected today, the groundsmen say it will not leave them sufficient time to prepare the pitch.
What did you think of the tributes? Have your say.
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Russ was a true gent and an amazing tower of strength during the battle against the take over of Manchester United and the setting up of FC United. It's a blessing that Russ at least lived long enough to see the new club established to protect the spirit of United.
We will cherish Russ's legacy and we're also proud that our chosen tribute of a minute's applause was widely replicated throughout football for the equally untimely death of George Best this week.
Along with the death in September of Roger Brierley, another tireless campaigner for the soul of our club, the Red family has recently lost three beloved members. All this is made more poignant against the backdrop of losing our club to the god of money.
We'll remember them all.
I will be making a donation to the fund. I think his family should be given complimentary season tickets for life.
Sorry to hear about the Delaney family's loss, but where was this article FOUR weeks ago when he died? Why did it have to be written on the same day as a George Best tribute article? Please stop trying to link the two teams.
Tommy Tampa - United and FC United are inextricably linked, as we are the same fans. You don't know or understand enough about Mancunians, Manchester or England to have an opinion worth listing to. This is the second time you have tried to use the demise of George Best to justify a futile anti-FC United campaign. You really are one sad individual.
Tommy from Tampa, FC United and Manchester United will always be intimately linked, just as Manchester United and Munich will forever be associated. But that is something carpetbaggers from Tampa would never understand. last night Bobby Charlton said "The entire Manchester United Family is here". Yes, that is right, everyone knew the brothers grim were absent. That says it all. Revolution from within, and revolution from without. We shall overcome
A "Fan". You are totally missing the point. George Best was one of the greatest football players of all time. Beloved world wide. His passing saddened the hearts of millions of people who watched his magic. In the same regard, days after his passing an article is written in the MEN by a certain author talking about how wonderful he was, but the same author has to bring out an article about a FC United patron who sadly passed away over four weeks ago and submit the said article exactly at the same time. Trying to draw a parallel between the two with the "True Football Hero" title is beyond sickening and disgusting, not only to the memory of Delaney but also of Best. Seems to me that Delaney did indeed lead a sad life and his tribute should have come 4 weeks ago when he died, not when it is convenient to distract attention and share the limelight with the Best. There are lifelong Manchester United fans that die every day in fact, where are the 2000 word essays for them Stuart?
Tommy of Tampa. I used to just think you were a deluded, slightly whacky individual who, not living in or knowing Manchester, always seemed to get the wrong end of the stick. Now I have to change my opinion. Your contributions concerning the death Russell Delaney mark you out as a very troubled person. The messages are in very poor taste indeed, and you seem to be the only one who doesn't realise it. When oh when are you going to get rid of this anally-retentive, obsessive attitude regarding FC United? These comments are not constructive. They stink. Go away and don't come back. You are not welcome on this site.
Okay Manny . . . offer me your explanation of the "timing" of this article? Can anyone defend it? Poor Russ died nearly a month ago. It took the FC website only 3 weeks to announce his passing. Would it take 3 weeks to know if someone in the Glazer family passed on? Reminds me of the old school SU (Soviet Union not Shareholders U) and how they would wait weeks to announce the passing of leaders.
This article is essentially about a tribute fund being set up in Russell's honour at his family's request. The rest is background to that request. Sometimes saying nothing is good answer. God bless Russell.
The article was actually written the day after after the FC tribute to Russ, but the death of Besty meant it had to be held over due to lack of space in the paper.
There actually was a small story about Russ a few days after his death, but at the time the MEN was asked to soft-pedal out of respect for the family.
The article was intended to coincide with the tribute.
Another conspiracy theory blown out of the water, eh, Tommy?
Onen of thse days you will learn that wild accusations, about things of which you have little knowledge, do not make hard facts.
Scurry (aka Stu-man): Exactly my point, this article was written and held for some unbeknownst reason and they release to coincide with an article about George Best. For it to be use in an opportunistic manner degrades the individual about which it was written.
Unbeknownst?
Here are a couple of clues from my earlier post as to why it was written on at the time of the tribute - "coincide with the tribute" and "respect for the family"
Here are a couple of clues as to why it was held over for nearly a week - "death of Besty" "lack of space".
Come on Sherlock, see if you can piece those together.
I happen to know that the article was written at the request of the sports editor, who is not, and never has been (remember Joe McCarthy, Tommy?) a member or a supporter of FC United.
You see, if you ask questions of the right people, you get correct answers.
Sitting in your bedsit dreaming up wild theories and then fitting the facts to them just makes you a loser.
As for Stu-man, I'm at a loss as to what that means, but then again 'making sense' and 'Tommy, Tampa' don't tend to inhabit the same sentence
russell delaney is a greatly respected man at fc united. after i spoke to his family i have even more respect for him he has made fc even wen he was ill. i got a russell delaney t-shirt and i wore and still where it with the utmost respect R.I.P Russ