The Rebels opened up a 24-point gap at the top of the Moore and Co Solicitors Second Division with a low-key victory in front of 1,767 fans at Boundary Park last night.
Skipper Dave Chadwick scored the only goal on 56 minutes, using his knee to improvise a lob over the Oldham goalkeeper and two defenders when the ball fell to him at a corner.
But until the fixture backlog caused by a harsh winter starts to clear, there can be no plans for the expected celebration. Some clubs face a hectic final six weeks to the season; Nelson - in the best position to catch FC if they win their seven games in hand - have to cram in 15 games. Only when they and fellow chasers start to work through those games will the picture become clear.
But the re-structuring of the non-league pyramid could also have a hastening effect. Depending on what happens in that shake-up, the Second Division could see three or four teams go up rather than the two stipulated at the start of the season.
FC United manager Karl Marginson admitted at the club's general meeting on Tuesday night that he has already given a thought to next season. Should his team clinch promotion, he aims to keep the same nucleus of players with just a tweak or two.
And he also hinted that he does not expect the same huge turnover of players that AFC Wimbledon experienced after starting up in 2002 and then gaining two promotions in three seasons.At the start of the season, Dons fans were warning their FC counterparts not to get too attached to individual players, as they would soon be replaced. Marginson disagrees.
"Some people have said that no one will recognise the team in three or four years and that is possible, but at least six or seven of our current players could play as high as Conference North level," he said.
"Oldham Town beat Alsager, who are top of the First Division, in the cup a couple of weeks ago, and last weekend they beat Salford City, also well up there.
"Other than Cammell Laird, who are an exceptional side, it's pretty much of a muchness from the top of the Second Division to the top of the First."
Cammell Laird raced to the Second Division title last season, losing just three matches, and will secure promotion again if they win all of their remaining games. FC are on course to emulate their tally of 87 points last season. Tweet
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1,600 crowd last night. Where were all of those loyal plastics? Could it be that Free Tread confused the travelling hordes with his ropey directions? Real answer they were watching Chelsea in the FA Cup on the box. Just as well I went to Oldham to boost the numbers.
malc you really need to get a life you sad little man every topic your there and low and behold your first here again is your life that meaningless that fc utd have taken over it to a point that you get up at the crack of dawn just to see what the att is at the match ? god the blueness is you shines out all the time 1600? i,d say there was more but for an a AWAY match mid week it aint a bad following as alot of prem teams don,t take that to an away matchmid week anyway only 3 more days for you to wait for your next fix of fc united ! god knows what your gonna be like in the close season i don,t think you,ll cope
Results elsewhere may well go in our favour. But its not over til its over and even if we do secure promotion with games left, I would still want our players to give a good account of themselves. Anything less would be to cheat the fans and other clubs in this division who maybe relying on our results. I am aware of the new step 4 division and the ripple effect through to NWCFL Div.2. This could well work in our favour, but the last I heard the Unibond League blocked the change as they argue that two new step 4 divisions should be created with a second that serves clubs in their remit. According to the Non-league paper the problem wasnt going to be resolved before the new season starts. Schizo Malcoom, aka the other free red. You really need to practice you famous bean counting. Human beans that is. Viva la revolution, come on FC.
I've been reading this post board for some time now, and I'm sick and tired of the two posters calling themselves Tommy and Malcolm. They've said everything they want to say, and we've got the message loud and clear. They don't have any interesting points to make. They just want to wind people up. Somebody said they are showing themselves up, and I think that's about right. I really think the best way to deal with them is not respond. Ignore them. It's no use arguing with them, because they'll never admit any valid point that anybody makes. Ignore them and frustrate them.
It's all relative, Malc. Oldham's average attendance last season was 37. They needed 1,000 to break even on the cost of hiring Boundary Park, and the 767 others who attended last night ensured they profited more from this one game than they did the whole of last season. So ner.
You know you love it! Malc
Malcolm, don't be too hard on the FC "faithful". (Ironic don't you think?) Free Tread was indeed more confusing with his directions this week though. Maybe the GPS needs new batteries. Or maybe they were waiting for the big "Ugly people in free" match that Andy has been promoting.
Oh, by the way, Schitzo Malc aka the other free red. I have you some more great news for you. Remember this. ??<sup>~</sup>Here's a little idea to make having to read these postings by Malcolm and Tommy a little bit easier. Suppose you Johnniejohn, and you Free Red, and you Eric the Red, and you Where's the Prosecution? and you BS Detector, and you Ragged Trousered Phil, and you Col, and you Red Rivs, and all the other posters; suppose you all pledge 50p for every post from Malcolm & Tommy, and that money goes to FC United's kitty. (If they send longer posts give a bigger amount.) That way, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that every piece of rubbish spouted by these two is in a good cause. The more they rabble on, the better off FC are. FC at heart, Moston 02/03/2006 at 12:06??<sup>TM</sup> Well you will be pleased to know you and you plastic freak friend from Tampa are up to 99. Whey hey, thats almost the cost of a Glazer ticket, programme, drink and soggy pie in plastic bag and its only taken you three week. Keep it up, your finally doing something useful.
Well Freddy, I might as well bid you Adu. The first and only logical argument I have heard from an FC Fan was from George in Swinton. He appears to be the one borrowing the brain for this season. The rest of you are just a bunch of followers and alledged former Manchester United fans. I would bet the Glazer boys have been to more MUFC matches in the past year than the lot of you have in your life. I find it strange that I don't like the Glazers personally, but they run one hell of a Football (gridiron) operation here in Tampa, despite the bad press they get over there. Now that the Bucs and MUFC are under one Red Football umbrella, full steam ahead because both will be Champions next season. None of you have accounting degrees and all of you believe the "spin" that you have been served. Did you get your vote in to keep the kits the same next season? GREAT!!! I see you have real control in this new pub team. Why was not one single board member up for election? Has anyone of you ever voted for Andy to be in charged? Nice democracy followers! Jokes on you.
Tommy it was just that after all the hype I was expecting the AGM to be a lot more interesting than it turned out and to follow that by the most inept football I have ever watched was taking the biscuit. I tell you what though after seeing this lot close to I actually think Luke Chadwick is good looking. Looks like free Tread is in denial again about his massive personal phantom BMA donation. The only word that seems to feature high on the FC agenda is donation.Money money money.
Good shout that FREE, get a few tins in the pubs around the ground. We could also keep posting the amount every other week to show Malc/Tommy..Whoever ,how much they are supporting us! These people who slate FCeee are only jealous and probably only started going to MU after the 1999 cup final!
Tommy, you are on record as saying that you post on here only to put the other side of the argument concerning the Glazers. Since when has it been necessary to use insults, offensive remarks and derisive, scornful language to do this? Do you think that you will be able to change people's opinions by insulting them? I don't think so.
Board elections are at the AGM in Sept, when the accounts have been audited, but hey why let the facts get in the way?
Tommy,
I am not an FC Utd fan but a Man Utd fan with a season ticket who hates Glazer and will not spend a penny more in Merchandise or extra cup games and friendlies like the upcoming Barca game. So I will make that clear once and for all. I do however sympathise with FC utd fans and understand the path they have taken. I have been to 2 FC matches and actually enjoyed myself when I went, and so, see nothing wrong with the set up at all. You could call me one of the floaters who won't be at the rainy -2 Deg C matches in midweek and I might just attend my next and final FC match of the season when they present the Trophy! what I can say though is, if the Glazers continue to hike season tickets to something like 25% extra in the next year or so, and dare make me pay for cup games like Barnet like the the new quadrant ST's then its.... cheerio Man Utd hello armchair and odd FC game! If Man Utd don't need or want me fair enough...I don't need them!. I will be happy enough to continue giving all my resources and attention to a club that actually appreciates and needs me. Swinton Lions RLFC!
Next up. NEW MILLS v. FC UNITED in the reverse NWCFL div.2. league fixture tomorrow the 25 March 2006.k.o. 3.00pm. The match will be played at Ewen Fields, home of Hyde United and of course the United reserves. Prices ??6 adults (??7 for seated areas) ??4 concessions. This will be an all ticket with no pay on the gate. Tickets available from Hyde Sports, 31 Clarendon Place, Hyde. Or, New Mills AFC, Church Lane, New Mills SK22 4NP 01663 747435 open Monday to Friday 6pm until 8pm. Or, Piccadilly Ticket Line, PO Box 4061 Manchester M60 1YT ??" 0161 832 1111. There is limited parking at Hyde Leisure Centre so you might have to park along Walker lane or the side roads. DIRECTIONS: From the M60 exit jct 24 and take the M67 for Mottram. Exit jct 3 and follow the signs for the A57 to Mottram (Mottram Road). Drive along Mottram rd for about half a mile and Lumn Rd will come up on your right. Turn onto Lumn Rd and drive for a further three quarters of a mile and Walker lane will come up on the left. Turn onto Walker lane and the ground is behind Hyde Leisure Centre. Viva la revolution, come on FC.
P.S. Bruce Willis, Under the board walk. A few tins in and around the ground is a good idea, but I disagree about the tampa twins only going to MU after the 1999 cup final. Tommy isnt a fan and both he and Malc watch TV.
Defector both Tommy and myself have regularly been insulted on here but you don't seem to notice it when the shoe is on the other foot. As Tommy has said George (and FCUM veg) are the only posters on here who have discussed sensibly the changes. The vote at the AGM is in essence consultative (much like the old supporter on the board schemes). The managers (the Board) have moved in and will run the club in the way they perceive to be the best interests of the club. hardly democratic though and why no relection of all appointees? The whole project is riddled with contradictions. I was amazed that there was o real healthy debate just a lot of posturing particulary from Walsh and the Board. Its just a power game.
Tommy. I'm a Fellow of the Institute of Management Accountants - will that do? As the great man says -
Don't criticise what you can't understand.
Sorry Free, i was going abit over board suggesting Malc might even venture down Sir Matt Busby Way. He obviously spouts his opinions from his armchair.
Bruce well I sure know where yours and fickle Freds opinions come from. Not so much BS as PS. Trickle Bean Counter comes from a long line of "I couldn't get a ticket for the game today" "fans". Which is why FCUM have to plead with real football fans to shift their kick off times to suit the armchair United fans. That way they can pretend to not be supporting Glazer. Oh and Management Accounts "the art" of telling people what they already know. I just the way the Chief Exec has such a handle on the numbers.
Breaking news. The Glazers are panicking. Thats right folks, the four stooges are starting to realise their aggressive plans, that looked so good through rose tinted glasses are crumbling in really. Never mind the OT ticket price hike, the corporates are snubbing their noses at the new hospitality boxes. The price of one has just dropped more than 20% to just over 205k. I recon if the same happens with new season tickets then the price is bound to go down. No customers = no profit and the end is nigh for Glazer. Bring on the receivers and then the club can finally be handed over to the true owners. The banks! Fancy buying a second hand club off the banks anyone?
Free Red, take off your darkened sunglasses and welcome to daylight. The real Reds are set for RECORD attendances with the EXPANSION of Old Trafford. And the money will go into the transfer kitty. Where oh where has little FC gone, oh where or where will they be . . . . Man Yoooo FC hoists the trophy and now the club is debt free . . . I'll be the first to welcome you bandwaggoner back onto the MUFC bus. Red Football till I die!!! (Ignorant FC fans: Red Football is the Buccaneer/MUFC corporation!!! Get aboard a winner!)
Being a united fan all my life i was really bitter when the glazers took over and to be truthful im still not happy.Most of my mates have started watching fc united and are always going on at me about going.the problem with me though is i love man united not the glazers and i would feel like im emigrating if i never went to o-t again.good luck to fc and it's great the loyal mancunian lads who are behind them but for me it's sticking with the united i have only ever known.
Free Red - Not sure what you intend by your argument, but Old Trafford is raising its capacity by vastly more seats than could fill the last 2-3 FC match crowds and have room to spare. United > FC runaways. Maybe they should start putting FC fans on the side of milk cartons to see if anyone has seen them. They claim not to be going to MUFC matches, yet the "supporters" don't seem to be attending FC matches either. Maybe they were not footie fans to begin with.
The Sky is Falling?? I hope not though, because Sky is the only way I watch real footie.