TRADE is booming for an Old Trafford shopkeeper as Manchester United fans snap up retro shirts in protest against the club’s American owners.

Angelo Agathanggelos sold more than 100 of the distinctive green and gold shirts in just two days to supporters planning to show their opposition to the Glazer family.

The protest, through the Red Issue website, urges fans to wear the green and gold shirts.

The colours haven’t been worn since the club changed its name from Newton Heath to Manchester United in 1902.

The owner of shop Red Star Sports said: "We are running out of the T-shirts very quickly. We sold 100 in about just two days.

"I think fans see the Newton Heath shirts as a way of showing their opposition to the Glazers’ rule."

Sales have gone through the roof this week after the idea to protest against the Glazers, who have increased the club’s debt since their takeover in 2005, was suggested by moderator of the unofficial United online fans’ forum Red Issue.

It is thought fans could start wearing the colours during the home match against Hull tomorrow.

The fans’ previous protest just after the takeover led to the formation of FC United, which is still going strong.

Angelo, who has been running the Chester Road shop for 18 years, is now hoping to keep up with demand by stocking up on distinctive scarves.

  • NEWTON Heath LYR, or ‘The Heathens’, was the name of Manchester United Football Club when it was first founded.

    The LYR stood for ‘Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway’ and was added to distinguish this club from Newton Heath Loco, who were part of the Motive Power Division of the company.

    The team was started in 1878 by the railway workers of the Carriage and Wagon department.

    The team played on a ground close to the railway yard in North Road.

    Here they played matches against other departments or other railway companies.

    Newton Heath played in shirts that were half gold and half green, and was run by the Dining Room Committee of the Carriage and Wagon Works.

    (From www.bbc.co.uk)