I wanted to write this letter to say how proud and how delighted I was last night when we beat Cheadle.
This was my first match {it won't be my last} and like in the past I had butterflies especially in the first half when I thought Cheadle were the better team.
I knew that in the second half we would come through and win because of the fitness and power we had.
But there was a couple of things I would like to point out
1. Every player clapped the fans when they came out and when they went in [Brilliant} especially when they came out}
2. I thought it would take me a few games to get in to it and feel like a FC supporter, but with in 5 minutes I was more passionate than I have ever been when I have been to watch Man Utd.
I am proud to be a season ticket holder and a founder member.
I just hope as we get more success we don't put up the prices and people start getting greedy.
Keep up the good work
Fantastic
Marc Dean
My first ever game was utd v Leicester April 9th 1966 my eighth birthday dragged along unwanted by my elder brother. We lost 2-1 and my brother cited my attendance as the factor for this misfortune which I believe ended a 36match un beaten home run. During the next decades 60s, 70s and 80s I spent my youth and twice married life following utd through mainly thin but vividly wonderful times. It was a passion once best described when celebrating a Mark Hughes 3rd round cup winning goal in Sheepsville. As my friend and I hugged in that way only two men can do at a footy game I said "This is better than sex" to which my mate replied "Yes and it lasts longer"
Sadly when true success came in the nineties so did the CSA (Child Support Agency) and the Johnny Come latelys. Unable to afford tickets every week and with supply and demand taking over it became increasingly harder to watch MY team. I did still manage to get to Rotters for the ECWC on a false identity and borrowed passport plus some fantastic semis and cup finals but the days of turning up ad hoc were truly gone. Another sad facade was whilst on a rare away trip to Southampton early nineties on hearing the "Do you come from Manchester?" grunt from the home end only me and my sad mate responded. There was probably one or two more but the sad fact was and still is that any twat can get into OT providing you have a SW postcode or are well tilled to say the least.
I still managed to get in now and again through some connected pals but the truth was that the place was not the same anymore and sitting down with polite but not loud clapping was the order of the day.
My heart yearned for something else but what was the answer. I still loved United so much that there was no other possible substitute. I resigned myself to watching Sky coverage, the very odd blag into OT and re creating my own Man U on Pro evo soccer. Sad twat.
Then when this summer came and the inevitable take over took place I didn’t feel anything at all. Even divs trying to wind me up had no effect, and the protests by the shareholders united had me shaking my head thinking what’s the point. I had long ago given up but thank fuck these boys hadn’t. Even though they lost the fight the battle has carried on with the forming of FC. And so with much anticipation and a feeling again not remembered for many a year my 17yr old son and me made our way to the game at Gigg v Norton another Midlands team like Leicester City and with the same shite result.
But I have found what I have been looking for at last, true fans with a passion to watch football and have a dream of what may be one day without the hassle of wondering who’s going to come and nick your club, or some southern Jessie will have your spot at the ground for ever. Well for the time being at least.
In between I took my son and his younger 8 year old brother to OT for the Benfica game which cost around 75 quid! We then all three went to the Oldham Town game last night all in for 11 quid. A far better game with two ton more of atmosphere and even my eight year old said it was a better game for the craic.
Like everyone else I still love utd and always will but they have moved on to another dimension I cannot follow or comprehend. I am an FC man and hope I can live long enough for one last sex session in Sharpsville on a cup winning night. Phillip MACK

Saturday was my first game of the season, in any form. I’ve been ill you see. Hospital, the full works. I’ve been watching MUFC on the box , being fully aware that my rabid passion for the team has been somewhat diminished.
Finally feeling up to it my mates took me along to FC. They, like me could not stomach handing money over to that ruiner of souls, Malcolm Glazer. Could FC bring back that bit of football passion? Even though I’d pledged money, way back, for the foundation of FC United I wasn’t sure that it’d be for me.
First thoughts were that I was watching someone else’s team, that I was just a visitor. This may have been due to the fact that I’m not yet strong enough to fully participate; I’m normally a singer and a shouter. Maybe I’d have felt different if I could have gone in the Manny Road End, the craic looked good in there.
The football, at times was promising but FC lacked the final ball from some decent positions. We took the lead with our second penalty, I cheered but I didn’t yet really feel it.
The weird thing was that once Norton had equalised I started to REALLY want FC United to score, it started to matter. Luck was out however and instead of cheering the winning goal I had hoped for Norton scored again on the break. We’d lost 2-1.
So, did I find my passion for football again at FC United? Fully blown passion….perhaps not. Will I be coming back? Hell YES. I want to explore the feelings I had in the last ten minutes when we were chasing the game, the antagonism I felt towards Norton’s No.11 for larging it for their goals (how did he not get booked?) PRAT. Experience the atmosphere again and maybe see something as funny as Andy Walsh selling programmes after the game and a few reprobates jokingly singing ‘sack the board’ AND to prove to my mates that I’m not a jinx.
Fully blown passion….not yet, but maybe the birth of something that could turn into the real thing.
Lee

And so it came to pass.
What started in August 1976 (a 2-2 draw against Birmingham) ended on
September 10th 2005 - fittingly with the Manchester derby. I have given up
my season ticket, I will not be following Manchester United. Instead, I
will go and watch FC United Of Manchester on a regular basis.
On Saturday, Joey Barton tapped in from a few yards to equalise and the Blue
corner went crazy. Reds around me ranted and raved - and I felt absolutely
nothing. Deep in my heart, I felt nothing. I have stopped caring and it is
time to move on.
The decision is a big one, but makes me feel like weight has been lifted. I
have not enjoyed watching United, or being associated with what United stand
for over the last 5 years. I have no connection with the club or the
players, in a way that I used to. And in the last 18 months, they have
become dull and one-dimensional - obsessed with 4-3-3 and then hoping Rooney or Ronaldo can sprinkle some magic dust. I don't hate the club (I am not
really bothered that rich Irish people and a couple of investment banks have
sold their shares to rich American people), but I have no connection.
Amongst many things, I cannot relate to Rio Ferdinand, who is banned for 8 months and the haggles an extra £20K a week "image rights" on top of his £100K week salary. What image is that, then? Part of my United heart was lost when Eric Cantona left, one of my great sporting heroes who understood the power of the bond with the fans - and left partly because United had tried to milk him dry through the medium of MUTV. In truth, I am bored by the Premiership, and Abramovich, and the 'unloved' Gerrard, and the only interesting bit being the last-day relegation battle.
I also have a young son, and any time spent away form him needs to be
enjoyable and worthwhile - and United has been neither of these things. The
best 3 matches I have seen recently have been the only 3 I have seen at FC
United. I have had a great time with MUFC (including 8 championships and
nine FA Cups) and have a death-bed memory of being there that night in
Barcelona. (In truth, I knew in Barcelona airport whilst we waited for the
delayed plane, that I would never experience another MUFC moment like it)
And so, I will look for United's scores and may watch them if they are on TV
(in my non-Sky TV world). But if anyone asks - I support FC United of
Manchester - a team so small, as to not trouble your world at all.
On Saturday morning, the morning of the Derby, I got a package delivered by
the postman. It was my brand new FC United shirt - one of the first batch
ever produced. It cost £20-odd quid and the material is cheap and nasty.
It contains no sponsors names and just has the club badge on it.
I tried it on and it fit me perfectly.

John Freeman, 2005