F.C. United of Manchester

F.C. United of Manchester

A circular badge with "Football Club United of Manchester" written in white capitals just inside the black circumference with a red trim. Inside is a yellow crest on a red background. The crest has a yellow ship with three sails on a white background, and three yellow stripes on a red background.
Full name	Football Club United of Manchester
Nickname(s)	F.C. United, FCUM, Red Rebels
Founded	2005
Ground	Gigg Lane Bury, Greater Manchester England
Capacity	11,840
Chairman	Andy Walsh
Manager	Karl Marginson
League	Northern Premier League Premier Division
2010–11	NPL Premier Division, 4th
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

F.C. United of Manchester is an English semi-professional football club based in Bury, Greater Manchester that plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. It was formed in 2005 by Manchester United supporters opposed to American businessman Malcolm Glazer's controversial takeover of the club. The supporters own the club and vote on how the club is run.

The club entered the North West Counties Football League Division Two in 2005, winning the league in their inaugural season. In their second season, they were crowned champions of North West Counties Football League Division One and were promoted to the Northern Premier League. The 2007–08 season saw them finish second in the Northern Premier League Division One North and gain promotion through the end of season play-offs. Since then they have played in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, reaching the play-off final in 2010–11. The club also reached the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup in the 2010–11 season. F.C. United has played at Gigg Lane since its formation in a ground-share with Bury. However, the club has applied for planning permission to build its own ground in north Manchester in time for the 2012–13 season. The team is managed by former professional football player Karl Marginson.

History

Main article: History of F.C. United of Manchester

Formation

F.C. United's first game was a friendly against Leigh RMI.

The club was founded in 2005 by supporters of Manchester United. Although they had various reasons for their dissatisfaction, the prime catalyst for F.C. United's formation was the 12 May 2005 hostile takeover of Manchester United by the American businessman Malcolm Glazer. After the name "F.C. United" was rejected by the Football Association for being too generic, all those who had pledged money to the club were asked to vote on a name. On 14 June 2005, it was announced that "F.C. United of Manchester" had been chosen, beating "A.F.C. Manchester 1878", "Manchester Central" and "Newton Heath United". "F.C. United" continues to be used as an abbreviated form of the club's name. Karl Marginson was appointed as the club's manager on 22 June 2005, and the club held trials for players on 26 June 2005. Just under 900 players applied to take part in the trials, of whom 200 were selected to do so and 17 were chosen to play for F.C. United. By 6 July 2005, over 4,000 people had pledged money to F.C. United and the club had over £100,000 in the bank.

During their formation, the owners of Leigh Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. asked F.C. United to take over their club, however United refused the takeover offer as they believed that taking over an existing club would be hypocritical, given that F.C. United was formed as a result of Manchester United's takeover. Instead, F.C. United's first game was a friendly match against Leigh RMI on 16 July 2005; the match ended 0–0.

North West Counties Football League

F.C. United were admitted to the second division of the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL), putting the club at level ten of the English football league system, nine levels below the Premier League. The club then arranged to play their home matches at Bury's stadium, Gigg Lane where the majority of their home league games have been played since. As the club was formed after the deadline for entering the FA Vase, they were not eligible to play in the competition during the 2005–06 season, although they were able to play in the North West Counties League Challenge Cup.

During their first season F.C. United consistently broke NWCFL attendance records, including an attendance of 6,032 during their final league match of the season, which is still an NWCFL record. At this game F.C. United were crowned league champions at home against Great Harwood Town on 22 April 2006. This secured their promotion to Division One.

After a successful season in the NWCFL Division One, F.C. United were promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One North on 7 April 2007 after beating Ramsbottom United. They were confirmed as champions on 18 April 2007 after beating Atherton Laburnum Rovers 7–1 at Gigg Lane. They also won the NWCFL's Challenge Cup, beating Curzon Ashton 2–1 in the final, becoming only the third side to complete the NWCFL league and cup double. They were eliminated from their first season in an FA competition (the FA Vase) at the Third Round stage by Quorn.

Northern Premier League Division One North

In the 2007–08 season F.C. United played in the inaugural year of the Northern Premier League Division One North. As a result of the eligibility rules for the FA Cup, they made their debut in this competition in the 2007–08 season and played away to Trafford in the Preliminary Qualifying Round on 2 September, winning the fixture 5–2. They were eliminated in the next round of the competition, losing 2–1 to Fleetwood Town. They advanced to the final of the 2007–08 President's Cup, in which they beat Radcliffe Borough 2–0 to pick up their fifth trophy in the three years since their formation. The club finished the season second in the league, trailing champions Bradford Park Avenue by just one point, and entered the play-offs for the other promotion place. After beating Bamber Bridge 3–2 in the semi-finals, F.C. United faced Skelmersdale United in the promotion play-off final on 3 May 2008, coming back from a goal down to win 4–1 and earn promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

F.C. United (in white) playing away against Mickleover Sports, October 2010

Northern Premier League Premier Division

In 2008–09 F.C. United were beaten in their second FA Cup campaign in the First Qualifying Round away at Nantwich Town. They were also knocked out of the FA Trophy by Boston United in the Third Qualifying Round. F.C. United narrowly missed out on a play-off place in their first year in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Before the final match of the season, they were level on points with Bradford Park Avenue and Kendal Town, with superior goal difference. When ten minutes remained in their match against Bradford, they would have secured a play-off place, but an equaliser for Bradford, and a winning goal for Kendal in their match granted Kendal the place instead.

In F.C. United's second season (2009–10) in the Northern Premier League Premier Division they finished 13th, their lowest league position in their first five seasons. In their third FA Cup campaign they lost 3–0 to Northwich Victoria in the Fourth Qualifying Round. They reached the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy but then went out to Harrogate Town.

In the 2010–11 season F.C. United achieved their best FA Cup campaign, recording victories over Radcliffe Borough, Gainsborough Trinity, Norton & Stockton Ancients and Barrow to reach the First Round Proper for the first time. There they beat League One side Rochdale 3–2 with a late winner from Mike Norton. In the Second Round Proper they played eventual 2010–11 League One champions Brighton & Hove Albion and forced a replay with a 1–1 draw. Brighton denied United a Third Round home tie against Portsmouth by winning the replay 4–0 at Gigg Lane, in front of F.C. United's highest home attendance of 6,731. Meanwhile in the league, poor form and postponed matches had seen them fall to 21st at the turn of the New Year; in the relegation zone. However, January saw F.C. United climb back up the table and from February they sustained an unbeaten run of 16 games which brought them up to 3rd place; in the play-off places. At the end of the season they secured 4th place, their highest ever placing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and secured a play-off semi-final tie against 3rd placed, Bradford Park Avenue, which F.C. United won 2–0 to book their place in the final against Colwyn Bay. In the final, they lost 1–0, denying them a place in the Conference North.

During FC United's 2011–12 season they reached the First Round of the FA Trophy for the first time after knocking out Frickley Athletic, Durham City and Altrincham. However, they failed to get to the Second Round as they were beaten 2–0 by Guiseley.

League and cup history

Season	League Contested	Level	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	League Position	Avg. Home Attendance1	FA Cup	FA Trophy	Leading scorer1
2005–06	North West Counties League Division Two	10	36	27	06	03	111	35	0+76	087	1st of 19 Promoted	3,056	n/a	n/a	Rory Patterson 18
2006–07	North West Counties League Division One	09	42	36	04	02	157	36	+121	112	1st of 22 Promoted	2,581	n/a	n/a	Stuart Rudd 38
2007–08	Northern Premier League Division One North	08	42	24	09	09	091	49	0+42	081	2nd of 18 Won playoffs Promoted	2,0862	1Q	Prelim Rd	Rory Patterson 34
2008–09	Northern Premier League Premier Division	07	42	21	09	12	082	58	0+24	072	6th of 22	2,152	1Q	3Q	Kyle Wilson 21
2009–10	Northern Premier League Premier Division	07	38	13	08	17	062	65	0-3	047	13th of 20	1,9543	4Q	3Q	Phil Marsh 10
2010–11	Northern Premier League Premier Division	07	42	024	04	14	076	53	0+23	076	4th of 22 Playoffs Runner-up	1,9614	R2	3Q	Michael Norton 24
2011–12	Northern Premier League Premier Division	07	35	019	07	9	072	44	+28	64	5th of 22	1,9325	2Q	R1	Matthew Wolfenden 16

¹: League games only
²: Includes games split between Gigg Lane, Bury (20 games, average 2,103) and Stainton Park, Radcliffe (1 game, 1,744)
³: Includes games split between Gigg Lane, Bury (18 games, average 1,971) and Ewen Fields, Hyde (1 game, 1,650)
⁴: Includes games split between Gigg Lane, Bury (15 games, average 2,089) and Bower Fold, Stalybridge (6 games, average 1,659)
⁵: Includes games split between Gigg Lane, Bury (12 games, average 2,024), Bower Fold, Stalybridge (3 games, average 1,564) and Tameside Stadium, Curzon Ashton (1 game 1,831)
Last Updated: 25 March 2012

Q = Qualifying Round; R = Round Proper; P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points;

Colours and badge

F.C. United of Manchester's badge is based on the coat of arms of the city of Manchester.

F.C. United's club colours are red, white and black—the same colours worn by Manchester United. However, the shirt bears no sponsorship logo, as it was written into the club's constitution that the club should not have a shirt sponsor. Despite this, the club is sponsored as a whole by mxData, a mobile application developer. The club's first kit was a plain red shirt, white shorts and plain black socks. The club introduced a new home shirt for the 2007–08 season with a striped collar and striped ends on the sleeves which lasted until 2009. This was changed for the 2009–11 seasons to a red shirt with a black and white stripe down the left side, manufactured by Admiral Sportswear. However, for seasons 2011–13 the club has reverted back to a plain red shirt, manufactured by O'Neills. The club's second kit, worn when playing away against a team with a predominantly red kit, is all white with a red trim, black shorts and white socks. The club also has an alternative plain blue kit for playing against a team with a red and white kit. In past seasons a white shirt with a diagonal black stripe has been used as the second kit.

The club's badge is red, white, black and yellow, and incorporates elements from the Manchester coat of arms: a ship representing Manchester's industry, and three stripes representing the three rivers that flow through Manchester.

F.C. United's first home kit (2005–07) F.C. United's second home kit (2007–09) The 2009–11 Admiral home kit F.C. United's first away kit (2005–08)

Stadium

Gigg Lane decorated with F.C. United flags and banners.

See also: Gigg Lane and Moston Community Stadium

Since the club's formation, F.C. United have not had their own home ground. Instead, they ground-share Gigg Lane with Bury F.C. However, as a result of some fixture clashes, F.C. United have had to use a further six stadiums for home fixtures; Altrincham's Moss Lane in 2005–06, Radcliffe Borough's Stainton Park in 2007–08, Hyde United's Ewen Fields in 2009–10, Stalybridge Celtic's Bower Fold in 2010–11 and 2011–12, and Curzon Ashton's Tameside Stadium in 2011–12. A Manchester Premier Cup tie at home to Flixton was switched to Flixton's Valley Road ground in 2008 making it technically F.C. United’s seventh home ground.

On 25 March 2010, the club announced plans to build their own 5,000-capacity football ground in Newton Heath, the original home of Manchester United. The development was planned to be located on the site of the current Ten Acres Lane sports centre and would have cost £3.5 million, to be financed by public donations, a Community Shares issue and grant funding. However, it was announced on 4 March 2011 that Manchester City Council had backed out from funding the stadium, but that they had pledged to help F.C. United build a stadium in a new location with reduced costs. On 5 April 2011 it was revealed that F.C. United were considering a new site in the Broadhurst Park area of Moston, Manchester. Detailed information about the new facility, including the tentative name Moston Community Stadium, was released on 9 June 2011. Manchester City Council approved the planning permission for the Moston site on 27 October 2011.

Supporters

As F.C. United is owned by its supporters, each member can vote on how the club is run, including: voting for board members; designs; and season ticket prices. Most F.C. United supporters still support Manchester United and many were previously season ticket holders at Old Trafford. F.C. United fans are known for the large range of songs that they sing at matches, and the atmosphere created by fans has been praised in the media. Supporters are also known to set off flares during big games.

During their first season (2005–06), F.C. United had the second-highest average attendance in English non-League football with an average gate of 3,059, and were the 87th best supported club across all divisions. Attendances fell in the next two seasons and they were the 92nd best supported club in 2006–07 and 100th best supported club by 2007–08. Their average league attendance has since levelled out at approximately 2,000 per game.

Organisation

F.C. United is an Industrial and provident society. Membership is obtained by paying an annual fee of £12 to the club (£3 for children), but each member receives only one share in the club and is entitled to a single vote at meetings, regardless of the amount donated. The board consists eleven members who are elected by the members of the club. The club has two full-time employee positions: Andy Walsh as chief executive and Lindsey Robertson as club secretary. Andy Walsh was heavily involved in the club's formation.

The club's manifesto includes the following core principles:

1. The Board will be democratically elected by its members
2. Decisions taken by the membership will be decided on a one member, one vote basis
3. The club will develop strong links with the local community and strive to be accessible to all, discriminating against none
4. The club will endeavour to make admission prices as affordable as possible, to as wide a constituency as possible
5. The club will encourage young, local participation—playing and supporting—whenever possible
6. The Board will strive wherever possible to avoid outright commercialism
7. The club will remain a non-profit organisation

The club accepts sponsorship but does not allow sponsors' logos to be displayed on the team's shirts. The club's main sponsor in its inaugural 2005–06 season was the Bhopal Medical Appeal and in season 2006–07 it was the Williams BMW Group. For the 2011–12 season, F.C. United is sponsored by mxData.

Future aspirations

Partway into their second season at their Annual General Meeting in November 2006, the club outlined aspirations for the next six years:

• winning promotion in three successive seasons to take them to Conference North by 2009
• reaching an average of 5,000 supporters per home game by 2009
• building their own 7,000–10,000 capacity stadium, as close to the centre of Greater Manchester as possible, by 2012
• developing their own training facilities by 2009
• starting a women's team for the 2007–08 season

Their aspirations have had mixed results. The club did achieve two successive promotions after the AGM, but have remained in the Northern Premier League Premier Division since 2008 missing out on their Conference North target. Rather than fulfilling the aim of 5,000 supporters per home game, crowds have declined in all but one of their seasons so far. Progress was being made on plans to develop their own stadium, until funding was cut in early 2011. After this setback, the club is pressing ahead with plans to build a stadium in the Moston area of north Manchester in time for the 2012–13 season. They have teamed up with The Manchester College for use of their training facilities and to operate a women's team since 2009.

Criticism

F.C. United and its founders have been both criticised and supported by fans of Manchester United and the media, with some fans viewing those who chose to leave to follow F.C. United as "traitors". Notably, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned the loyalty of fans who decided to form the club and the motivation behind the forming of F.C. United in a 2006 book:

I'm sorry about that. It is a bit sad that part, but I wonder just how big a United supporter they are. They seem to me to be promoting or projecting themselves a wee bit rather than saying, "at the end of the day the club have made a decision, we'll stick by them. It's more about them than us.

— Sir Alex Ferguson, The Official Manchester United Diary of the Season (2006)

Players

First team squad

F.C. United players thanking fans for their support.

As of 7 March 2012.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	ENG	Andrew Farrimond
—	GK	ENG	James Spencer
—	DF	ENG	Paul Armstrong
—	DF	ENG	Richard Battersby
—	DF	ENG	Kyle Jacobs
—	DF	ENG	Adam Jones
—	DF	ENG	Karl Munroe
—	DF	ENG	Lee Neville
—	DF	ENG	Dean Stott
—	DF	ENG	Danny Warrender
—	MF	ENG	Scott Cheetham
—	MF	ENG	Jake Cottrell

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	ENG	Daniel Grimshaw
—	MF	ENG	Sam Howell
—	MF	ENG	Stephen Johnson
—	MF	ENG	Nick Platt
—	MF	ENG	Greg Stones
—	FW	ENG	Matthew Boland
—	FW	ENG	Theo Kidd
—	FW	ENG	Astley Mulholland
—	FW	ENG	Mike Norton (captain)
—	FW	ENG	Carlos Roca
—	FW	ENG	Jay Walcott
—	FW	ENG	Matthew Wolfenden

Former players

See Category:F.C. United of Manchester players to see a list of F.C. United players, past and present.

International representation

In the short time since F.C. United were formed, they have already assisted in providing players on the international football scene. The efforts of F.C. United’s all-time record goal-scorer Rory Patterson attracted the attention of several professional clubs, and the striker has gone on to play and score for Northern Ireland at senior level. F.C. United's youth team have also been represented in the England Schoolboys squad by Scott Cheetham.

First team coaching staff

Karl Marginson has been the manager of F.C. United since its formation

The club's coaching staff are as follows:

Name	Role
Karl Marginson	Manager
Roy Soule	Assistant manager
Darren Lyons	Head of Player Development
Chuks Akuneto	First team coach
Paul Chapman	Kit-man
John Marsden	Kit-man
Mike Norton	Kit-man
Mark Cooney	Physiotherapist
Sam Rhoades	Physiotherapist

Honours

F.C. United have won two league titles and two league cups in their short history.

• Northern Premier League Premier Division
  • Playoff runners-up 2010–11
• Northern Premier League Division One North
  • Runners-up 2007–08
  • Playoff winners 2007–08

F.C. United were crowned champions of the North West Counties Football League Division Two in their inaugural season (2005–06).

• Northern Premier League President's Cup
  • Winners 2007–08
• North West Counties League Division One
  • Champions 2006–07
• North West Counties League Challenge Cup
  • Winners 2006–07
• North West Counties League Division Two
  • Champions 2005–06
• Supporters Direct Cup
  • Winners 2006
  • Runners-up 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011
• Jimmy Davis Memorial Cup
  • Winners 2007

Awards

The club as a whole has won awards for its supporter-run model:

• Co-operative Excellence Award
  • Winners 2009
• Non-league Club of the Year
  • Winners 2006
• BBC North West Sports Awards
  • Newcomer of the year 2006

Records

Team records

Records for the team as a whole:

• Record league victory:
  • 10–2 v Castleton Gabriels, 10 December 2005
• Record win margin: 8 goals:
  • vs. Castleton Gabriels, 10 December 2005
  • vs. Squires Gate, 14 October 2006
  • vs. Glossop North End, 28 October 2006
  • vs. Nelson, 4 April 2007
• Record league defeat 4 goals:
  • 1–5 vs. Bradford Park Avenue, 24 March 2010
  • 1–5 vs. Matlock Town, 5 September 2010
• Record home attendance:
  • 6,731 at Gigg Lane, Bury – vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, (FA Cup Second Round), 8 December 2010
• Worst home attendance:
  • 756 at Gigg Lane, Bury – vs. Lancaster City (FA Trophy), 4 November 2009
• Longest unbeaten league run:
  • 22 games, 3 December 2006 to 18 August 2007
• Most league games won in a row:
  • 13, 29 April – 30 September 2006 (last game of 2005–06 season and first 12 games of 2006–07 season)
• Most league games lost in a row:
  • 4 (twice), 7–21 April 2010; 30 August 2010 to 18 September 2010
• Most league games without a win:
  • 8, 24 March – 21 April 2010 (2 draws and 6 defeats)
• Best league performance:
  • 4th Northern Premier League Premier Division (level 7) 2010–11
• Best FA Cup performance:
  • Second Round Proper 2010–11
• Best FA Trophy performance:
  • First Round Proper 2011–12

Individual records

Rory Patterson is F.C. United's all time highest goal-scorer with 86 league goals.

All records correct as of the 2011–12 season, league matches only:

• Most league appearances:
  • 203 – Simon Carden
• Most league goals:
  • 86 – Rory Patterson
• Most red cards in F.C. United career:
  • 4 – Ben Deegan
• Most yellow cards in F.C. United career:
  • 34 – Jerome Wright
• Most goals scored in a match:
  • 5 – Simon Carden v Castleton Gabriels, 10 December 2005

See also

• List of fan-owned sports teams
• AFC Wimbledon
• AFC Liverpool

References

Bibliography

• Beard, Michael (2007). F.C. United of Manchester – An Unofficial Guide to the North West County Years. Authors Online Ltd. ISBN 978-0755203048.
• Brady, Robert (2006). An Undividable Glow – The story of FCUM's first season. Robert Brady. ISBN 978-0955362002.
• Brown, Adam; Walsh, Andy (1999). Not for Sale!: Manchester United, Murdoch and the Defeat of BSkyB. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1840182613.
• Crick, Michael (2003). The Boss: The Many Sides of Alex Ferguson. Pocket Books. ISBN 0-7434-2991-5.
• Crowther, Pete (2006). Our Club Our Rules. ISBN 978-1-84753-452-1.
• Wood, Steven (2008). Trips on Glue – F.C. United NPL Div 1 North 2007/08. Trips on Glue. ISBN 978-0955952203.

Other references

• F.C. United of Manchester Yearbook 2005–06
• F.C. United of Manchester Official Match Programme, volume 1, issues 1, 7
• Under The Boardwalk (F.C. United fanzine), issue 3 (October 2005)
• Conn, David (9 May 2007). "F.C. United rise and shine on a sense of community". Guardian Unlimited. London. Retrieved 9 May 2007.
• Fifield, Dominic (14 January 2006). "Rebel FC". Guardian Unlimited. London. Retrieved 14 January 2006.
• Howard, Tony (3 November 2005). "Whether we're 'splitters' or 'scabs' we are all United". Guardian Unlimited. London. Retrieved 3 November 2005.

External links

• Official website