For those in the dark and unaware of the story of FC United they were formed as a breakaway by Manchester United fans sickened of what was happening to their club after the takeover by the Glazer family in 2005 on the principle that it would be and remain a fan owned club,well in 10 short years they have moved from the North West Counties League Division 2 to the brink of the Vanamerama Conference North and in the process funded the building of their own stadium where hopefully they will finish off their season this year
Now anyone who knows me will be well aware that to say that Manchester United are a long way from being my favourite club and that some of their supporters epitomise all that is wrong with football at the top levels so it was with mild trepidation that I waited to see what the breakaway was like,well they couldn't have been more different.
Being at the match yesterday was like being at the matches I used to watch in my youth with opposing fans sitting next to each other non stop chanting the vast majority of which was unoffensive and the applauding of good play even if by the opposition
What really made the day and epitomised what is so good about this level of football came at the end of the game, United fans obviously happy at their sides 1-0 win but Halesowen fans cheering their side off the pitch after a fine battling performance,as we see in the Bundesliga both sets of players applauding the fans befoire leaving the pitch and on my way out fans of each side shaking hands ,hugging and wishing each other all the best for the remainder of the season
And in case you think this was a match with a few hundred there the attendance was over 1400 behaving impeccably and enjoying the game as it should be done
Nice blog! We had a great day out at Halesowen, decent beer in the Yeltz Bar. Friendly supporters before and after the game, vociferous during. A perfect footballing day.
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