FC United. Who ? What ? Why ? How ?

[SALFORD RED]

Had quite a few United supporters asking questions about FCUM
so thought i would copy/paste this to give people some answers.

FC United of Manchester
Find out about FC United of Manchester, their manifesto and their place in footballing history.

Fact File
Name: FC United of Manchester
Address: Gigg Lane, Bury, Lancashire
League: Northern Premier League

FC United of Manchester is a football club founded by disaffected, disenfranchised and priced out Manchester United supporters. Our aim is to create a sustainable club for the long term which is owned and democratically run by its members, which is accessible to all the communities of Manchester and one in which they can participate fully.

Although driven by very different circumstances, FC United of Manchester takes as its inspiration a number of supporters' groups who have gone down this route, including AFC Wimbledon, who have offered unstinting support.

FC United of Manchester is intended to create a football club which addresses the concerns which many Manchester United fans have had over the last decade or more with how the club and football have developed, culminating in the club's takeover by Malcolm Glazer. We will follow the best traditions of Manchester United's past by developing policies which encourage youth participation in terms of both playing and supporting.

FC United of Manchester has be formed as a member-owned, democratic, and non-profit making entity on the Industrial and Provident Society company model. The EGM will focus on the election of a board of directors by the members, and the direction of the club over the coming seasons.

We have ambitious and long term plans. Above all we want to be seen as a good example of how a club can be run in the interests of its members and be of benefit to its local communities. However, we are a new club and will require patience in order to reach our goals. With the help of all our members and supporters we are confident we can achieve them.

Seven core principles of how the club operate are set out below, and agreed by the membership, will be protected by all elected Board members:

The Board will be democratically elected by its members.

Decisions taken by the membership will be decided on a one member, one vote basis.

The club will develop strong links with the local community and strive to be accessible to all, discriminating against none.

The club will endeavour to make admission prices as affordable as possible, to as wide a constituency as possible.

The club will encourage young, local participation - playing and supporting - whenever possible.

The Board will strive wherever possible to avoid outright commercialism.

The club will remain a non-profit organisation.

.................................................. .................................................. .......................

FC United of Manchester board member Russell Delaney passed
away this month( november 2005) after suffering a long illness. Russell was a fighter.
A quietly spoken man of great humility Russell spent the last few
months of his life campaigning against Malcolm Glazer’s takeover
of Manchester United and helping establish FC United. Shortness
of breath and a dependence on an oxygen bottle did not stop
him travelling up to Manchester two or three times a week for
FC United steering committee meetings.
A qualified Independent Financial Advisor with extensive contacts
throughout football, Russell was a key advisor to supporters who
campaigned first against Rupert Murdoch and then Malcolm
Glazer. His insights into the complex detail of the financing of
Glazer’s takeover gave fans a greater understanding of the threat
that Glazer posed. When Glazer succeeded in gaining control of
United, Russell threw himself into establishing FC United. He
steered the applications to the FA and the North West Counties
League and worked closely with Supporters Direct to draw up
the Industrial and Provident Society rules under which we now
operate.
Russell collapsed at the Supporters Direct Conference and was
rushed to hospital with pneumonia. Confinement to a hospital
ward did not stop Russell carrying on his work for the club; as he
issued instructions via his mobile phone his fellow patients
complained that he was turning the ward into an office!
He ultimately lost his fight against lung
disease but his determination, meticulous
attention to detail and clear thinking
ensured that FC United became a reality.
He will be greatly missed by all those who
knew, him especially his two daughters and
family. United fans have lost a champion,
but like a true champion his memory and his legacy will live on.
Russell never gave in and remained cheerful and upbeat to the
end.Those of us who knew him are privileged as he leaves us all
the richer for the experience. So if anyone ever tells you that a
situation is desperate and there is nothing that can be done,
make sure you tell them about Russell Delaney.

Andy Walsh, FC United
.

[Zenitka]

Interesting...thanks.

Just adding this. Hope you dont mind Zenitka ( thanks ).


Open top bus parade for FC United heroes

Marc Higginson
April 27 2006
This is Lancashire

WHEN a group of disgruntled Manchester United fans decided enough was enough and set about forming a club for the fans, they wouldn't in their wildest dreams have predicted the scenes in Bury less than 12 months later.

On Saturday, however, 6,023 fans watched their FC United heroes pick up the Moore and Co Construction Solicitors North West Counties League Division Two Trophy in their inaugural season before lining the roads around Gigg Lane as the players were driven around the area in an open top bus.

It is a very long time since Bury has witnessed an occasion as big as this, and the impact FC United has had on the town of Bury cannot be underestimated.

Before the game against Great Harwood Town, a sea of red and white descended on Gigg Lane men and women, young and old to witness a slice of footballing history.

FC United appears to be a club that appeals to everybody. The carnival atmosphere is something that can only be generated by such a diverse fan-base.

Shops, pubs and chippies around Bury were all packed as supporters fuelled themselves for a day to remember.

The club's supporters have also been a lifeline for fellow teams in their league, with some clubs estimating that they have paid for three years' running costs through hosting FC United for one game.

Children were waving flags, men were singing their hearts out and the elderly ambled along with a visible spring in their step. This is how you imagine football used to be like before working class families were priced out of the game.

Kids under the age of 18 were admitted free, as the FC United board aimed to reach out to the fans of the future. The gates were thrown open to children who might not normally get to see a game of soccer, something unthinkable in the money-driven game that is professional football.

The kick-off was delayed because of crowd congestion, not a regular occurrence in football games at this level. But, the fans waited patiently for the players, the noise getting ever more deafening.

To a fan, everybody had club colours, whether it was a scarf or T-shirt. There was three stands open and very few spare seats left by the kick-off.

The FC United team was welcomed onto the pitch through a guard of honour formed by non-playing members of the squad and management team.

The game itself, ironically given the team's strong performances all season, failed to live up to the occasion as Great Harwood ended up 1-0 winners.

So the match became something of a sideshow as the United supporters enjoyed singing in the sunshine. They were even helped along by the brass band that provided the half-time entertainment.

The disappointment at losing was soon forgotten when skipper Dave Chadwick lifted the league trophy to scenes of jubilation in the stands.

And, that one moment is something that will live long in the memory of the captain, a self-confessed Manchester City fan!

"I was like a little child on Saturday morning and, to be honest, I just wanted the game to be over so I could lift that title," said Chadwick.

"Words cannot describe how I felt and it is something I could never have expected this time last season when I was delighted to be playing in front of 300 fans with my old club Prescot.

"Then, it was even scarier on the open top bus ride. I didn't know what to expect, but there were hundreds of supporters around the bus when we came out of the ground. I was gob-smacked, and every corner that we turned there seemed to be more fans. I just stood there staring. I got some video footage on my phone, but it is something I will never forget."

And, the big centre-half admitted the sheer size of FC United's fan-base took some getting used to.

"There is so much expectation and you go out wanting to put on a good show every week," admitted Chadwick.

"It did take some time to get used to the noise, because it can be deafening sometimes. It's very hard to communicate with other players on the pitch when you are playing in front of such a large crowd.

"It does work in our favour too though. I know a couple of lads who play for Ashton Town and they admitted that they couldn't sleep in the week running up to the game against us. That is the effect it can have on people. Some players at this level struggle to perform in front of such high crowds, but others raise their game because it's their cup final."

Despite being a City fan all his life, the captain also admits that playing for a team in red wasn't an issue.

"I knew Karl (Marginson, the manager) from one of my previous clubs, and when he rang me and asked me to come and skipper the club I didn't think twice," said Chadwick. Word soon got around that I was a City fan, but that wasn't a factor when I decided to join the club. I get some friendly stick about it all, but that's all part of the game. Just to be playing in front of so many fans every week is something I had to grab with both hands."

It's not all about 90 minutes every week, though. The club is becoming more and more active in the community and the players took to the pitch for the title presentation sporting T-shirts with the name of founder member Russell Delaney, who died in November after a long illness, aged 47.

Another founder member, press officer Jules Spencer reckons building relations off the pitch is as important as success on the pitch over the next year, and believes Bury provides key foundations for helping to do this.

Before Saturday's game, club bosses announced that they have agreed a deal with Bury to ground-share for the next three seasons.

"We want to increase our community work and reach out to everyone in the Manchester and Bury area," said Spencer.

"We are keen to keep encouraging children and playing our football at Gigg Lane allows us to fulfil many of our aims.

"When we decided to play our football at Bury, some eyebrows were raised. However, it was justified on Saturday when we had scope to let kids in for free. We wouldn't have been able to do something like that if we were playing at a non-league ground.

"The supporters have really taken Bury to heart and the atmosphere that we can generate there is something very special.

"I think the fans realise that we are providing cheap, affordable football for all the family and Bury is quite easy to get to from Manchester anyway. It is only 20 minutes away from Manchester on the tram after all."

Probably the biggest catalyst for success on the pitch has been manager Marginson. The former Radcliffe Boro midfielder sells fruit and veg by day, but come the weekend he has moulded FC United's talented individuals into a team.

United has had the luxury of bringing in some top-notch non-league stars, but moulding a successful unit is a test many a manager has failed in the past.

"I am pleased with the way things have gone and how quickly everyone settled down to winning matches," said Marginson.

"It is great to win the league and I'm extremely proud of the achievement. I have old men and little kids coming up to me in the street and thanking me, and I cannot begin to explain how great a feeling that gives me.

"However, there is always room for improvement and I have identified what we need for next season already. I think we have a good nucleus anyway, but we can strengthen in some areas. I know what is needed from playing at that level, and I will just continue to do my best."

Secretary of the league Geoff Wilkinson said: "FC United is unique because of the way it was formed. Most clubs start with players, then get the fans. FC United had the fans, then got the players.

"However, every team comes to a crossroads and the proof in the pudding comes with their ability to maintain and continue playing football when they are not winning things. No club wins everything, just look at the Premier League. However, they have raised the profile of non-league football and other clubs in the league have certainly benefited from their presence."

FC United are going up, and growing up!

.

[SALFORD RED]

Fan Base
This week FC United fan Vinny Thompson

Success of a fan-led club

NonLeague Today

26.10.2008

FC UNITED are very special to all of us involved with the football club. The whole concept is a new way forward in football, a club which is supporter led, and democratically owned by the supporters.

It is a way for the man in the street to gain access into sport, to take decisions within a club and what's more, it has been a success. None of us came into this with any expertise of running a football club.

Living in Tameside, my only involvement in NonLeaque was to go and watch a few games, but since FC United came into existence, everyone had grown with the club.

An important aspect of FC United is the commitment to the community.

In fact our constitution states that FC United must be "accessible and of benefit to all communities of Greater Manchester."

That commitment is demonstrated by us having 300 volunteers working with local groups.

In a couple of week's time I’ll be organising a tournament for kids from care homes from all the North West.

In a scheme being supported by the Co-op, we will be working with refugee groups.

There will also be a tournament for four local mosques who have formed their own teams.

We hold inclusion days when under 18s are allowed into games for free.
This will ensure that kids from areas where they have never seen live sport will be able to watch a game.

People from most areas within our communities would come and support football if only we reached out to them.

As you know we have big support, and they do like to make a lot of noise. We call them the 90/90 fans.

That is 90 per cent of the fans sing for 90 minutes. But we still respect our NonLeague roots and enjoy the great camaraderie among NonLeaque supporters.

When we started off In the North West Counties a few short years ago we took big crowds to other grounds and that has continued as we moved up the Pyramid.

The banter and rapport with opposition fans in clubhouses and local pubs is great. That is something which is special to NonLeague

.

[salutetheking]

good luck fcum hope one day to see them in the league the fan base will grow as the sucess does as is the facts of life