F.C. United of Manchester

Not to be confused with Manchester United F.C..

For a statistical breakdown by season, see List of F.C. United of Manchester seasons.

F.C. United of Manchester

Full name	Football Club United of Manchester
Nickname(s)	F.C. United Red Rebels The Reds
Short name	FCUM
Founded	2005
Ground	Broadhurst Park
Ground Capacity	4,400
General Manager	Andy Walsh
Manager	Karl Marginson
League	National League North
2014–15	Northern Premier League Premier Division, 1st (promoted)
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours Third colours

F.C. United of Manchester is a semi-professional football club based in Broadhurst Park in Moston, Manchester, England. The club currently play in the National League North, the sixth tier in English football. F.C. United were formed in 2005 by Manchester United supporters opposed to American businessman Malcolm Glazer's controversial takeover, and are owned and democratically run by their supporters as a co-operative.

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 champions of the North West Counties Football League Division One and were promoted to the Northern Premier League. In the 2007–08 season, they finished second in the Northern Premier League Division One North and gained promotion through the end of season play-offs. The club was promoted to the National League North in 2015 after winning the Northern Premier League Premier Division title. The club also reached the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup in the 2010–11 season and the Fourth Round of the FA Trophy in the 2014–15 season.

The club shared Gigg Lane with Bury until 2014 and in the 2014–15 season Bower Fold and the Tameside Stadium with Stalybridge Celtic and Curzon Ashton respectively. The club's own ground, Broadhurst Park in North Manchester, opened in May 2015 ready for the 2015–16 season. The team has been managed by former professional footballer Karl Marginson since its formation.

History

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

Formation

See also: Glazer ownership of Manchester United

F.C. United's first game was a friendly against Leigh RMI in 2005.

The club was founded in 2005 by disenfranchised 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 RMI asked F.C. United to take over their club, but 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 F.C. 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. In the league, F.C. United qualified for the end of season play-offs, despite finishing 6th, due to the demotion of Northwich Victoria for the breaching of financial rules. They beat Chorley 2–0 in the play-off semi-final to qualify for consecutive play-off finals. In the final, F.C. United lost 1–0 to Bradford Park Avenue in the penultimate minute of extra time.

F.C. United finished third in the 2012–13 season to book a place in the play-offs for a third successive year. They defeated Witton Albion 3–1 in the semi-final, but lost 2–1 to Hednesford Town in the final. The following season, the club finished second but lost in the play-offs in the semi-finals.

F.C. United began the 2014–15 campaign with only 12 points from their first eight matches, putting them mid-table. However, a streak of 21 games without a loss from December to April, including 16 victories, saw F.C. United with a five-point lead at the top of the table. The club also had its most successful run in the FA Trophy, eventually losing 1–0 to Torquay United in the Fourth Round. On 21 April 2015, F.C. United beat Stourbridge 1–0 to confirm their 2014–15 Northern Premier League champions title.

National League North

F.C. United are playing the 2015–16 season in their new home at Broadhurst Park in the National League North following promotion from the Northern Premier League Premier Division. F.C. United recorded their first victory in the National League North in a 3–2 home win over Brackley Town on 22 August, which was also the club's first competitive victory at Broadhurst Park. On 24 October, for the second time in their history, the club secured a place in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup with a 3–1 away win over Midland Football League Premier Division member Sporting Khalsa. On 9 November, F.C. United were knocked-out of the competition with a 1–4 loss against League One side Chesterfield.

Colours and badge

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

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 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 a white shirt with a red diagonal sash, with white shorts and 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 and white shirt with a red trim, black shorts and white socks have been used as the second kits.

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

Stadium

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

See also: Gigg Lane and Broadhurst Park

F.C. United play at the 4,400 capacity Broadhurst Park, which opened in May 2015. The ground was built at a cost of £6.5 million, using £2 million from a Community Share Scheme and the remainder from a variety of governmental and charity grants. The ground is surrounded on all sides by covered stands: the St. Mary's Road End (east), the North Stand, the Lightbowne Road End (west), and the Main Stand (south), the latter of which has seating sections. Within the Main Stand is a clubhouse with a bar and catering facilities, club offices, changing rooms, a medical suite, and a classroom. It is shared by local junior team, Moston Juniors F.C.

From their foundation in 2005 until 2014, F.C. United were based at Bury F.C.'s Gigg Lane stadium. F.C. United' first proposed stadium was announced in 2010 for Newton Heath, the original home of Manchester United. The development was planned to be located on the site of the 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 a year later, in March 2011, Manchester City Council backed out from funding the stadium. The Broadhurst Park site in Moston, Manchester, was announced in April 2011. Detailed information about the new facility was released in June 2011 and Manchester City Council approved the planning permission for the Moston site on 27 October 2011. F.C. United had to overcome some obstacles including funding agreements, contractor and lease negotiations and a legal challenge from local residents which caused a further two-year delay before building commenced in November 2013.

During their time at Bury, fixture clashes meant that F.C. United used a further six stadia for home fixtures: Altrincham's Moss Lane; Radcliffe Borough's Stainton Park; Hyde United's Ewen Fields; Stalybridge Celtic's Bower Fold; and Curzon Ashton's Tameside Stadium.

For the 2014–15 season, F.C. United ended their groundsharing agreement with Bury after nine seasons in preparation for their move to Broadhurst Park. With the ground not ready at the start of the season, they began with Bower Fold as a temporary home. Delays with Broadhurst Park meant that F.C. United were unable to move in until May 2015, and following fixture clashes with Stalybridge Celtic the club moved in December 2014 to the Tameside Stadium for the remainder of the season. F.C. United hosted a test event at Broadhurst Park on 16 May 2015, staging a short match between their first team and an Invitational XI made up of past players. The official opening game was a friendly against Benfica B on 29 May, the anniversary of Manchester United's victory over Benfica in the 1968 European Cup Final. Benfica won the opening game 0–1 in front of a crowd of 4,232.

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; kit 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.

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 then levelled out at approximately 2,000 per game, before rising to an average of 2,155 in 2014–15, the then-seventh highest attendance in non-League football.

Since moving to their home at Broadhurst Park in May 2015, the club have averaged a gate of 3,283, the fourth highest attendance in non-League football.

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 of 11 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 Howard 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. From the 2011–12 season onwards, F.C. United is sponsored by mxData.

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 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 in 2011 thanking fans for their support.

As of 23 December 2015.

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

No. Position Player GK David Carnell GK Nick Culkin GK Lewis King DF Luke Ashworth DF Liam Brownhill DF Scott Kay DF James Knowles DF Chris Lynch DF Tom Smyth DF Dean Stott DF Adam Thurston MF Dave Birch

No. Position Player MF Tom Brown MF Scott Cheetham MF Rory Fallon MF Cameron Murray MF Sam Sheridan MF Jerome Wright FW Greg Daniels FW Tom Greaves FW Craig Lindfield FW Sam Madeley FW Matthew Walwyn FW Matthew Wolfenden

Former players

See Category:F.C. United of Manchester players to see a list of notable 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 went 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. In 2013, F.C. United signed Pakistan international Amjad Iqbal from Bradford Park Avenue and Matt Walwyn was selected to represent Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2015.

Coaching staff

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

Name	Role
Karl Marginson	Manager
Darren Lyons	Head of Player Development
David Brown	First team coach
Paul Chapman	Goalkeeper Coach
Nick Wolfenden	Strength and conditioning coach
Rhodri Giggs	Reserve team manager
Richard Brown	Reserve team coach
Source:

Honours

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

• Northern Premier League Premier Division
  • Champions 2014–15
  • Runners-up 2013–14
  • Play-off runners-up 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
• Northern Premier League Division One North
  • Runners-up 2007–08
  • Play-off 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, 2015 (shared)
  • 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
• Football Foundation Community Club of the Year
  • Winners 2012
• #coops2012 Award
  • Winners 2012

Records

Team records

Records for the team as a whole:

• Record league victory:
  • 10–2 v Castleton Gabriels, 10 December 2005
• Record league defeat 4 goals:
  • 1–5 vs. Bradford Park Avenue, 24 March 2010
  • 1–5 vs. Matlock Town, 5 September 2010
  • 0–4 vs. A.F.C. Fylde, 15 September 2015
• Biggest home attendance:
  • At Gigg Lane – 6,731 vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, FA Cup Second Round, 8 December 2010 (club record)
  • At Broadhurst Park – 4,232 vs. Benfica B, Friendly, 29 May 2015
  • At Tameside Stadium – 3,588 vs. Stourbridge, Northern Premier League Premier Division, 21 April 2015
  • At Bower Fold – 3,181 vs. Maine Road, North West Counties Football League Division One, 4 November 2006
  • At Moss Lane – 3,159 vs. Holker Old Boys, North West Counties Football League Division Two, 25 February 2006
  • At Stainton Park – 1,744 vs. Rossendale United, Northern Premier League Division One North, 1 December 2007
• Lowest home attendance:
  • 503 at Bower Fold, Stalybridge – vs. Barwell FA Trophy, 3 December 2014
• 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:
  • 7, 15 September 2015 to 14 November 2015
• Most league games without a win:
  • 8, 24 March – 21 April 2010 (2 draws and 6 defeats)
• Best league performance:
  • 1st Northern Premier League Premier Division (level 7) 2014–15
• Best FA Cup performance:
  • Second Round Proper 2010–11
• Best FA Trophy performance:
  • Fourth Round Proper 2014–15
• Best FA Vase performance:
  • Third Round Proper 2006–07

Individual records

Rory Patterson is F.C. United's all-time highest goal-scorer with 99 league goals.

All records correct as of 27 October 2015 during the 2015–16 season, league matches only:

• Most league appearances:
  • 286 – Jerome Wright
• Most league goals:
  • 99 – Rory Patterson
• Most red cards in F.C. United career:
  • 5 – Jerome Wright
• Most yellow cards in F.C. United career:
  • 48 – Jerome Wright
• Most goals scored in a match:
  • 5 – Simon Carden v Castleton Gabriels, 10 December 2005

Women's team

The women's team competed for the first time in the 2012–13 season. They finished second in the Greater Manchester Women's Football League behind Manchester City Ladies. They also reached the GMWFL League Cup Final but lost 1–0 to Manchester City Ladies. After finishing runners-up again in 2013–14, the team won a league and cup double in 2015, gaining promotion to the North West Women's Regional Football League Division One South.

F.C. United of Manchester league and cup history
Season	Division	Level	Position	Average league att.	Leading league scorer	FA Cup	Cup
2012–13	Greater Manchester Women's Football League Premier Division	7	2nd/9	–	–	–	Final
2013–14	Greater Manchester Women's Football League Division One	7	2nd/7	–	–	–	Semifinal (Challenge Cup) Winner (League Cup)#
2014–15	Greater Manchester Women's Football League Division One	7	1st/6	–	–	–	Winner (Challenge Cup) Semifinal (League Cup)
2015–16	North West Women's Regional Football League Division One South	6	5/10	–	–	–

^# Shared with Middleton AFC

See also

• List of fan-owned sports teams
• AFC Wimbledon
• A.F.C. Liverpool

References

Bibliography

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)

External links

• Official website
• F.C. United in Russia – Stats database