PunkFootball

Source: Manchester Evening News

FC United have raided Skelmersdale for the second time by landing goal-scoring defender Tony Hallam.

The Rebels snapped up striker Stuart Rudd from Skem last week, and have now picked up 23-year-old former Preston, Morecambe and Southport stopper Hallam.

Meanwhile, FC United's pre-season friendly with Bury has been switched from Wednesday July 19 to July 26 (7.45pm) to fit in with the Shakers' other commitments.

Source: Manchester Evening News

By Stuart Brennan

FC United have signed record-breaking goalscorer Stuart Rudd – and he comes with a glowing reference from Ian Rush!

The Rebels, gearing up for life in the North West Counties first division after gaining promotion at the first time of asking, have picked up Rudd, who hit 47 goals for Skelmersdale last season.

Rudd caught the eye of legendary Liverpool and Wales striker Rush when he was a trainee with his home-town club Wigan.

Rush told him: "You will never be a great goalscorer, but you will be a scorer of great goals."

FC manager Karl Marginson believes Rudd will give his side extra momentum as they look for a second successive promotion.

"We scored 111 goals last season and not one of our players got 20, which is a good thing in many ways," he said.

"But in the last five seasons Stuart has not scored less than 35. He scores different types of goals, like a poor man's Alan Shearer, because he is good in the air, leads the line well, and gets them from two yards and 35 yards."

United will be holding trials for their youth and reserve teams in south Manchester next month. Players who want to be considered should apply via the club's website at www.fc-utd.co.uk. The trials will take place on June 24 for (16 to 18-year-olds) and June 25 (19 to 23-year-olds).

Source: Manchester Evening News

FC UNITED will play a team of celebrity soap stars and ex-professionals to raise money for Salfordian Chris McGuirk at De La Salle rugby union club on Monday May 29.

Chris is a 21-year-old rugby player left paralysed from the neck down after dislocating two vertebrae in December last year.

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Source: Manchester Evening News (no online content) -Rory Patterson gets a couple of shouts

Stars are pulling in the votes OUR competition to find the M.E.N. Sport-Boddingtons Player of the Season has really captured your imagination.

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Source: Manchester Evening News (no online content)

BARRY* George hasn’t been resting on his laurels since helping FC United win the North West Counties League Division Two title.

The goalkeeper was on hand to pass on his expert advise to youngsters at the NJ Juniors club near his home in Wythenshawe.

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Source: Manchester Evening News (no online content)

FC United’s first international fixture ended in a 4-4 draw against German side Lokomotive Leipzig last night.

The Rebels took an early lead through Dave Swarbrick and after going 2-1 down hit back to level through Rob Nugent.

Defender Nugent then put through his own goal but FC forged ahead again through a Rory Patterson penalty and Simon Carden before a late leveller from the world’s biggest non-league club.

Source: Manchester Evening News

By Stuart Mathieson

THE proof of the pudding is in the eating. So after a year sampling the Glazer's fare what will United fans taste buds be telling them?

Some Old Trafford supporters adamantly refused to dip their spoons in the American desert and sated their hunger elsewhere.

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Source: Manchester Evening News

By Tony Glennon

STAR MAN: Ian Craney (Accrington) – Former Altrincham midfielder has the lot – the best player in the Conference, he’s about to become a star of the lower divisions following Stanley’s promotion to the Football League 10

PAUL MULLIN (Accrington): The best target man in non-league will soon be parading his talents in League Two 8

COLIN LITTLE (Altrincham): Conference’s fourth-top scorer with 17 goals – an amazing achievement in a struggling side 9

LEE ELLINGTON (Stalybridge Celtic): Reaching 30 goals capped a great debut season for “The Duke” of Bower Fold 9

TERRY FEARNS (Droylsden): His 27 goals in just 35 appearances helped push the Bloods so close to promotion 8

KIERAN CHARNOCK (Northwich): The defensive rock on which Vics built their Nationwide North title triumph 9

MICHAEL CARR (Northwich): The former Macclesfield youngster was a driving force in Vics’ engine room and, like Charnock, is now an England semi-pro international 8
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RORY PATTERSON (FC United): Spearheaded the rebels’ memorable debut-season championship success in the North West Counties League second division with 19 goals 8

GARY ROBERTS (Accrington): His classy midfield displays for title-winning Stanley earned him an England call-up 8

JONNY ALLAN (Northwich): Led the line superbly for Steve Burr’s side and weighed in with a hatful of goals 9

Source: Manchester Evening News

BY STUART BRENNAN

FC UNITED play their first international fixture tomorrow night against the world’s biggest non-league club.

The Rebels, fresh from securing the North West Counties second division title in their first season, will face Lokomotive Leipzig in a friendly match in Germany.

FC are believed to be the world’s third-biggest non-league club, behind Loko and Conference side Exeter City, after averaging 3,059 at Gigg Lane this season.

Loko hold the world record attendance for a non-league game, with 12,421 watching them play Eintracht Grossdeuben in October 2004, in the 11th tier of German football.

As recently as 1987 they lost a European Cup winners’ Cup final to a Marco van Basten goal for Ajax, only for the club to go bankrupt in 2004 and be resurrected by supporters who had to begin again at the bottom of the German football ladder.

Loko fans have already snapped up more than 5,000 tickets for the match, and as many as 800 FC United supporters are expected to make the trip across.

FC United play the numbers game
Friday, 15th July 2005
Manchester Evening News
Source: MEN

HISTORY will be made at Hilton Park tomorrow when FC United of Manchester play their first game against Leigh RMI, with club officials still unsure of how much support they will attract.

With over 4,000 members and £100,000 pledged in donations since the club was formed in May as a direct result of Malcolm Glazer's £790million Manchester United takeover, the new venture is certainly not lacking backers.

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