Source: Salford Advertiser, no Online Content
By Tony Howard
SALFORD will be United for injured De La Salle rugby player Chris McGuirk at a bank holiday benefit football match.
Fans club FC United of Manchester are set to take on an 'all star' team featuring ex-England international Peter Reid, ex-Manchester United winger Ben Thornley and a host of other Salford celebs at the event at De La Salle's Lancaster Road base on Monday, May 29. (more…)
Source: Prestwich Advertiser, Thursday, May 25. By Tony Howard
THE pre-season friendly between Gigg Lane ground sharers Bury and FC United will be a strange occasion for Darren Lyons.
The FC player-coach will find himself sat in the away dug out at Gigg Lane for the first time having played for both clubs, including two seasons with the Shakers when he got to run out at Old Trafford in the FA Cup.
Source: The Guardian
FC United's season isn't yet over – next week they're playing a benefit game for a fan left in a coma following an unprovoked attack by a gang armed with metal bars
Tony Howard
Friday May 5, 2006
They may have played their final league game and be reigning champions, but FC United's season isn't quite over as they have a further two important fixtures still to play. Following a 2-1 win in the last North West Counties League Two game against Padiham on Saturday, United are now preparing to take on AFC Telford United this weekend, and the following week the club will embark on their first ever European excursion.
Source: The Guardian
It's a small start, but Tony Howard and FC United have begun one of the longest pub-crawls in football history
Thursday April 27, 2006
So the rumours proved to be correct: FC United's team did have an open-top bus-ride from Gigg Lane to the pub 200 yards away. The strictly tongue-in-cheek gesture was the highlight of a great day which saw an amazing 6,023 supporters turn up to see captain Dave Chadwick lift the North West Counties Second Division trophy in the club's final home game of the season.
From the Main Stand it was a sight to behold as hundreds of supporters were still streaming into the ground at 3pm, forcing the kick-off to be delayed. But, as manager, Karl Marginson, said, it has not always been like that. "At times it's like your 21st birthday party all over again," he enthused. "You're scared that no one will turn up!" (more…)
Source: The Guardian
Sir Alex Ferguson's knowledge of the new North West Counties Second Division champions might be limited, but Tony Howard and his fellow FC United followers don't mind one bit
Friday April 21, 2006
At last FC United have been crowned champions, sealing their first ever piece of silverware without kicking a competitive ball in anger. The reds were at Clitheroe to play a friendly, while title rivals Nelson and Flixton attempted to catch up some of their many games in hand, but as the news filtered through that both had failed to win, an impromptu party erupted in the unlikely setting.
Source: United We Stand
By Tony Howard
Date: 10/4/2006
FC United of Manchester could win promotion on Wednesday if the game against Chadderton at Gigg Lane goes ahead. It’s a big ‘if’ cos every time the reds have been scheduled to play Chaddy the game’s been called off for one reason or another.
United need just five points from the remaining four games to make the North West Counties Division Two title safe and four points to secure promotion. But, if results go FC’s way elsewhere it could be all over by Wednesday. The most likely challengers are Nelson who have a ridiculous nine games in hand. Flixton are currently third with six games in hand.
If all the teams win their remaining games the table will finish with FCUM on 90 points, Nelson 82 and Flixton 81. We should play Chaddy twice in a week, at Gigg Lane on Wednesday, 7.45pm kick off, £7 adults, £5 OAPs, £2 kids. Then at Oldham’s Boundary Park the following week (Wednesday, April 19) with similar kick off times and admission fees. The reds made promotion a step closer with an impressive 3-1 win over Norton United at Port Vale’s Vale Park on Sunday. The first half was a debacle in a virtual blizzard with Josh Howard giving FC a 1-0 advantage at the break.
Norton missed a penalty then missed the re-take soon after half time before finally equalising. Jozzer Mitten was thrown into the fray as the weather became tropical, and the former UWS salesman changed the game.
He flicked on for Steve Torpey to put the reds back ahead, then he made a nuisance of himself from a corner by blowing a rasberry at the fat ‘keeper to force an own goal which sealed the points.
Over 1,200 braved the bizarre weather, including it seems, a lad called Michael Shields who’s dad made a plea over the tannoy for him to return home.
Remaining games are: Chadderton at Gigg Lane (Weds April 12), Chadderton at Boundary Park (Weds April 19), Great Harwood Town at Gigg Lane (Sat April 22) and Padiham at Boundary Park (Sat April 29).
Friendlies have also been arranged away at Clitheroe on Saturday, April 15, Telford United on Saturday, May 6 and in Germany against Lokomotiv Leipzig on Friday, May 12 (a year on from Glazer’s take over).
Source: guardian.co.uk
Tony Howard explains why a fourth cancellation of their fixture with Chadderton has prompted FC United fans to harbour conspiracy theories
Source: The Guardian
A cold wet night in Accrington
Not longer after Manchester United were winning the Carling Cup, FC United went 18 points ahead in the North West Counties Division Two, writes Tony Howard
Friday March 3, 2006
Soon after Gary Neville held aloft the once-mocked Carling Cup amidst the Cardiff fireworks, FC United fans were preparing to travel to Accrington to face Great Harwood Town – a club runners-up Wigan were playing regularly 30 years ago.
