FC United of Manchester and The 1958, a Manchester United fan group, held a joint action against United’s 20-year Glazer ownership, with The 1958 announcing it will stage a sit-in at next Sunday’s derby with Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Around 200 FC and United supporters gathered at Broadhurst Park before FC hosted Stockton Town in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Outside the ground, flares were let off in the red of FC and United along with green and yellow ones, the colours of Newton Heath, United’s original name. Anti-Glazer chants and songs were sung by fans, with one displaying a flag that showed an image of the former United forward, Eric Cantona, and the legend “Eric the King”.
At a question-and-answer session at the St Mary’s Road End bar The 1958 stated its next act will be at the 196th Manchester derby. United fans had previously staged a sit-in following a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest in August 2023.
“Probably one of the most impactful [protests] was when we did the sit-in, and we will be running another against City,” said Steve Crompton of The 1958. “I don’t think everybody knows yet, but you do now.”
Chris Haymes, also from The 1958, said: “We’re going to get people to sit in their seats. Must [Manchester United Supporters’ Trust] did a flash survey and they reckon there’s going to be about 7,000 concessions, OAP, other people, who are not going to renew their season tickets. They’re trying to price them out of their seats, so we’re going to tell you to sit in your seat. That’s your seat that you paid for and probably have done for the last 50 or 60 years.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who controls United’s football policy, and the Glazers recently ended all ticket concessions, meaning the cheapest price entry is £66.
The American family’s proprietorship of United began with Malcolm Glazer’s leveraged purchase in 2005 that loaded about £500m debt on the club and caused a section of unhappy supporters to break away and form FC United in May that year.
After Glazer died in May 2014, his six children took over and they remain the majority owners, with Ratcliffe’s share purchase of 28.94% last year making him the largest individual shareholder. United’s debt is about £730m. The club owes a further £300m in transfer fees and has lost £300m in the past three years.
Saturday’s action, called United United Day, was the first formal linking of forces by FC United and a United fan group since the non-league club’s foundation, which caused division between fans. The protest took place after The 1958 reached out to FC.
Haymes explained why The 1958 approached FC. “The reason for us is that one thing [United’s] ownership thrive on is division – in the fan base and throughout all the support. So we believe that unity is the best way to be able to look for what we believe is the right treatment and so why not reach out to the ones that have been there and done it before and walked away 20 years ago, irrespective of how angry you were or how passionate you were or what you believed in [then].”
FC United’s chairman, Nick Boom, said: ‘When we got around the table we had a lot in common at FC United with what The 1958 group are trying to achieve. They’re fighting for affordable [ticket] prices which means that people can get into games and they’re not priced out. And, they’re very much fighting to protect fan culture. At FC United we argue unity is strength. We’re a cooperative here at FC and it’s our greatest strength. It’s our people.
“But I think [The 1958] are leading with their chin at the moment, everyone’s having a swing at them about what they’re not doing, but they’re putting themselves out there. That’s why at FC United we looked at each other and went: ‘Do you know what, these guys deserve admiration for what they’re doing – they’re being courageous and we need to be courageous’.
“Because some of our fan base might think: ‘Why are we reconnecting with United, it’s not our battle?’ But, actually, it’s a battle for football. It transcends football clubs. It’s about football fans. We stand with these guys, and we’ll get behind the charter around those sort of key pillars that we talked about, affordable football.”
Before the 1-0 loss to Stockton Town, fans had also gathered in the St Mary’s Road End, with a total 2,357 at the game.
