http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/RSS.php FC United of Manchester Latest News en-GB Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:44:09 CEST Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:44:09 CEST http://www.fc-utd.co.uk http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3067 Margy urges: “Get on the Minithon”

Margy is leading the way for the 3rd annual FC United Minithon committing himself and his family to getting around the 5k route in Chorlton Meadows on Sunday, October 17th and he says: “Roy Soule and I will be encouraging all the squad to participate as it’s for two great causes, our club and the Frost children’s charity.”

General Manager, Andy Walsh, has also committed to the Minithon saying:

‘I’ll definitely be there. Events like these raising funds for the club are vital stepping stones on the road to Ten Acres Lane. I hope every supporter that is physically able will join Margy walking round the course or will run with the players or just crawl around with the Board. It’s a fun event and vital for club funds as we progress our plans for Ten Acres Lane. I hope all our supporters branches will pitch in, the branches in the South and in Los Angeles and Boston are already organising their local events and with Merthyr Tydfil FC, Rochdale Hornets and Mancunians Rugby League also taking up the challenge it will be an excellent day for our clubs and our health.”


Concerned for your health? To view last year’s event please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2bnwmSRgHs&feature=player_embedded

Prizes will be available for the best dressed adult and junior, the best dressed branch, best headgear, fastest dog and owner, and fastest runners. The fun day will be capped by entertainment, prizegiving and refreshments in Chorlton Irish Club.

To join the FC United “Run, Walk or Crawl” Minithon on October 17th all you need to do is go to http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/minithon2010 and register.

To back Margy please click on
http://www.justgiving.com/Marginson-and-The-Family

This year’s Minithon is very kindly supported by the Co-operative Membership.]]> Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:09:31 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3066
A slow start by the Reds saw Nantwich have the better of the opening exchanges, although FC took the lead in the 17th minute when Jake Haslam fed debutante striker Jay Walcott, who coolly shot beyond Michael Jones in the Nantwich goal.

The visitors equalised five minutes before the break when a defensive lapse allowed their Man of the Match, Josh Lane a free run on goal.

Despite Nantwich hitting the post, the second half was dominated by FC United. In the 75th minute a Josh Burke cross from the right went beyond the far post but was returned into the middle and smashed home by Ryan Westwood.

As the clock ticked down and the light faded, two further goals were added when the Nantwich defence failed to deal with clearances from keeper Andrew Farrimond, leaving Scott Cheetham to score with a delightful chip and Walcott to complete the scoring with a measured effort.

Full report to follow.
]]> Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:57:37 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3065
A batch of Junior Membership Cards will be sent out late this week / early next week.

We will endeavour to catch up with the remainder over the next few weeks.

We apologise to supporters for the delay, we have a large number of cards to send out and our volunteers are working hard to minimise the delay in getting them to Members.

If you have not yet bought Membership for this season, you can do in one of the following ways:


- Online through the club shop.
- Contact the FC United Office by phoning 0161 273 8950 to pay by credit/debit card.
- Email Membership@fc-utd.co.uk with your details.

Please remember that if you’ve bought a season ticket online you might not have renewed your membership. Details for purchasing season tickets online or via a single form with membership can be found here.]]> Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:13:41 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3064
The match will give players like Steve Torpey and Colin Little a chance to play a full 90 minutes of football.

Kick off is 7:30pm and admission is free.

On the other side of Trafford the youth team takes on Nantwich in the first competitive game of the new season.

Kick off is 6:30pm at St Brides Fields.
]]> Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:01:12 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3063
The all important goal came two minutes before half-time when striker Lee Steele chipped the ball home from the edge of the box. The Reds were limited to half chances as they searched for an equaliser and Ashton’s defence held firm to maintain its record of not being breached so far this season.

The away team started the brightest and could have been ahead inside the first minute, Carlos Roca and Mike Norton combining down the left and feeding Simon Carden whose volley was straight at Terry Smith in the Ashton goal.

Jake Cottrell, who scored a long range cracker on Saturday, nearly did it again, with a 25-yard-shot that the keeper did very well to tip over the bar.

The home team came more into the game as the half wore on and on 11 minutes had a succession of corners to put the FC defence under pressure. United goalkeeper Zach Hibbert, who was making his first appearance of the season, caught a header from Alex Frost to relieve some of the pressure.

On 15 minutes, former FC United forward Aaron Burns had a chance when he was played in but Hibbert blocked his shot. The Reds were starting to defend deeply and this seemed to be inviting Ashton on but they did break occasionally with Roca firing wide and Jerome Wright producing a good run but sadly his cross went into the side netting.

Minutes before the break Burns crossed the ball in from the left. The United defence seemed to deal with the dangerous cross as it was headed clear by Cottrell but the ball fell to Steele at the edge of the box and the striker looped a good shot over Hibbert and into the net to make it 1-0.

United started the second half brightly, Wright volleying the ball over inside two minutes of the restart and Scott McManus also firing over a couple of minutes later.

There was more urgency about FC’s game after the break. This urgency was highlighted by a superbly skilful run by Roca who twisted and turned his way to the by line before crossing for Wright to head back to Norton who was lurking in the box. Unfortunately, Norton’s goal bound shot was blocked.

On the hour mark, FC looked to have pulled one back with a great drive from Platt but goalkeeper Smith pulled off another good save to tip the ball over.

In truth, FC were doing most of the pressing with Ashton happy to attack on the break but the home defence were defending stoically and hardly missed a header from balls coming into the box. Steve Torpey, who re-signed for FC United on Saturday, was introduced to the game and showed some bright moments including setting up McManus who headed wide.

As FC pushed forward looking for the equaliser, gaps were left at the back which the home side almost exploited. Substitute David Owens attempted to round Hibbert who took the ball off his toes and the same players met again a minute later with the keeper blocking Owens’ shot.

All-in-all, it wasn’t a vintage FC performance. With a bit more luck a point was there for the taking but all credit to Ashton who defended superbly to go to the top of the league.

FC United are now third after four games and a 1-0 defeat away to the now league leaders, who have yet to concede a goal, will not detract too much from a good start to the season. The Reds will look to get back on track as they host fifth place Matlock Town on Sunday in a match which has been switched to Stalybridge Celtic’s Bower Fold.

Report by Steven Wood

Ashton United
30th August 2010
Played at Husrt Cross, Ashton
Lost: 1-0
Half Time: 1-0
Attendance: 1069

FC United
1. Z Hibbert
2. K Jacobs
3. L Neville
4. N Platt (capt)
5. M Parker
6. S McManus
7. C Roca
8. S Carden
9. M Norton
10. J Wright (cautioned 58)
11. J Cottrell

Subs

12. C Little (for 7 71)
13.
14. S Torpey (for 8 65)
15. M Ayres
16. J Holden
17. K Munroe

Scorer:

Marine

1. T Smith
2. D Young (cautioned 58)
3. D Caldecott
4. G Murphy
5. A Frost
6. C Robinson (capt)
7. M O’Neill
8. I Bennett
9. A Burns (cautioned 39)
10. L Steele
11. L Dawson

Subs

12. M Landregan (for 9 81)
13.
14. D Owens (for 11 58)
15. K Killackey
16. S Rose
17. D Warburton

Scorer: Steele 44
]]> Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:05:26 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3062
]]> Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:59:24 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3061
Torpey had been a target for a number of clubs higher up the leagues after playing in the Conference for the last four years but has decided to rejoin the Reds following a successful pre-season campaign.

The attacking-midfielder was a firm fan favourite during our inaugural season, scoring 17 goals in 32 appearances before being offered a full-time contract by the then Conference side, Halifax Town.]]> Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:19:36 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3060
Goals from Martin Parker, Carlos Roca and Jake Cottrell put the result beyond doubt before half-time then substitute Colin Little scored two on his debut to give the Reds nine points from three games. A feat matched only by Northwich Victoria.

Retford proved tricky opponents last season with United taking just one point from the two matches against them but the Nottinghamshire side were put well and truly to the sword on Saturday.

Parker broke the dealock within two minutes, Roca doubled the lead within half an hour and Cottrell sealed the match with an audacious chip over the keeper five minutes before the break.

With 67 minutes gone, Little opened his account for the Reds within minutes of coming off the bench. Jerome Wright and Lee Neville combined for the former Altrincham striker to slot home.

Retford did manage to pull one back - the only goal United have conceded so far this season but the Reds were saving the best until last. With five minutes to go, Little flicked the ball over his own head, turned and volleyed in to make it 5-1.

The Reds started the match like a train. Roca, who was playing as a forward behind Mike Norton, saw a shot tipped round the post. The resultant corner was cleared but only to a red shirt, the ball was returned into the box and headed into the net by centre-back Parker for his first competitive goal since joining FC United.

The lead was almost doubled on 16 minutes when Wright, enjoying the freedom of Bury on the left-wing shot only to see Jefferies tip the ball over the bar. It was only a matter of time before the second goal did arrive though and it came courtesy of Roca who fired home after some fantastic work from Battersby and Norton.

The chances just kept on coming for the home team, Wright was again unlucky to see a shot tipped over after a great turn. Wright was causing all sorts of problems for Retford and he saw yet another shop saved by the keeper who pushed the ball onto the bar and over.

Jefferies in the Retford goal was having a great game but he blotted his copybook on 38 minutes when his poor clearance found Cottrell 40 yards out. With the cries of ’shoot’ from the crowd in his ears, Cottrell looked up and lofted the ball over the keeper and into the net.

The lead was almost extended shortly after the break, when Scott McManus crossed the ball for the lively Norton to volley but Jefferies pushing the ball wide.

On 67 minutes, it was 4-0. Wright surged into the box and pulled the ball back for sub Little to roll the ball into the net via the far post. Retford did manage a good chance on goal with a header that hit the bar before pulling one back on 71 minutes when a long ball forward was misread by United ’keeper Sam Ashton who headed the ball up and back into his own box, which allowed sub Owens to latch onto the ball and roll it into the empty net.

With five minutes to go, Little produced a piece of sublime skill to knock a long ball over his own head and in the same movement turn and volley the ball over the keeper and into the net from 25 yards.

The performance was undoubtedly one of the best seen by the FC United faithful for many a season. All fingers are now crossed for the tough trip to Ashton United on Bank Holiday Monday.

Report by Steve Wood

Teams:
FC United
1 S Ashton (capt)
2 K Jacobs
3 L Neville
4 R Battersby
5 M Parker
6 S McManus
7 C Ovington
8 J Cottrell
9 M Norton
10 J Wright
11 C Roca
Subs 12 N Platt (for 4 49)
14 J Holden
15 S Carden
16 M Ayres (for 2 73)
17 C Little (for 7 54)

Scorers: Parker 2, Roca 29, Cottrell 39, Little 67 85

Retford United
R Jeffries
M Blake (cautioned 86)
C Lill
D White
N Ellis
J Mayman (capt)
R Hindley
N O’Brien (cautioned 90+1)
M Booth
S McDonnell
M Caudwell
Subs
S Owens (for 10 54)
J Stephenson (for 11 76)
J Vernon (for 9 73)

Scorer: Owens 71]]> Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:59:19 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3059
You’ll never do anything with it because it’s not worth driving to the bank or supermarket to change it. You don’t want to carry it around and even if you did you don’t really want to stand in shops counting it out.

We know you, you’re not cruel enough to make our ’Pound for the Ground’ volunteers lug it around all afternoon. But you could gather it all up, stick it in a bag and drop it in the Development Fund barrels before tomorrow’s game against Retford at Gigg Lane.

Yes, you’ll have that horrible metallic smell on your hands for a day or so but think about all the room you’ll be creating in your house or car and, more importantly than that, think about our very own football ground being built in Newton Heath. If you can, help us get there. The barrels are situated around Gigg Lane at every home game. Cheers.
]]> Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:38:54 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3058
Karl Marginson knows losing Deegan is a blow especially as the striker has been in fine form over the last few weeks but the manager is confident he has the personnel to cope as he hailed this season’s squad ’the best we’ve ever had’.

Little scored 112 goals for the Robins during a six year spell and Margy is happy to have the veteran striker on board this season. He said: "It’s unfortunate to lose Ben but it gives us a chance to have a look at Colin.

"It’s a bit more rushed than we would have liked, Colin’s not fully fit and I think he knows he’ll probably never be able to put in a full 90 minutes but he has the quality to see him through."

Margy has been pleased by the two victories to start the season but he does believe there is still room for improvement. He said: "We played very well but we should definitely have scored more goals. I wouldn’t say it’s alarming that we’ve only scored three but we should have put both those games to bed, we’ve got to be more ruthless."

Despite being happy with his squad and the start to the season, Margy hinted that there may still be a couple of extra additions. "We’ve still got a few irons in the fire. There’s Steve Torpey for one - that’s not dead in the water and he would be an excellent signing. We’ve also got a number of younger players who we want to bring through, Cedric Krou for example."

And Margy confirmed that club captain David Chadwick was still fully part of the set up despite playing for New Mills this season. He said: "Chaddy is training with us and he’s keeping fit by playing for New Mills.

"I don’t know if he’ll be playing for us any time soon because Martin (Parker) and Scott (McManus) have been excellent since they’ve come in. But like all players who aren’t in the first team, Chaddy just has to train hard and show that he deserves to win the shirt back."

FC United of Manchester take on Retford United at Gigg Lane on Saturday and Ashton United on Bank Holiday Monday at Hurst Cross. Both are three o’clock kick-offs and pay-on the gate. Get yourself to those football grounds.
]]> Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:07:03 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3057
We have knocked on the doors of those houses immediately adjacent to the site and have received an overwhelmingly positive response and we now want to leaflet the rest of the Newton Heath area to invite residents to Ten Acres Lane Sports Hall next Wednesday 1st and Saturday 4th.

If you can help out leafleting on Sunday for no more than two hours at around 11am please email the office office@fc-utd.co.uk or telephone 0161 273 8950.

If we don’t get enough volunteers on Sunday we will finish off on Monday at the same time prior to our game at Ashton, so if you cannot make Sunday but could make Monday please let us know.]]> Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:27:15 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3056

The quest for home is on. That talking chimley breast in our own club house of our own home in our own city will one day become a reality.

But before we can enjoy the thrill of hearing a breast telling the likes of Andrew Walsh to take his coat off, because it’s boiling as there’s a rip-roaring fire on and he should have done his ironing instead of walking that daft dog, we need to stack up more of our hard earned. And what better way to do so than by buying a piece of heart-warming Mancunian loveliness, put together by odds and sods from across our city, and beyond, for your delectation, with all proceeds going to the FC United of Manchester Development Fund. A Fine Lung has drifted into its fourth issue, two years after its first. We said we were unreliable and a bit too laid back, but we’ve got there and our original aim of funding that dream is getting closer with every issue. If you buy this one, we are looking at nearly £2,000 raised so far.

We’re calling this the feminist and family issue. All will become clear when you buy it, we’ll leave it at that. It’s perfect for reading while in trap two at work, on the tram or while the missus watches Don’t Tell the Bride.

Andrew Davies, who wrote a book about back-scuttling, has now taken to researching Billy Butler, or someone. We all sing ’Hello, hello, We are the Busby Boys...’ and Andy will take you on a journey that endeavours to explain its origins. The specky done good. We’ve been warned about the word ’exclusive’, but this is, so let’s not pish aboot the boosh.

Scott Taylor, who you may know from listening to the wireless or travelling on the rattler, spent a week with Margy. He slept in the dog basket at the family’s Urmston home and he lived off scraps from the dinner table. And if you’ve seen Karl recently, you will be aware that not much is going spare. Scott enjoyed an insight into coaching and scouting players for the season ahead. He then wrote a wonderfully indepth piece on the genius that was Sly Stone.

There are pieces from familiar names like Mike Duff, Maurice Twomowers, Life of Smiley, Fraudulent, Mad Cyril and talented new writers alongside other FC United members and volunteers. The odd (very odd) board member pipes in, as do members of the original steering committee that began the search for home back in 2005. That reminds me, Spock also gets a mention.

So part with your £2 at Saturday’s match against Retford at Gigg Lane, safe in the knowledge that you’re doing your bit to get us back to where we began our football lives and you’ll also bag yourself a piece of Mancunian art to cherish.

- If you can’t wait until then, cough, or you’re looking for something productive to do on work’s time you could do a lot worse than visiting afinelung.com
]]> Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:52:33 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3055 FC United take on Nantwich Town at Gigg Lane in the first home fixture of the 10/11 season.

http://www.fcum.tv/2010/08/26/fc-united-v-nantwich-260810-highlights/

]]> Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:43:10 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3054 Fan ownership and the future of football has been written by Supporters Direct Chief Executive, Dave Boyle and released by Co-operatives UK.

For the first time, the rules of FC Barcelona have been translated into English and the New Insight document explains how the co-operative model works for Barca and why fan ownership is vital for the future of football.

The paper came as a result of a meeting between Boyle and FC United’s General Manager, Andy Walsh had with Barcelona’s Chief Executive Joan Oliver and Chief Marketing Officer Lander Unzueta back in September 2009.

The direct connection between United fans and Barcelona supporters goes back almost 12 years. Recently retired Barca President, Joan Laporta, met with representatives of The Independent Manchester United Supporters Association (IMUSA) in November 1998 during the campaign to stop Rupert Murdoch taking over Manchester United.

As Chair of IMUSA at that time, Andy met up with Laporta and Barca fans from the independent supporter group L’Elefant Blau whilst attending the 1998 Champions League game between the two sides in the Camp Nou.

Andy said: “Barcelona is one of the world’s leading clubs but more importantly it is wholly owned by its members. We are often told in this country that mutual ownership structures are fine for smaller clubs but the member-ownership model does not work at larger clubs. Barca’s constitution is very different to FC United but they are very firmly member owned.”

Secretary General, Co-operatives UK, Ed Mayo said: “FC Barcelona – or Barça – is the poster child for co-operative football. The beauty of its team play is mirrored by the elegance of its structures of member ownership and participation. With the health warning that you can only grow community ownership rather than hope to import it, it is with great pleasure that we publish the constitutional structure, in English, in the UK for the first time.”

And Laporta adds: “I am proud to see that our statutes can serve as a reference. I sincerely hope that they can be a source of inspiration for the construction of club models based on member participation.”

Click on the link above to download the full document.
]]> Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:55:21 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3053
Most of you will remember last winter FC United fans collected a magnificent 4 tons of coats, jumpers and warm winter cloths for homeless people. I think we can all take pride in saying FC United is a place where charities are well supported! That will be repeated this year so please hang on to your old jumpers and warm winter cloths for this years Xmas collection. You may also recall our second collection of old cloths, curtains, towels, bedding and none winter clothes on Youth United day. That collection raised £370 for FC United Well… we’re at it again

Every little helps, so time for another clearout, and another, and another, and another…

On Youth United day some members commented that they had loads of stuff to get rid of but couldn’t manage it on the train, tram, bus, shankses-pony. This season we will be collecting at every home game so you can drop off your old clobber in smaller amounts. Just think how much we can collect if we all bring one carrier bag full every home game The collection point will be next to the membership stall. The recycle centre cannot use sleeping bags, pillows or quilts. Other than that lets clear out those wardrobes, bedding boxes, airing cupboards and
“Get it bagged up” for FC

Old Mobile phones recycling

The after the Rag and Bone it’s the dog and bone. In a separate collection you can also donate your old mobile phones for recycling. There will be collection points at the turnstiles and again near the Membership stall.
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