Latest news with #FCUnited
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Caledonian Braves celebrate FENIX Trophy win in Italian sunshine
The Motherwell outfit were on top form in picturesque Lake Iseo Caledonian Braves boss Ricky Waddell says winning the FENIX Trophy has brought the club together over a magical weekend in Italy. The Motherwell club were stationed at Lake Iseo for the finals, beating Belgian side Bechem Sport 3-0 in their semi-final, before dispatching two-time winners FC United of Manchester in the final 3-1. Greig Stewart and Ross McNeil netted in the semi-finals, with the Belgians scoring an own-goal, and McNeil scored in the final, alongside Connor McLaren and Cameron Breadner. McLaren holds the distinction of scoring Braves' first-ever European final goal. The FENIX Trophy (Friendly, European, Non-professional, Innovative and Xenial) was set up four years ago, and Waddell says they enjoyed the whole experience. He said: 'It's a tournament that's designed to bring clubs together from our level, at semi-pro level, from around the world. 'The early teams we played against weren't particularly much of a challenge, but when we got to the finals it was four good teams in it. It was honestly fantastic, a really good team bonder as well, and the fact that we won it was great. 'What was really special is that my family was there, a lot of the players' had their families, wives, girlfriends, and whatnot, and it was really special to have everybody away. 'We're already a tight-knit group with a really good team spirit, but that just topped it off. But it was absolutely brilliant to get away and see everybody together and happy, and winning the tournament was an important thing as well.' Waddell added: 'The tournament is growing in size every year with better clubs getting involved in it. 'The Belgian team we played in the semi-finals, I got a look at a couple of their games, they get a decent crowd at home. They're an old-fashioned team that were at the top level 30-40 years ago, then hit hard times financially, but they kept a lot of their crowds. 'FC United are a different type of model, and they don't want to support Man Utd in their current form and ownership, but they were your classic strong, physical English team, with a couple of wide players. 'They were fancying themselves, and I think they thought they could beat us without too much concern, but we were brilliant on the day. 'Manchester were decent, and I spoke to quit a few of them after, when they were very complimentary which was cool. 'This shows how far we've come this season, finishing third, winning the FENIX and just trying to progress the club in every way.' On their location, Waddell said: 'The word 'stunning' doesn't do it justice. It's a classic little Italian town, quite quiet, on Lake Iseo, along the road from Lake Garda, which is a bit more popular. It was beautiful, so it was the perfect weekend for us.' Braves end their season on Friday with the Southern Counties Cup final against Gretna 2008 at Raydale Park, and Waddell wants to retain their trophy. He said: 'We want to do well in it. Gretna have had an OK season, they might look on it as a success, they weren't involved in the relegation scrap too much at the end of the season. 'But it's a cup final, they will be geared up for it, and I think if we can play to our potential, and get players back fit, then we want to retain that trophy.'
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
People are just realising Man Utd legend Eric Cantona is COUSINS with new Pope Leo XIV
ERIC CANTONA was worshipped by Manchester United fans - and they might have been on to something. French genealogy experts have discovered the football icon is related to Pope Leo XIV. 3 3 Cantona, 58, took English football by storm in the early 1990s. After a short stint at Leeds, he joined United in 1992 and spent five eventful years at Old Trafford. Geneanet have taken a deep dive into Pope Leo's ancestry after he took on the role earlier this month. Born in Chicago, Pope Leo's real name is Robert Francis Prevost. The study traced the Pope's roots back to France after discovering his paternal grandfather was born in Italy and emigrated to the US. The study managed to map out Leo's lineage all the way back to 1415. And it turns out the Pope is a relative of Cantona - with the pair distant cousins. The United icon and the family of Leo XIV are linked from the 12th to the 15th generation. They are joined by the marriage of Bertrand Negrel and Louise Jean, who wed in 1566 in Roquevaire, Southern France. Cantona, who was born in Marseille in 1966, is also a cousin of famous author Albert Camus, according to the study. Looking for Manchester The 58-year-old was recently back in Manchester on a fan crusade. He signed his whole family up as shareholders in rebel club FC United. Cantona took aim at United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe for his decision-making since taking over the club. He claims the Ineos owner is trying to "destroy everything" and blasted the decision to move away from Old Trafford. The Frenchman said: 'I support United because I really love United. "But now if I was a fan and I had to choose a club I don't think I would choose United. 3 'For me, that is very important to respect these people like you respect your manager and your team-mates. 'I think since Ratcliffe arrived it's the complete opposite and this team of directors they try to destroy everything and they don't respect anybody. 'They even want to change the stadium. 'The soul of the team and the club is not in the players. All the people around is like a big family. 'I don't feel close to these kind of decisions. They have another strategy, another project. Do you feel close to this project? I don't think so."
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Poppadoms, protests and promotions: the first 20 years of ‘unique' FC United
On the Saturday in late March this year that FC United of Manchester and The 1958, a Manchester United supporters group, held a joint-action against 20 years of Glazer ownership of United, Tom Kerse displayed his own protest at Broadhurst Park, FC United's home, which read: 'The Glazers? FCUM Hall.' The 69-year-old, like many FC United fans, followed Manchester United before the American family's leveraged purchase of the club in May 2005. ''FCUM Hall', as in 'fuck all the Glazers',' Kerse says, just in case anyone missed his point. FC United were born 20 years ago on Tuesday, on 13 May 2005 in a Rusholme curry house named Dilda. Paul Hurst, a founder, is the board lead for communication and co-ownership, the latter a core value of the club, with all members having a vote on each key decision. 'What we've seen [happen] at Manchester United is what we said [would happen] 20 years ago,' Hurst says. 'It's maybe taken a bit longer, that's all.' Advertisement Related: The Glazers in numbers: key figures across two decades at Manchester United Hurst is referencing two decades of troubled ownership that currently sees six Glazer siblings as majority owners at Old Trafford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 28.94% share the largest single individual holding, £750m worth of debt plus £300m outstanding in unpaid transfer fees, plus a £300m loss in the past three years. There will also be up to 450 redundancies when the latest round is executed, while Ruben Amorim's team may be in the Europa League final but are also 16th in the Premier League following Sunday's 2-0 home loss to West Ham. When Malcolm Glazer completed his leveraged purchase of United on 12 May 2005 he loaded around £694m debt on to the club and compelled a coterie of disgruntled supporters to found a breakaway club. Officially incepted on 14 June 2005 and swiftly accepted into The Moore & Co Construction Solicitors League four days later, FC United's inaugural game was a goalless friendly with Leigh RMI on 16 July, with a first competitive victory coming against Leek on 13 August. FC United first trained at Parrs Wood High School in east Didsbury. All squad members had full-time jobs – midfielder and captain Billy McCartney was a scaffolding supervisor – and were led by Karl Marginson, a Manchester-born former midfielder whose teams included Macclesfield Town, Stalybridge Celtic and Salford City. Initially ground-sharing at Bury's Gigg Lane, they moved to Broadhurst Park, located in Moston, in 2014, and under Marginson achieved promotions in each of their first three seasons. FC United won the 2005-06 North West Counties Division Two championship with 87 points, eight points clear of second place. They then romped to the Division One crown the following year with 112 points from 42 games before going up from the Northern Premier League Division One North via a 4-1 playoff final win over Skelmersdale, having finished one point behind champions Bradford Park Avenue in the regular season. Advertisement 'There were rumours after the Glazer takeover that fans were going to form their own team,' says Marginson, who also led FC United to a memorable 3-2 defeat of Rochdale in the first round of the FA Cup in 2010 before departing from the manager's job eight years later. 'I met a couple of lads called John-Paul O'Neill and Luc Zentar in a bowling green in Chorlton and talked football. From there, everything moved very quickly.' Of the Leigh RMI friendly, Marginson says: 'There were three streakers – all male. I don't remember what they looked like, thankfully, and our fan culture was termed 'punk football'. I remember speaking to people and if they didn't have a sore throat at the end of the game, they felt as though they'd let the team down.' FC United attracted – and still do – formidable crowds: 2,552 watched the Leigh RMI friendly, while 2,357 were in attendance for the 1-0 defeat to Stockton Town, following the joint-protest with The 1958 a couple of months ago. Yet as FC United grew, the search for their own ground precipitated a financial crisis in 2015 that led the following year to the departures of general manager, Andy Walsh, as well as Adam Brown, another founder member. 'You had people in charge that were trying to get us in here [Broadhurst Park] and in their desperation, decisions were made which put the club at risk,' explains Nick Boom, FC United's current chair. 'There was a clamour to build our own ground and originally it was going to be at Ten Acres Lane at Newton Heath – and you know the symbolism of that.' Manchester United were originally known as Newton Heath LYR Football Club upon their formation in 1878. Advertisement On 25 November 2010, FC United announced they had been granted planning approval 'to develop a 5,000-capacity ground and community sports complex' at the Ten Acres site. 'This is testament to the hard work and support we have received from New East Manchester and Manchester city council, in particular the help and guidance from the planning department,' Walsh said at the time. But the dream soured, Boom says, due to Ten Acres being in close proximity to Manchester United's crosstown rival. 'The owners at Manchester City didn't want a club related to Manchester United within Oldham Road [too], because they wanted to develop their area,' he explains. 'The leverage they had is that the Etihad [Stadium] is owned by Manchester city council and they wanted to extend [the lease].' Walsh drove the funding initiative for Broadhurst Park. Around £2m of the required £6.3m was raised by fans' investment, with this unlocking a further £3m of finance. Construction began on the 4,000-capacity venue in November 2013 and was completed in May 2015, with the 2-1 National League North defeat by Stockport on 11 August 2015 the first competitive fixture to take place there. However, further financial missteps occurred. 'Commodity prices went up,' Boom says. 'There was a judicial review for this site which also delayed it and cost more. And they [former board members] up-sized the business plan and said: 'Oh, we'll make more on the merchandise.' It was unrealistic.' A period of in-fighting ended with Walsh departing in March 2016, Brown the next month, claiming a 'hate campaign' had been launched against him and chief fundraiser, Andy Walker. In May of that year more board members resigned, claiming: 'Staff members and volunteers alike have at various times come to fear for their own safety.' Advertisement Boom, who had been volunteering for FC United since its inception, left his banking job in 2017 and became part of the new board the following year. By then Marginson had also left. 'I stood firm with the outgoing board,' he says. 'I don't think that went down too well with the incoming board. It was time for a change.' The 54-year-old Marginson is now manager of Trafford FC. His job at FC United, meanwhile, is now occupied by Mark Beesley, who took charge last September and has just guided the team to 17th of 22 and safety in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. 'It's a unique club,' the 44-year-old says. 'The values they bring. It's a club that needs a bit of direction and hopefully I can give that on the pitch.' In April, those values led to Eric Cantona becoming a member of the club, alongside his four children and two brothers. When doing so, the Frenchman criticised the Glazers' and Ratcliffe ownership of the club where he enjoyed so much success and adoration. 'I support [Manchester] United because I really love United, but now if I was a fan and had to choose a club I don't think I would choose United,' he said. 'I was a Man United fan and probably wasn't aware of FC United until I was about 18, 19,' says Charlie Ennis, FC United's current 35-year-old captain. 'It's an amazing club – I describe it as the best non-league club. So to be seen as one of the leaders is definitely something I don't take for granted and I'm proud of. And my family comes to all the games. The kids walk me out on to the pitch on Saturday. And all these types of things are stuff that's a real bonus of playing for a club like FC United.'
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Poppadoms, protests and promotions: the first 20 years of ‘unique' FC United
On the Saturday in late March this year that FC United of Manchester and The 1958, a Manchester United supporters group, held a joint-action against 20 years of Glazer ownership of United, Tom Kerse displayed his own protest at Broadhurst Park, FC United's home, which read: 'The Glazers? FCUM Hall.' The 69-year-old, like many FC United fans, followed Manchester United before the American family's leveraged purchase of the club in May 2005. ''FCUM Hall', as in 'fuck all the Glazers',' Kerse says, just in case anyone missed his point. FC United were born 20 years ago on Tuesday, on 13 May 2005 in a Rusholme curry house named Dilda. Paul Hurst, a founder, is the board lead for communication and co-ownership, the latter a core value of the club, with all members having a vote on each key decision. 'What we've seen [happen] at Manchester United is what we said [would happen] 20 years ago,' Hurst says. 'It's maybe taken a bit longer, that's all.' Hurst is referencing two decades of troubled ownership that currently sees six Glazer siblings as majority owners at Old Trafford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 28.94% share the largest single individual holding, £750m worth of debt plus £300m outstanding in unpaid transfer fees, plus a £300m loss in the past three years. There will also be up to 450 redundancies when the latest round is executed, while Ruben Amorim's team may be in the Europa League final but are also 16th in the Premier League following Sunday's 2-0 home loss to West Ham. When Malcolm Glazer completed his leveraged purchase of United on 12 May 2005 he loaded around £694m debt on to the club and compelled a coterie of disgruntled supporters to found a breakaway club. Officially incepted on 14 June 2005 and swiftly accepted into The Moore & Co Construction Solicitors League four days later, FC United's inaugural game was a goalless friendly with Leigh RMI on 16 July, with a first competitive victory coming against Leek on 13 August. FC United first trained at Parrs Wood High School in east Didsbury. All squad members had full-time jobs – midfielder and captain Billy McCartney was a scaffolding supervisor – and were led by Karl Marginson, a Manchester-born former midfielder whose teams included Macclesfield Town, Stalybridge Celtic and Salford City. Initially ground-sharing at Bury's Gigg Lane, they moved to Broadhurst Park, located in Moston, in 2014, and under Marginson achieved promotions in each of their first three seasons. FC United won the 2005-06 North West Counties Division Two championship with 87 points, eight points clear of second place. They then romped to the Division One crown the following year with 112 points from 42 games before going up from the Northern Premier League Division One North via a 4-1 playoff final win over Skelmersdale, having finished one point behind champions Bradford Park Avenue in the regular season. 'There were rumours after the Glazer takeover that fans were going to form their own team,' says Marginson, who also led FC United to a memorable 3-2 defeat of Rochdale in the first round of the FA Cup in 2010 before departing from the manager's job eight years later. 'I met a couple of lads called John-Paul O'Neill and Luc Zentar in a bowling green in Chorlton and talked football. From there, everything moved very quickly.' Of the Leigh RMI friendly, Marginson says: 'There were three streakers – all male. I don't remember what they looked like, thankfully, and our fan culture was termed 'punk football'. I remember speaking to people and if they didn't have a sore throat at the end of the game, they felt as though they'd let the team down.' FC United attracted – and still do – formidable crowds: 2,552 watched the Leigh RMI friendly, while 2,357 were in attendance for the 1-0 defeat to Stockton Town, following the joint-protest with The 1958 a couple of months ago. Yet as FC United grew, the search for their own ground precipitated a financial crisis in 2015 that led the following year to the departures of general manager, Andy Walsh, as well as Adam Brown, another founder member. 'You had people in charge that were trying to get us in here [Broadhurst Park] and in their desperation, decisions were made which put the club at risk,' explains Nick Boom, FC United's current chair. 'There was a clamour to build our own ground and originally it was going to be at Ten Acres Lane at Newton Heath – and you know the symbolism of that.' Manchester United were originally known as Newton Heath LYR Football Club upon their formation in 1878. On 25 November 2010, FC United announced they had been granted planning approval 'to develop a 5,000-capacity ground and community sports complex' at the Ten Acres site. 'This is testament to the hard work and support we have received from New East Manchester and Manchester city council, in particular the help and guidance from the planning department,' Walsh said at the time. But the dream soured, Boom says, due to Ten Acres being in close proximity to Manchester United's crosstown rival. 'The owners at Manchester City didn't want a club related to Manchester United within Oldham Road [too], because they wanted to develop their area,' he explains. 'The leverage they had is that the Etihad [Stadium] is owned by Manchester city council and they wanted to extend [the lease].' Walsh drove the funding initiative for Broadhurst Park. Around £2m of the required £6.3m was raised by fans' investment, with this unlocking a further £3m of finance. Construction began on the 4,000-capacity venue in November 2013 and was completed in May 2015, with the 2-1 National League North defeat by Stockport on 11 August 2015 the first competitive fixture to take place there. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion However, further financial missteps occurred. 'Commodity prices went up,' Boom says. 'There was a judicial review for this site which also delayed it and cost more. And they [former board members] up-sized the business plan and said: 'Oh, we'll make more on the merchandise.' It was unrealistic.' A period of in-fighting ended with Walsh departing in March 2016, Brown the next month, claiming a 'hate campaign' had been launched against him and chief fundraiser, Andy Walker. In May of that year more board members resigned, claiming: 'Staff members and volunteers alike have at various times come to fear for their own safety.' Boom, who had been volunteering for FC United since its inception, left his banking job in 2017 and became part of the new board the following year. By then Marginson had also left. 'I stood firm with the outgoing board,' he says. 'I don't think that went down too well with the incoming board. It was time for a change.' The 54-year-old Marginson is now manager of Trafford FC. His job at FC United, meanwhile, is now occupied by Mark Beesley, who took charge last September and has just guided the team to 17th of 22 and safety in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. 'It's a unique club,' the 44-year-old says. 'The values they bring. It's a club that needs a bit of direction and hopefully I can give that on the pitch.' In April, those values led to Eric Cantona becoming a member of the club, alongside his four children and two brothers. When doing so, the Frenchman criticised the Glazers' and Ratcliffe ownership of the club where he enjoyed so much success and adoration. 'I support [Manchester] United because I really love United, but now if I was a fan and had to choose a club I don't think I would choose United,' he said. 'I was a Man United fan and probably wasn't aware of FC United until I was about 18, 19,' says Charlie Ennis, FC United's current 35-year-old captain. 'It's an amazing club – I describe it as the best non-league club. So to be seen as one of the leaders is definitely something I don't take for granted and I'm proud of. And my family comes to all the games. The kids walk me out on to the pitch on Saturday. And all these types of things are stuff that's a real bonus of playing for a club like FC United.'
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Man Utd legend Eric Cantona poses in rival kit as fans announce fresh protests against 20 years of Glazer ownership
MANCHESTER UNITED fans marked the 20th anniversary of the Glazer ownership by announcing plans for another protest. Supporters group 'The 1958' will again make their feelings known when Old Trafford stages the final home match of the season on May 25. 4 Manchester United fans are planning a fresh protest against the Glazer ownership Credit: PA 4 The Glazers took over the club in 2005 Credit: AFP 4 Fans claim the owners have 'betrayed' the club Credit: PA 4 Eric Cantona wore the colours of FC United to show his support Credit: X/FCUnitedMcr It is now two decades since the American family completed their controversial takeover of the Red Devils. And a spokesman for the 1958 said their legacy is 'greed, decay and betrayal'. They said: 'May 2005 marked one of the darkest days in the history of 'The Glazer family became majority shareholders – triggering a compulsory takeover that was completed in June that year. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL 'That moment signalled the beginning of the end for the soul and community of our once great club – sacrificed at the altar for corporate greed. 'We will march as one fanbase to make it clear that 20 years on the fire still burns red with fury and defiance. We protest, once again, at the Villa game. 'Lifelong supporters are being driven away from the club they love – priced out and pushed aside – another dagger to the heart of our football community. 'We want the Glazers out of our club. They were never welcome, they are not welcome now. They will never be welcome.' Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS The group said legendary former boss Club legend Eric Cantona has also joined in the protest. 'I lived at the training ground' - Former Man Utd transfer chief lifts lid on most expensive window in club history The Frenchman was pictured wearing an FC United of Manchester kit and bucket hat on social media. He has done so as "Football belongs to the fans." United are currently enduring their worst domestic season in 51 years, although they still have the chance to salvage Their statement said: 'Since his retirement, the rot beneath has been laid bare for all to see — the true cost of 20 years of financial exploitation and mismanagement. 'The club is drowning in over a billion pounds of debt, our fanbase Is fractured and 'All while the Glazers continue to pocket dividends, year after year, regardless of failure on the pitch. 'Old Trafford, once the Theatre of Dreams, is crumbling from decades of neglect. They've taken everything.' Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford
