In the swinging sixties, Old Trafford had 63,000 admirers turning up on a regular basis, and City weren`t far behind with around 57,000 making the trip to Maine Road every other week. These are figures from memory and haven`t been recently researched, but as an avid reader of attendance figures in the days when newspapers reported news rather than mind-numbing celebrity gossip, I`m confident they`ll be close to the mark.
United, apart from a small blip, seem to have been Manchester`s top dog for far too long, and it would be a brave or perhaps foolish soul who would forecast a change any time soon.
City, like Celtic in Glasgow, are the second-most trophy-laden club in their neighbourhood, and United, like Rangers, have made the accrual of silverware a natural and glorious habit.
Since my boyhood years, I`ve softened a little towards Manchester United although I`ll never be a fan, but their swashbuckling style of football during the best of the Fergie years cannot be denied. If ever a team knew how to take a game by the throat and win uncompromisingly with adventure and a never-say-die attitude, it was United.
Away from the team, the example of Shareholders United, the club`s Trust, was praiseworthy as they attempted to awaken their massive support to the possibility of the club being taken over by an “outsider” Sadly, they`ve been unsuccessful this time, but I wish them well for the future. They were more than happy to assist the RST in its early days, and this was greatly appreciated.
A copy of the Manchester United fanzine, Red Issue, dropped through my letterbox recently, and it was a welcome reminder that fanzines of clubs other than Rangers can sometimes be enjoyed.
The fanzine community at both Rangers and Manchester United share a cynicism about the way their clubs are organised and run, and although large football clubs` boardroom wisdom is all too readily endorsed unquestioningly by a significant proportion of a club`s support, the fanzine community acts as a conscience for the club and is prepared to speak out on a number of issues which the passive fan tends to gloss over.
That cynicism is certainly present in Red Issue, and it has every reason to be.
One could spend an age reading what now passes as the mainstream press in the UK and enlightenment would still be a stranger. For the low-down on a football club; rumour, fact, gossip and insight, the fanzine is the place to find it, and Red Issue didn`t disappoint. Here`s a wee glimpse into what lies between its covers.
After United`s finance director stated that new owners, the Glazers, weren`t interfering in the day to day running of the club, he apparently publicly assured supporters that season tickets would rise by around 5%. Some months later, the same individual informed the support that the average increase would be around 12%! Concern has been raised that United are going to pitch their admission prices at Chelsea levels in the next few years.
The future of the club looks to be in good hands. Reserves boss Rene Meulensteen was approached by some of his youngsters and informed that the kids don`t want first team players in the team as they don`t take the games seriously. The youngsters want a proper “team unit” and want to win their league on their own.
The Glazers can book rooms in three or four different hotels on their travels, and like to be near the fire escape, but of course only one hotel is actually used.
The extension of Old Trafford to 76,000 is discussed and some contributors felt that the desirability of a season ticket had diminished. Apparently, there were several matches last season which had a pay at the gate facility, something which was news to me.
One fan without a season ticket didn`t enjoy the experience of being in one of the newly-constructed areas, and although he`d like a season ticket, he doesn`t want it in a new stand where he felt like “a complete twat” amongst the “tourists” when he tried to join in with the singing.
Both Alan Shearer and Manchester City are ridiculed in the fanzine. UK football tradition demands that fans don`t hold back when discussing rivals or key opposition players, and RI doesn`t pull any punches in this area – nor should it.
Red Issue is generally well-written and is an enjoyable and informative read with humour never far away and includes articles which are worthy of consideration and contemplation by not just the United support, but interested football watchers everywhere.
One of the best football articles I ever read was from Red Issue in 1998, and it`s good to see that this fanzine is still vibrant, relevant and meaningful.
I enjoyed reading it and wish it every success in the future.
Number_Eight
www.redissue.co.uk