For the Europeans amongst us, the football season has either ended, or is about to end. Fear not, though, a summer without football does not have to be a reality, thanks to the wonders of the internet.
Without a standardised world football calendar, there is always something to be found for all fans of the beautiful game, if you take your search online. New horizons are opened and you can align yourself to any team of choice.
FC United of Manchester suffered the heartache of defeat in a third successive Evo-Stick Northern Premier League playoff final last weekend, losing 2-1 to Hednesford Town in front of a bumper crowd of over 4000.
The early history of the club included three back-to-back promotions, but FC United now appear to have found themselves at a level of competition that is providing a real challenge to their progression. The red rebels will be vowing to try and win automatic promotion in next season’s campaign, to avoid having to face the playoffs for a fourth time.
Back in April, the club held its annual “Youth United” day. A day of family and community-friendly events culminated in free entry to the match versus Worksop Town for both children and students from colleges local to their temporary home of Gigg Lane, Bury. Youth groups, football teams, dance troupes, families and groups of young mates added to the crowd and a carnival was created.
(this article originally appeared on Backpagefootball.com )
Sir Alex Ferguson has announced his retirement. Over 26 years at the helm of the good ship Manchester United, he has steered them through the choppy waters of being from one of the biggest sleeping giants in world football to a true footballing monolith.
Inventing and reinventing championship winning sides, his longevity in the job has taken the club from times of pre-season tours through Ireland and Norway, to beatle-mania-esque forays in to Asia and beyond.
I recall reading the news on the school gym notice-board back in 1986. Our equivlent of Twitter. “Ron Atkinson sacked.”
To be replaced shortly after, with “Alex Ferguson named Manchester United manager.”
Jose Mourinho, fresh from defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final, would not have wanted the interview to end any other way, really, would he?
Photo: Новикова Юлия http://www.soccer.ru//20971
The man who admitted that he wants to come back to the place where he is loved, left the inhabitants of that implied country (and club) hanging, thanks to the foibles of ITV’s football coverage.
On Saturday 20th April, FC United of Manchester faced Worksop Town in an Evo-Stick Northern Premier League Premier Division match.
The final score was 1-0 to FC United and moved the club closer to a third consecutive appearance in the promotion play-offs. (This position was later consolidated by a 3-0 home win on Tuesday night against Ashton United.)
Saturday was designated as Youth United Day, aimed at encouraging young fans and families to enjoy live football at a reasonable price. Over 2700 supporters were in attendance.
With the lack of a full written post this week (other than this competition), I thought I’d do something a little bit different and share some of my photos from the game.
(I hope that rattle man does not mind my photo of him, he made my son’s day!)
