_
United School Boy
100%
Posts: 0
|
Post by _ on Sept 11, 2014 21:56:28 GMT
I never had a local team. What was I supposed to do? Not watch football? So what got you into footy and MUFC?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 22:10:33 GMT
I never had a local team. What was I supposed to do? Not watch football? So what got you into footy and MUFC? I was a fan of Giggs. Watched a United game very young & my dad was screaming for Giggs to keep running past people. He wasn't really into football but he found Giggs exciting. The moment that sold me for life was before the 96 Cup final. Someone asked who i was going for, I said United. There was no turning back at that point. I'd chosen a side & probably fell in love for real at the end of that game.
|
|
_
United School Boy
100%
Posts: 0
|
Post by _ on Sept 11, 2014 22:20:26 GMT
So what got you into footy and MUFC? I was a fan of Giggs. Watched a United game very young & my dad was screaming for Giggs to keep running past people. He wasn't really into football but he found Giggs exciting. The moment that sold me for life was before the 96 Cup final. Someone asked who i was going for, I said United. There was no turning back at that point. I'd chosen a side & probably fell in love for real at the end of that game. Thanks Aus. It seems dads and grandads are the big factor in who we support!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 22:27:00 GMT
I was a fan of Giggs. Watched a United game very young & my dad was screaming for Giggs to keep running past people. He wasn't really into football but he found Giggs exciting. The moment that sold me for life was before the 96 Cup final. Someone asked who i was going for, I said United. There was no turning back at that point. I'd chosen a side & probably fell in love for real at the end of that game. Thanks Aus. It seems dads and grandads are the big factor in who we support! Yes they do, My daughter already has United clothes & she'll be booted out for supporting anyone else. Even if she never watches football she'll still know she's a United supporter.
|
|
|
Post by grandpaTJ on Sept 11, 2014 22:27:23 GMT
It took me a number of years of just watching football for what the game offered before I decided on a specific club that I wanted to take to my heart. I got into the game because I felt that in terms of "skills" there was no game that required more from it's players and coaches, if they were playing at the elite level. Also, strange as this might sound, I was able to equate the game with my other passion, which is basketball. I could take an overhead of a basketball court, and a football pitch, put aside the differences in size, and look at the movement on fast breaks (Transitions) or look at the movement around the basket on set plays, I was able to really get into watching the footie and appreciating that it was as well choreographed as a ballet, and not just aimless kicking at the ball.
I chose United because win, lose, or draw, the players left their guts on the field of play at the end of every match, and as I learned more and more about the history of the club I realized that there has never been another club that has consistently that operated, in every way from grounds keepers to the top, with quality that was born from their pride in that history. (Same thing which has kept me as a Bear fan for over 50 years)
Best part: I can spend the rest of my days learning about the history of the club, and at the same time, I feel like a new chapter is about to be written in that history. This group of players that chose to come to United as loan and transfers, along with the youth players we have (Several of whom I think will be world class inside of 3 years or so) can be my "Class of '92. Something I can share with the grandkids when they are watching matches with me.
|
|
|
Post by swimmityswim on Sept 11, 2014 23:15:38 GMT
for me, united were the first proper team i saw live. a friendly in dublin against shelbourne when i was like 10.
a young giggsy got a kiss from a female pitch invader. cantona lit up the occasion and i was hooked.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2014 0:12:17 GMT
I've never felt uncomfortable supporting United, but I do grow weary of the glory hunter tag, and general ABU abuse that gets hurled my way. The fact I started supporting United in 1976, after an FA cup loss to the local team (I am Southampton born and bred) never resonates at all with them. To be perfectly honest, supporting United throughout the seventies and eighties should have garnered looks of sympathy if anything.
|
|
|
Post by grandpaTJ on Sept 12, 2014 0:56:23 GMT
Piss on the muppets, I would bet that someone that was swaddled in a United blanket at birth, and grew up with the club for last 70 years hears "glory hunter" from time to time. I think that there is a percentage of people that claim to support teams that reside in lower part of the table so they can pretend to be real fans of the game.
One thing that drew me to United was that the fans KNOW the club, they know the history, and they are the first ones to say "Fair play" and give credit to an opponent that has shown quality and class. That is sportsmanship, and IMO, there are far to few fans that still practice it.
|
|
mutley
United Youth Teamer
plg%%Scholes%%
Posts: 83
|
Post by mutley on Sept 12, 2014 5:56:24 GMT
I equally understand what you are saying busby3859. I fell in love with United as a 10 year old watching the 1979 FA Cup Final against Arsenal. I was horrified at the injustice of what I considered the best team loosing. The never say die attitude and the fighting spirit of the team right up to the last minute had me hooked then and still does now (although thankfully the results have mostly been better . I have followed them ever since through the ups and downs but, coming from Guernsey (now in South Korea) and never having set foot in Old Trafford, I have always felt the need to justify myself as a United supporter when asked by those who sneer. I have tried to justify it to myself and others by virtue of the fact that I have followed them through the tough times and not merely riding the 'glory days' but since becoming a member of this site I feel less of a need. I follow as many games as I can, am desperately hoping that there will be an upcoming tour of Asia soon but the ability to post and read posts as an accepted member of this forum has over ridden any 'guilt' that I may have felt.
|
|
_
United School Boy
100%
Posts: 0
|
Post by _ on Sept 12, 2014 6:35:35 GMT
Some great anecdotes guys. I personally have never tired of hearing about fans' experiences. Sharing this stuff all adds to the joys of being part of our great club.
My grandad worked on Manchester Ship Canal as a ships's rigger. He would take me aboard a ship in the morning and then off to the match in the afternoon. I had to be carried over his shoulder as he climbed the gang-planks. When United were away he would take me to Salford Rugby League. He parked his Morris Minor in the docks for free and I recall running across the railway tracks and massive mooring ropes to keep up with him. We always had to be in the ground by 1.30 or feared getting locked out. Entrance in the kids area was about 2-bob with an adult. Fizzy pop at half time, usually Dandelion and Burdock. My dad was a city fan and played for the Bitter's up to the reserves. He, my uncle who played with Bury and my aunt tried hard to get me into the city ranks and I have often stood in the Kippax - which ran down the full of the pitch and was an interesting view, but it never had the atmosphere even with Bell and that lot.
Once I started to go on my own as a teenager that was magic, the first time in the Stretty was mind blowing. Crushed together, singing, jumping up and down, and avoiding getting pushed to the front, and being exhausted by the kick off. I took my first serious girlfriend to a match against Sunderland. Jordan scored a great header and a load of blokes gave her kisses! Later she told me she was glad she wore jeans and a leather jacket because there were hands all over her 'bits' as the lads copped a feel. Great to share!
|
|
|
Post by swimmityswim on Sept 12, 2014 9:06:00 GMT
Some great anecdotes guys. I personally have never tired of hearing about fans' experiences. Sharing this stuff all adds to the joys of being part of our great club. My grandad worked on Manchester Ship Canal as a ships's rigger. He would take me aboard a ship in the morning and then off to the match in the afternoon. I had to be carried over his shoulder as he climbed the gang-planks. When United were away he would take me to Salford Rugby League. He parked his Morris Minor in the docks for free and I recall running across the railway tracks and massive mooring ropes to keep up with him. We always had to be in the ground by 1.30 or feared getting locked out. Entrance in the kids area was about 2-bob with an adult. Fizzy pop at half time, usually Dandelion and Burdock. My dad was a city fan and played for the Bitter's up to the reserves. He, my uncle who played with Bury and my aunt tried hard to get me into the city ranks and I have often stood in the Kippax - which ran down the full of the pitch and was an interesting view, but it never had the atmosphere even with Bell and that lot. Once I started to go on my own as a teenager that was magic, the first time in the Stretty was mind blowing. Crushed together, singing, jumping up and down, and avoiding getting pushed to the front, and being exhausted by the kick off. I took my first serious girlfriend to a match against Sunderland. Jordan scored a great header and a load of blokes gave her kisses! Later she told me she was glad she wore jeans and a leather jacket because there were hands all over her 'bits' as the lads copped a feel. Great to share! i understand the safety reasons and everything, but football grounds really are worse for the lack of terraces. football is a sport that should be enjoyed standing up. croke park in dublin has a huge terrace end behind one of the goals called hill 16, and when dublin play in GAA games it's absolutely rocking. cheap tickets and genuine fans, with a sprinkling of casual observers/tourists.
|
|
|
Post by aussiegraham (Ret.) on Sept 12, 2014 9:37:24 GMT
Like many on here my dad was the reason I support United, but under very different circumstances! When I was growing up in Kent he played football and would leave home with his kit bag with "MUFC" embroidered on it. He told me he played for Manchester United and I had no reason to doubt him. By the time I learnt he actually played for Maidstone United I was hooked and when a couple of years later we won the European Cup, the love affair was consummated! I also support Gillingham, my (then) local team and followed them around the country as a hooligan in the 70's and early 80's. When I got to Sydney in 87 I joined the NSW MUFC supporters club and formed an unofficial down under GFC supporters club (we peaked at 14 members, lol!) and still drink with a few lads from both groups on occasions. When I visit home I can easily get to Gills games but also try my hardest to see United play. I've been lucky enough to get to about a dozen games in my life and will always cherish those opportunities as I truly bleed both blue and red (although I know some people can't understand how anyone could have shared loyalties like that). My teams have met once, in a pre-season friendly in Kent arranged by Brucey (ironically I was living here by then). The Gills won 1-0 and I have the whole game on VHS filmed throughout on a hand held video camera! (Great quality, not!) ?
|
|
|
Post by busby3859 on Sept 15, 2014 0:08:05 GMT
Like many on here my dad was the reason I support United, but under very different circumstances! When I was growing up in Kent he played football and would leave home with his kit bag with "MUFC" embroidered on it. He told me he played for Manchester United and I had no reason to doubt him. By the time I learnt he actually played for Maidstone United I was hooked and when a couple of years later we won the European Cup, the love affair was consummated! I also support Gillingham, my (then) local team and followed them around the country as a hooligan in the 70's and early 80's. When I got to Sydney in 87 I joined the NSW MUFC supporters club and formed an unofficial down under GFC supporters club (we peaked at 14 members, lol!) and still drink with a few lads from both groups on occasions. When I visit home I can easily get to Gills games but also try my hardest to see United play. I've been lucky enough to get to about a dozen games in my life and will always cherish those opportunities as I truly bleed both blue and red (although I know some people can't understand how anyone could have shared loyalties like that). My teams have met once, in a pre-season friendly in Kent arranged by Brucey (ironically I was living here by then). The Gills won 1-0 and I have the whole game on VHS filmed throughout on a hand held video camera! (Great quality, not!) ? That league 1 side I tried to start following by getting a season ticket was Gillingham
|
|
|
Post by aussiegraham (Ret.) on Sept 16, 2014 9:43:31 GMT
Like many on here my dad was the reason I support United, but under very different circumstances! When I was growing up in Kent he played football and would leave home with his kit bag with "MUFC" embroidered on it. He told me he played for Manchester United and I had no reason to doubt him. By the time I learnt he actually played for Maidstone United I was hooked and when a couple of years later we won the European Cup, the love affair was consummated! I also support Gillingham, my (then) local team and followed them around the country as a hooligan in the 70's and early 80's. When I got to Sydney in 87 I joined the NSW MUFC supporters club and formed an unofficial down under GFC supporters club (we peaked at 14 members, lol!) and still drink with a few lads from both groups on occasions. When I visit home I can easily get to Gills games but also try my hardest to see United play. I've been lucky enough to get to about a dozen games in my life and will always cherish those opportunities as I truly bleed both blue and red (although I know some people can't understand how anyone could have shared loyalties like that). My teams have met once, in a pre-season friendly in Kent arranged by Brucey (ironically I was living here by then). The Gills won 1-0 and I have the whole game on VHS filmed throughout on a hand held video camera! (Great quality, not!) ? That league 1 side I tried to start following by getting a season ticket was Gillingham Well there's a coincidence. And shame on you for not forming an instant emotional attachment to such a great little club! ?
|
|
|
Post by busby3859 on Sept 16, 2014 15:28:25 GMT
That league 1 side I tried to start following by getting a season ticket was Gillingham Well there's a coincidence. And shame on you for not forming an instant emotional attachment to such a great little club! ? I know :/ I just felt no emotional attachment unfortunately. I missed several games in order to watch United on the box. I remember as kid going to watch them for the first time purely because they were playing in a friendly against Chelsea and I wanted to see Sparky just after he left united.
|
|