Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I’m very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that. –Bill Shankly
Before the advent of Sky Television and the emergence of European football as a global phenomenon, club football was a symbol of one’s community – the local team that played near your backyard, the stadium one lived nearby and players who could probably be next door neighbours. ‘Going to the game’ was a phrase that symbolized a weekend’s banter between mates or even camaraderie between a father and a son. However, club football has long metamorphosed into a money yielding monster and slowly but surely everyone has given in to the lure of mega bucks.
The higher you rise in the league table, the more you drift away from your roots, eventually the boon or the curse of the first division comes calling. What would you rather have – a secure place in a lower division or the glamour and extravaganza of the big stage? It’s a double edged sword; you may very well choose the latter but along with it carry the baggage of losing your club’s identity.
Influx of foreign investment has lead to owners who are alien to the concept of running a football club, ignorant to fans’ demand and just in it for the money. They might be brilliant businessman in their own field, but surely for a supporter of a football club, his/her club is beyond these worldly monetary pursuits.
There are a few instances of the growing disenchantment among groups of supporters resulting in complete abandonment of their boy hood club – akin to losing their religion.
I fell in love with football as I would later fall in love with women: suddenly, uncritically, giving no thought to the pain it would bring. – Nick Hornby
FC United – Manchester United
Glazers – the one who divided a United family
The summer of 2005 would always be remembered in the rainy half of England as the season of major upheaval. Manchester as we are well aware is home to one of the leading lights of European and world football – Manchester United or the ‘Red Devils’. However, success is often the bait for leeches to pry on. Malcom Glazer an American businessman finally won over the rights of this football club in a deal that valued the club at around $1.47 billion. However, he couldn’t ever win the fans over, disgruntled by the rising ticket prices and the loss of club’s essence, some of the season ticket holders had had enough. However, the extent of their disapproval of the Glazer regime only became apparent when many of the supporters came together and formed “FC United of Manchester” – a club of their own, free from the shackles of money, power, and takeovers. FCUM – a club for the community, by the community and of the community, as their tag line says ‘the soul is one’.
Won’t pay glazer or work for sky,
We still sing city’s gonna die,
2 united’s but the soul is 1,
As the Busby babes carry on.
Affectionately known as the ‘Red Rebels’, FC United have gained successive promotions and are now playing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. The club is brilliantly supported by ex-Reds and Old Trafford faithfuls who have rather painfully managed to cut the cord from their first love and are now dedicated to the club they feel truly symbolizes the spirit of their community. One cannot look past the extent of their sacrifice, it couldn’t have been a decision taken in haste, supporting FC United ahead of the glamorous Old Trafford outfit. Those who have made the transition can probably still hear the Stretford End erupting each time Man United score, surely their hearts skip a beat on such occasions. Which game would you rather watch Man United v Barcelona or FC United v Gainsborough Trinity F.C? However Karl Marginson –FC’s manager has done a swell job and remains committed to the task at hand. The motto of the club remains self sustenance rather than over indulgence.
FC United are currently tenants at Bury’s Gigg Lane ground, however, with estimated access to a sizeable sum through grants and also £500,000 in donations, £300,000 of which has already been received, a new home might be on the horizon. The rest of the amount is intended to be raised by the community via the community-share scheme. FC claim to be the first football club to issue such shares, a means by which community enterprises can raise capital funds. The intentions are surely noble and a righteous path has been chosen. Sometime in the distant future the Manchester Derby could perhaps bear a completely different meaning. Some of the FC supporters had sworn to never step foot inside the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ – a place which they once called home. It would be intriguing to see if that promise is broken for such a special occasion. FC United is a special football club, constantly in touch with its roots, always seeking the approval of its beloved, and at all times aware of its motto.
The chant sung in the very first season of FC’s home games almost sums up the concept of this football club.
From the ashes of Old Trafford,
Comes a brand new football team,
And we play in North West Counties,
To live Matt Busby’s dream.
To hell with Malcolm Glazer,
To hell with Vodafone,
*** we’re FC United,
Gigg Lane is our new home.
MK Dons – AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon’s story differs from FC’s, although the premise remains the same. Wimbledon FC, formed in 1889, was a proud football club. It was one of the elites, as it was a part of only a handful of English clubs who claimed to have won the FA Cup. Wimbledon won the prestigious cup in 1988, and less than two decades later this esteemed London club lost even the semblance of its existence. The Taylor Report recommended that all top-flight clubs play in all-seater stadia. The club had to abide by the ruling and move from Plough lane. For a decade, ground sharing with Crystal Palace provide temporary relief. However, with pressure to increase revenues and the absence of a suitable site nearby, the club took a call that shook the legion of its fan-base to the core. The club decided to abandon their native South London to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire to the ire of Wimbledon FC die hards. MK Dons was established as an extension to Wimbledon FC in June 2004. The club however doesn’t lay claim to the history of erstwhile Wimbledon FC. The majority of the fan base didn’t leave their beloved south London home. Their reluctance gave rise to AFC Wimbledon led by Kris Stewart – a management accountant in June 2002. This was the club the locals recognized as their own, AFC Wimbledon they thought would symbolize Wimbledon’s tradition and legacy. The club now plays in the Conference division – the fifth tier of English football. MK Dons, on the other hand, are two divisions above in Football League One, only a couple of promotions away from top flight.
The romantic rebels – AFC Wimbledon supporters
AFC Wimbledon fans have nothing but antipathy for MK Dons; they view them as enemies – the ones who stole their club and their league place from the original Wimbledon FC. SW19-ers refuse to accept their existence, however Wimbledon fans accept that if they win their place back in the Football League their paths will cross with MK eventually, but it will be on an even keel.
The hatred can be summed up in the statement by club Chairman Erik Samuelson “It will be absolutely horrible when we play MK Dons. The result will be irrelevant. They stole from us.”
Football keeps throwing such fantastic saga’s, it’s evident from such stories that passion for one’s club, one’s identity is paramount to the supporters. Something’s in life are surely worth standing up for.
“You can change your wife, your house, your car, but you can never change your team. Chairmen come and go, boards come and go, but the fans remain. They are the one true constant.”- Eddie Thompson (ex chairman Dundee United)