FC United of Manchester will take on Manchester United legends at Broadhurst Park later this year.
The club competes in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, which is the seventh tier of the English football system.
FC United were set up in 2005 by Manchester United supporters opposed to American businessman Malcolm Glazer’s takeover of the club.
After Heart of Midlothian and Exeter City, FC United is the third-largest fan-owned football club in the United Kingdom by number of members.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the club and they will celebrate by playing a match against Man United legends.
The Manchester Evening News reports “Manchester United icon Wes Brown has been unveiled as part of a legends team which will take part in a historic football match against FC United of Manchester.”
“The team of United legends will be taking to the pitch against FC United of Manchester as part of celebrations for its 20th anniversary. Brown joins a star-studded team who will compete against The Red Rebels in front of their home crowd.”
FC United of Manchester’s team will also be a legends one and the match will take place on the 18th of May.
Brown will be joined by David May, Lee Martin, Russell Beardsmore, Keith Gillespie and Danny Webber with more players set to be named soon.
“FC United’s line-up will feature players who have been pivotal to the club’s development including their all-time top goalscorer, Tom Greaves, most-capped player Jerome Wright, and the club’s FA Cup hero Michael Norton. The trio will also be joined by former captain Dave Brown and fans’ favourite from the club’s inaugural season, Joz Mitten.”
The match is significant as it is the first ever match between representatives of both teams since the breakaway.
The context of the match is also interesting due to the increasing mainstream dissatisfaction with the club’s owners owing to rising debt, hiked up match day tickets and cuts in most departments.
In fact, there is a fan protest scheduled for the 9th of March when United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford in the league.
Featured image Andrew Redington via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
