FC United | Moston Community Stadium | 5,000 Capacity | App

[GanEden]

Be a cracking little ground for Swinton to play at.

[TheGrand]

Originally Posted by GanEden

Be a cracking little ground for Swinton to play at.

Hi mate, think we covered this in post 22 earlier in the season
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...9&postcount=22



Back to the matter in hand anyway, a fan has put together a nice little video on the type of spectacle FC can create, the prospect of creating such an atmosphere in our own little home on a Saturday afternoon is very exciting indeed

[Sir Miles Platting]

Grand---fair question: Given that FCUM came about because of opposition to the Glazer ownership. If that ownership were to change (to a more favourable one), will FCUM supporters disband and come back to being proper United fans, or is it too late now?

Great little video btw. I kinda cried a bit...

[Chorlton Metro]

Originally Posted by Sir Miles Platting

Grand---fair question: Given that FCUM came about because of opposition to the Glazer ownership. If that ownership were to change (to a more favourable one), will FCUM supporters disband and come back to being proper United fans, or is it too late now?

Great little video btw. I kinda cried a bit...

I will not be going back to o/t when the glazers leave ,i have seen another side of football that i quite like.

[heatonparkincakes]

As a neutral, I did ask the same question as Miles to my neighbour who is part of FCUM. And he was frank with me in saying that as a fair percentage of their support already watches MUFC, any such ownership change would not alter the need for FCUM.

Simply he argues, they serve different needs an d perhaps could compliment each other.

But I would contend that top level football is already lost to cosmopolitan globalist corporate finance.

Its a play thing for play boy capitalists. Be it be fascistic Gulf Arabs and trophy clubs, tax loss dodging Americans or State capitalist Chinese, then its all about money and little about competitive sport.

Its good telly though.

[TheGrand]

Originally Posted by Sir Miles Platting

Grand---fair question: Given that FCUM came about because of opposition to the Glazer ownership. If that ownership were to change (to a more favourable one), will FCUM supporters disband and come back to being proper United fans, or is it too late now?

Great little video btw. I kinda cried a bit...

No it is a fair question. I’ll address the easy bit first, FC United will not disband, many folk are now too far into it to just give it up. On a typical match day, even as early as 12pm, Gigg Lane is already a hive of activity, with volunteers everywhere doing their bit for the club, from the FC Juniors, to the club shop, to the membership stall, to the program sellers, to the Turnstile operators, to FCUM Radio, to the players, to the volunteers at Course You Can Malcolms right through to the General Manager. It’s just something that I cannot envisage people turning their backs on because of a Cityesque Arab billionaire turning up at OT. For many FC’ers it is just so much more than the money spent on transfers or even the football success on the pitch, it’s about being part of a family and the longer it goes on, the more normal and traditional it becomes.

This fact is further shown further by FC’s attendances. After 6 seasons of going to Gigg Lane, we’ve plateaued a bit. I’ve always said the problem with FC now is you have to really really want to go to attend home games; after the euphoria of the first two seasons, it must surely be a right trek for some to get to home games and when milling around in mid table like we have been the last two seasons, it has to be testing. But that said, there is always a sizeable crowd at every home game, still more then Bury FC, this demonstrates that FC United now has a hardcore element of 1,500 to 2,000 supporters, with a further 1,500 calling themselves FC members as well, these numbers are the foundations for the club to grow in our new home, which will be a lovely 2 miles out of the city centre when built (not 8)

For some though, the option has been there right from the start to attend both Uniteds, and a good section of FC’s support do indeed attend games at both Old Trafford and Gigg Lane. A change in ownership may increase the number of supporters doing this, but thanks to Sky and clubs chasing the TV money instead of considering the needs of supporters, Big United and Little United rarely clash, so I don’t really foresee this being a problem.

Glazer was the catalyst for many folk to form FC, but a lot of people will tell you that it is not the only reason we exist. We all know the issues with football in this country, they’re quite undeniable really, from the lack of supporter representation right through to tickets prices and the over commercialisation of the game. From a personal point of view, I love the Cooperative model we have at FC and the longer we exist, the more people notice the merits of it. We’re just one in a growing list of clubs who have taken on supporter ownership in this country and we’re all playing our part to show how successful and sustainable it can be, not just for the club, but for the communities the club resides in and for British football in general.

That said, in the unlikely event that Manchester United did indeed become a supporter owned club, I think its obvious what we would do. Already FC United members are members of AFC Wimbledon and vice versa, and in Germany, its common for football supporters to be members of more than one club, so that’s what many will do in this scenario.

That was war and peace anyway, sorry!

[GanEden]

Originally Posted by TheGrand

Hi mate, think we covered this in post 22 earlier in the season
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...9&postcount=22



Back to the matter in hand anyway, a fan has put together a nice little video on the type of spectacle FC can create, the prospect of creating such an atmosphere in our own little home on a Saturday afternoon is very exciting indeed

I believe you did, but I'd like to be the first to say that soccer pitches in poor state are not the result of RL. RL is played in summer when the grass is actively growing.

[jrb]

The conspiracy theory. Perhaps ADUG/City didn't want FC in their backyard? so MCC have used the spending cuts as an excuse to pull the funding. TBH it wouldn't surprise me.

Nothing would gall ADUG and City more than spending 100's of millions on the surrounding area, and then having the bastard child of MUFC on it's doorstep.

As City's hardcore would have you believe, 'THE CITY IS OURS'.

Plans to build a new ground for FC United in Newton Heath have been pulled because of funding problems.

It is understood the Manchester United breakaway club, who were due to get a new purpose-built 5,000 seater community stadium on the site, already have their sights set on a new location and still aim to be in a new home for the start of the 2012 season.

The Ten Acres Lane site in Newton Heath – where Manchester United was founded in 1878 - would have been particularly significant to the semi-professional club, who were born out of the anti Glazer movement at the Reds five years ago.

But Manchester council has had to pull £650,000 cash for the project after having millions of pounds slashed from its government funding.

They will now work with the club – which has raised more than £1m for a new ground through a 'community shares' scheme - to find an alternative, more 'financially viable' home.

They said a new proposal, which will be published by the end of the month, would also include community football facilities.

It is hoped the new stadium will also be in Newton Heath at an alternative site.

Andy Walsh, general manager of FC United, said: "This has come as a shock and disappointment to us but we feel confident that the final outcome will be a much stronger proposition for the football club and its supporters.

“We are not abandoning Newton Heath.

“We have worked hard for the residents of the area and engaged closely with them in the work that we have done and while we are sad that we will not be taking forward our proposal to move in to Ten Acres Lane we will continue to work with them in our community outreach programme."

FC United won council backing for the £3.5m development last year. It would have included the renovation of an existing sports centre and artificial football pitches.

The club said it would now be amending the terms of the community shares scheme accordingly.

Eddie Smith, Chief Executive of New East Manchester said: "We have to review these proposals in the light of the funding cuts necessitated by the government's settlement.

“But we remain committed to working closely with the club to examine options for plans which both meet their ambitions and deliver the widest possible community benefits."

[Deanuk]

Yes this is good news, fingers crossed FC go bust before the year is out.

[WatcherZero]

Im suspicious if they didnt raise as much as they hoped, the move was going to cost £3.5m, MCC were contributing 650k and they had raised £1m from community shares, that still left them only halfway there on funds, no wonder they have started looking for a cheaper ground.

[TheGrand]

We'll have to see what is said at today's meeting.

But FC wont be going bust anytime soon....sorry

The business plan for the ground is on a very sound footing as the council freely admits if not very modest really. The funding was coming from a number of areas, not just the council, but there were fallbacks outlined. We may be an amateur club but this project isnt. The Community Shares Scheme was the headline and at last check we were on course to getting to its target, and provision is in the plan to plug any gaps with bank assistance. The plan is viable and workable. This is not about the scope for the site from an FC funding point of view.

1.5 million raised in 6 months, over 300k in the bank for fees and getting the project started, a sound business plan for the future, a planning application process which got the people of Newton Heath involved and pointed to a promising legacy, and a 3,000 strong membership base driving the whole thing forward as a Co-Op. We're a step 3 club on the Non League pyramid.

I hope there is no conspiracy but this is a set back, but we're FC, I think we've proven a few things over the years about our owners, we're driven enough to get round this. Season 2012/13 is still the date.

[andysimo123]

Why do City fans feel so threatened by a non-league club? If City did have something to do with this, its a fucking disgrace. The City top bass picking on a non-league club trying to develop part of East Manchester for the better of Greater Manchester, to do with United or not, that's a bit sick. In fact if any of them were involved, in my view you deserve jail time. Being happy a non-league club has lost funding so it couldn't develop its own stadium and facilities for the local community, that's very low. But as ever they'd forgotten something. They already had £2.9m of the £3.5m funding committed and when you get put back, you try even harder. A little story like that doing the rounds is only going to make others want to put more into the pot to get the next plan built and make it better than before. I don't support FC but I like their plan and I like what they stand for. I think a lot people are like that now. Get the stadium built in a good location and they'll be gaining more support than ever.

[jrb]

Originally Posted by andysimo123

Why do City fans feel so threatened by a non-league club? If City did have something to do with this, its a fucking disgrace. The City top bass picking on a non-league club trying to develop part of East Manchester for the better of Greater Manchester, to do with United or not, that's a bit sick. In fact if any of them were involved, in my view you deserve jail time. Being happy a non-league club has lost funding so it couldn't develop its own stadium and facilities for the local community, that's very low. But as ever they'd forgotten something. They already had £2.9m of the £3.5m funding committed and when you get put back, you try even harder. A little story like that doing the rounds is only going to make others want to put more into the pot to get the next plan built and make it better than before. I don't support FC but I like their plan and I like what they stand for. I think a lot people are like that now. Get the stadium built in a good location and they'll be gaining more support than ever.

It's tribal.(United fans) You of all people should know and understand that. Hence why we don't post or reply to each other anymore.

And yes I did reply. Just to put the record straight.

[heatonparkincakes]

That is desperate news.

As an neutral non football loving observer, if there is any economic revival in Manchester, achieving growth in tremendously deprived areas like Newton Heath can only be good for the whole city region economy.

A community facility, anchored on something that isn't Tesco is the kind of development that needs to be encouraged.

Of course its another example of the savage neo con assault on the north by the tossers of Cameron, Clegg and Osborne. And the implication of the lack of local control we have over our affairs.

I would despair if the two big corporate sportintainment MC/MUFC have anything to do with this.

In any other state, the government would be jumping with glee at supporting this.

Not here.

It not all bad news at least this is happening.Perhaps a generation too late, http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...dium_proposals

[TheGrand]

Yesterday's members meeting was very encouraging, a couple of recent tweets give you the jist

FCUnitedMcr - FC United Manchester
Good turnout at members' meeting to discuss Ten Acres Lane being under review. Lots of questions and honest answers. Next steps = positive.

fcumdevfund - FCUM DevelopmentFund
Nothing changes, only the location. Dust yourself down and crack on. @FCUnitedMcr is alive, well and building a new ground #makeitso #fcum

More news in the coming days, we're not dead yet

[Isaac Newell]

It seems a bit strange that Newton Heath is still in the frame but not Ten Acres Lane.

The obvious solution is to start with a more modest stadium on the same site.

So what's the problem with the original site?

[TheGrand]

Originally Posted by Isaac Newell

It seems a bit strange that Newton Heath is still in the frame but not Ten Acres Lane.

The obvious solution is to start with a more modest stadium on the same site.

So what's the problem with the original site?

Bit of a mystery that to be honest, I'm assured though that we'll know more about all the ins and outs in the coming weeks, which hopefully will include news on this new site.

Today though is about the launch of the new Cooperative campaign, which includes the use of the FC United story too. Back of the Metro and on billboards, good stuff

[TheGrand]

http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=3462

DF Donations at the Mickelover game on Saturday

There were many emotions felt by FC United supporters following the announcement late on Friday afternoon that the dream of building our own ground at Ten Acres Lane was all but over. Watching people’s faces as they filed into the Member’s meeting in Prestwich on Saturday morning it was clear the over-riding one was disappointment. Huge, gut-wrenching disappointment, the likes of which most of us have not felt since Spring 2005.

Having known about the news a few days earlier, uppermost in the minds of the Board and General Manager were concerns about how supporters might react. The news would obviously affect morale hard, people were bound to question what was now going to happen and what the future for FC United might look like and so there was genuine concern on behalf of the Club’s Board that this news might knock confidence.

Fortunately, 350 or so Members were able to hear first-hand the events of the past week or so and they were told in no uncertain terms that the location might’ve changed but the dream wasn’t over. In fact, it is still very much alive. No spin, just a sober, clear account of where we are and where we’re going. Presenting facts to members and trusting them to draw their own conclusions, just as we’ve always done. Assessing the mood of people leaving the Member’s meeting the looks of concern had been replaced with optimism, Cautious optimism but optimism nevertheless.

However encouraging that might’ve been, 350 represents only ten percent of our current membership and there are possibly another couple of hundred match-going FC fans who aren’t members but were still very concerned about the previous day’s announcement and what it might mean for the Club. We still had a game to go to and there were a large number of supporters whose reaction we had not been able to measure. The short car journey from Prestwich to Gigg Lane was a therefore nervous one.

On arrival in Bury, those who had been at the meeting were going about their match-day duties or simply taking the time to talk to others who had been there or update those who hadn’t. Talking to supporters, their response was that given the emotional investment made in Ten Acres it was hugely disappointing that it was not to be our home but equally optimistic that the proposed new site will be as good if not better and that we will fight on.

You reacted by giving over £2,000 to the Development Fund at Saturday’s game at Gigg Lane . That was the combined total from the DF barrels (£9,173 so far this season) and Pound for the Ground (half time draw). Despite the low blow, you reacted by putting your hand in your pocket to make a statement that you still believe in what FC United is doing. You told us that you’re right behind the Club and will do whatever it takes to get us into our own ground.

Of course there are still a whole host of unanswered questions about what happens next and £2,000 doesn’t get us there but the response is exactly what everyone needed to see. We needed to know that spirits aren’t broken. We needed to be told that everyone is prepared to work hard to get us there, even if it’s not Ten Acres Lane . We will get there as long as you stand behind us and do everything in your power to ‘make it so’.

There are a some very busy times ahead for FC United. There is an extraordinary commitment required from everyone involved in the Club. Of course money is important but we know that a huge number of people are facing problems of their own as the economic situation affects more and more families. Your time is as important as money. We will need to push on with our fundraising so give what you can, when you can but please get involved. The Development Fund website gives details on up and coming events and initiatives – http://fc-utd.co.uk/devfund/ - or you can contact us via email on developmentfund@fc-utd.co.uk

Perhaps not as well known as “Top of the World” but certainly no less profound, Karen Carpenter sang “we’ll find a place where there’s room to grow... and we’ve only just begun”. She’s right on both counts – we will and we have. Thanks for your ongoing and unparalleled support.

[flange]

FC United confident of new stadium plan 'within weeks' after Ten Acres Lane setback

Pamela Welsh

March 07, 2011

FC United are ‘confident’ they can finalise a new location for a stadium ‘within weeks’ – after the plug was pulled on plans for a 5,000-seater ground in Newton Heath.

The original stadium plans were abandoned after Manchester council withdrew £650,000 it had pledged, blaming government funding cuts.

But the club – born out of the anti-Glazer movement at Manchester United five years ago – will work with council bosses to find another location.

They hope to be installed at their new ground for the 2012/2013 season.

Hundreds of fans attended a crunch members’ meeting and have thrown their weight behind the attempts to find a new stadium location.

Andy Walsh, general manager of FC United, said: “Everybody has confidence in the board that we can deliver a new stadium. The members were shocked and there were some who were very upset. But we expect to be able to announce our new plans within four weeks.”

The club – run as a co-operative – had already raised £1.3m in community shares, just short of its £1.5m target.

Members will be able to get their money back or reinvest in the new scheme when it is finalised.

Mr Walsh said: “We’ve got to write to all our shareholders to explain the situation and outline the position.

“They will be able to get their money back, but we will also be giving them a new offer to take forward plans for a new site.”

The Ten Acres Lane site in Newton Heath – where Manchester United was founded in 1878 – would have been particularly significant to the club.

Council bosses granted the club planning permission in November. It would have involved the renovation of the existing sports centre and artificial pitches.

Mr Walsh added: “We extensively consulted our members on the design of the stadium and many of those aspects will be included in any new plans.

“We do think any plans will have the potential to be even better than before.”

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...s_lane_setback

[TheGrand]

Originally Posted by jrb

As City's hardcore would have you believe, 'THE CITY IS OURS'.

Make room fellas