After breaking away from Manchester United in protest at Malcolm Glazer’s takeover of the club in 2005, FC United are set to step up their protest by moving to Newton Heath.
For those who don’t know, Newton Heath, the birthplace of Manchester United, originally wore Green and Gold (the current colours of the Anti-Glazer protest).
FC United who currently compete in the Unibond Premier League and play at Bury’s Gigg Lane have drawn up plans to move into a 5,000-capacity stadium at the Ten Acres Lane sports centre although the club must secure backing for the £3.5m project.
Andy Walsh the club’s general manager said:
“The significance of this location is historical while it will also showcase a new model of facility development, based on football supporter ownership and community involvement.”
If approved the stadium could be ready for the start of the 2012/2013 season.
No one seems to care about the fact that Newton Heath were in masses of debt. They moved from Newton Heath and were renamed Manchester United as part of the rescue package by John Davies who ran a brewery in Manchester.
Indeed it is a point lost on some but in the same breath, I think many look back to the Green & Gold of Newton Heath as it symbolises a time when the club were purely a football team rather than a franchise as the Glazers seem to think it is.
This is part of the reason why many want ‘football club’ added back to the badge if the Glazers are eventually bought out.