F.C. United of Manchester facts for kids
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| Full name | Football Club United of Manchester | |||
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| Nickname(s) | F.C. United The Reds Red Rebels |
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| Founded | 2005 | |||
| Ground | Broadhurst Park | |||
| Capacity | 4,400 | |||
| Chairman | Nick Boom | |||
| Manager | Mark Beesley | |||
| League | Northern Premier League Premier Division | |||
| 2018–19 | National League North, 21st of 22 (relegated) | |||
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Football Club United of Manchester is a semi-professional football club. It is based in Moston, Manchester, England. The club plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, which is the seventh level of English football. Their home games are played at Broadhurst Park.
F.C. United was started in 2005 by fans of Manchester United. They were unhappy about the club being taken over by American businessman Malcolm Glazer. F.C. United began in the North West Counties Football League. They quickly moved up through the leagues four times. By the 2015–16 season, they reached the National League North. In cup games, they reached the second round of the FA Cup in 2010–11. They also made it to the fourth round of the FA Trophy in 2014–15. In 2019, they moved back down to the Northern Premier League.
From 2005 to 2014, F.C. United shared a stadium with Bury at Gigg Lane. In May 2015, they opened their own stadium, Broadhurst Park. This stadium is in north-east Manchester. Karl Marginson was the team's first manager from 2005 to 2017. The current manager is Neil Reynolds, who started in October 2018. The team's main colours are red shirts, white shorts, and black socks. Their badge looks like the Manchester coat of arms. It shows a ship and three stripes for the three rivers in Manchester.
F.C. United is one of the biggest fan-owned football clubs in the UK. It has many members and often has large crowds at its home games. The club is run by its members. Each member has an equal vote and owns one share in the club.
Contents
Club History
How the Club Started
F.C. United was formed in 2005 by unhappy Manchester United fans. The main reason was the takeover of Manchester United by Malcolm Glazer in May 2005. Fans had thought about starting a new club before, in 1998. This was when BSkyB tried to take over Manchester United. The idea for F.C. United came up in February 2005.
Meetings for fans were held in May 2005. A group was then set up to create the new club. The name "F.C. United" was first turned down by The Football Association. It was thought to be too common. So, people who had promised money to the club voted on a name. On June 14, 2005, "F.C. United of Manchester" was chosen. It beat other names like "A.F.C. Manchester 1878". The club was officially registered the same day.
Karl Marginson became the club's manager on June 22. Four days later, the club held tryouts for players. About 900 players wanted to join, but only 200 were chosen for the tryouts. From those, 17 players were picked for F.C. United. Jonathan Mitten, whose great-uncle was Manchester United player Charlie Mitten, was the first player signed.
The first meeting for F.C. United members was on July 5, 2005. Members voted on the club's rules and badge. They also chose an 11-person board. By July 6, over 4,000 people had given money to F.C. United. The club had over £100,000 in the bank. F.C. United played their first game against Leigh RMI on July 16, 2005. The match ended in a 0–0 draw.
Early Years and Promotions (2005–2015)
For the 2005–06 season, F.C. United played in the Second Division of the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL). This was the tenth level of English football. The club played its home games at Bury's Gigg Lane. F.C. United could not play in the FA Vase in their first season. This was because the club was formed too late.
F.C. United's first official game was a 5–2 win against Leek County School Old Boys. This happened on August 13, 2005. Over 2,500 people watched the game. In their first home game, they beat Padiham 3–2. F.C. United often broke NWCFL attendance records in their first season. A crowd of 6,032 watched their last home game against Great Harwood Town. This is still an NWCFL record. Even though they lost that game, the team moved up to Division One.
In the 2006–07 season, F.C. United won the NWCFL Division One title. This earned them another promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One North. They won their second cup that season, beating Curzon Ashton 2–1.
In 2007–08, F.C. United played in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They played in the FA Cup for the first time but lost early on. They won the Northern Premier League President's Cup, their fourth trophy in three years. The club finished second in the league. They then won the play-offs to get their third promotion in a row. This meant they would play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
In 2010–11, F.C. United reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time. They beat League One team Rochdale 3–2. They then played Brighton & Hove Albion in the second round. After a 1–1 draw, F.C. United lost the replay 0–4. This game had their highest home crowd of 6,731 fans.
The club kept trying to get promoted. They reached the play-off finals three times in a row from 2011 to 2013, but lost each time. In the 2014–15 season, F.C. United finally won promotion to the National League North. They won the league title after seven years of trying.
National League Years (2015–2019)
F.C. United got their first win in the National League North in August 2015. This was their first official win at their new home, Broadhurst Park. In October, they reached the first round of the FA Cup again. They lost 4–1 at home to Chesterfield. The team finished 13th in their first National League North season.
In 2016–17, they finished 13th again. They also won the Manchester FA county cup for the first time. In October 2017, Karl Marginson, their first manager, left the club. Player Tom Greaves took over as manager. F.C. United finished 16th that season. They also won the Manchester FA county cup again.
After a difficult start to the 2018–19 season, Tom Greaves left in August 2018. Neil Reynolds became the new manager in October. On April 22, 2019, F.C. United moved down a league. They were relegated back to the Northern Premier League.
Team Colours and Badge
F.C. United's team colours are red, white, and black. These are the same colours as Manchester United. The team's shirt does not have a sponsor's logo. This is a rule in the club's constitution. The first kit was a plain red shirt, white shorts, and black socks. Over the years, the design of the red shirt has changed a few times.
The club's away kit is usually a white shirt, white shorts, and socks. They also have an alternative blue kit. This kit has a "Our Club Our Rules" logo on the front. They use it when playing against teams with red and white kits.
The club's badge is red, white, black, and yellow. It uses parts of the coat of arms of Manchester City Council. The ship on the badge stands for Manchester's industry. The three stripes represent the three rivers that flow through Manchester: the Irk, the Irwell, and the Medlock.
Home Stadium
F.C. United plays at Broadhurst Park. This stadium opened in May 2015 and can hold 4,400 people. It cost £6.3 million to build. Money came from a Community Share Scheme and grants. The stadium has covered stands on all sides. The Main Stand has seats, a clubhouse, offices, and changing rooms. A local junior team, Moston Juniors F.C., also uses the stadium.
From 2005 to 2014, F.C. United played at Bury F.C.'s Gigg Lane stadium. In 2010, they planned to build a stadium in Newton Heath. This was Manchester United's original home. But in 2011, Manchester City Council stopped funding the stadium. The Broadhurst Park site was announced in April 2011. The council approved the plans in October 2011. Building started in November 2013 after some delays.
While at Bury, F.C. United sometimes played home games at other stadiums. This was due to scheduling conflicts. These included stadiums in Altrincham, Radcliffe, Hyde, Stalybridge, Curzon Ashton, and Flixton.
For the 2014–15 season, F.C. United left Gigg Lane. Broadhurst Park was not ready at the start of the season. So, they used Bower Fold and then Tameside Stadium as temporary homes. F.C. United held a test event at Broadhurst Park on May 16, 2015. The official opening game was a friendly against Benfica B on May 29. Benfica won the game 1–0 in front of 4,232 fans.
Supporters and Organisation
F.C. United is owned by about 2,300 of its members. It is the third largest fan-owned football club in the UK. Each member can vote on how the club is run. This includes choosing board members and setting ticket prices. F.C. United fans are known for their many songs and the great atmosphere they create at matches.
In their first season (2005–06), F.C. United had the second-highest average attendance in English non-league football. About 3,059 fans came to each game. This made them the 87th best-supported club across all divisions. After moving to Broadhurst Park in May 2015, their average attendance grew to 3,394 in 2015–16. This was the fourth highest in non-league football.
F.C. United is run as a community benefit society. To become a member, you pay an annual fee. Each member gets one share and one vote, no matter how much money they give. The club's board has up to 11 members, chosen by the members. Andy Walsh, a founder of F.C. United, was the first chief executive officer. He left in 2016. Damian Chadwick and then Paul Smith took over this role. In 2023, Danny Davis became the General Manager.
The club has important rules called core principles:
- The Board is chosen by members through a vote.
- Every member has one vote for decisions.
- The club will connect with the local community and be open to everyone.
- Ticket prices will be as low as possible for many people.
- The club will encourage young, local players and fans.
- The Board will try to avoid too much business focus.
- The club will not make a profit.
The club accepts sponsors, but their logos are not on the team's shirts. F.C. United was the first UK football club to be a living wage employer in 2014. This means they pay their staff a fair wage.
Player Statistics and Records
Jerome Wright holds the record for the most games played for F.C. United, with 400 appearances. Tom Greaves is the club's top goal-scorer of all time, with 102 goals. Six other players have scored more than 50 goals for the club. Stuart Rudd scored the most goals in a single season, with 45 goals in 2006–07.
The team's best season for points was 2006–07, with 112 points. They also scored 157 goals in 42 matches that season. The club's best performance in the FA Cup was reaching the second round in 2010–11. They beat Rochdale 3–2. Then they drew 1–1 with Brighton & Hove Albion, but lost the replay 0–4.
In 2014–15, F.C. United reached the fourth round of the FA Trophy. They beat Harrogate Town, Chorley, and AFC Fylde. They then lost 0–1 to Torquay United.
The club's biggest league win was 10–2 against Castleton Gabriels in December 2005. Simon Carden scored five goals in that game. F.C. United also won 8–0 three times in 2006–07. Their biggest league loss was 0–6 to Harrogate Town in March 2018.
The highest number of fans at a home game was 6,731 against Brighton in the FA Cup in 2010. The second highest was 6,023 against Great Harwood Town in 2006. Both games were at Gigg Lane.
Players
First Team Squad
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Players on Loan
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Former Players
See Category:F.C. United of Manchester players for a list of important F.C. United players, past and present.
International Players
Several F.C. United players have gone on to play for their national teams. Rory Patterson, the club's top goal-scorer, played for Northern Ireland. Forward Matthew Walwyn played for Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 2013, the club signed Pakistan international defender Amjad Iqbal. Other F.C. United players who played internationally include Stephen O'Halloran (Republic of Ireland), Ludovic Quistin (Guadeloupe), Jason St Juste, and Jacob Hazel (both St Kitts and Nevis).
Managerial History
When F.C. United was formed, Karl Marginson became its manager. He led the team to four promotions and won several league and county cups. He left the club in October 2017. Tom Greaves, a player, took over as temporary manager and then became permanent. He was later replaced by Dave Chadwick as caretaker manager. Neil Reynolds became the manager in October 2018 and stayed until September 2024.
List of Managers
This information is correct as of September 11, 2024. Only official matches are counted.
- Key
- Caretaker managers are shown in italics and with an asterisk (*).
- Player-managers are marked with a double-dagger (
).
| Name | Nationality | From | To | Matches | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win% | Honours | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Marginson |  England |
22 June 2005 | 24 October 2017 | 450 | 215 | 96 | 139 | 47.78 | Northern Premier League Premier Division: Champions: 2014–15 Play-off runners-up: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13 Northern Premier League Division One North: Runners-up: 2007–08 Play-off winners 2007–08 Northern Premier League President's Cup winners: 2007–08 North West Counties League Division One champions: 2006–07 North West Counties League Challenge Cup winners: 2006–07 North West Counties League Division Two champions: 2005–06 Manchester Premier Cup winners: 2016–17 Supporters Direct Cup winners: 2006 |
|
| Tom Greaves* |
England |
24 October 2017 | 21 November 2017 | — | ||||||
| Tom Greaves | England |
21 November 2017 | 29 August 2018 | 35 | 12 | 6 | 17 | 34.29 | Manchester Premier Cup winners: 2017–18 | |
| David Chadwick* | England |
29 August 2018 | 18 October 2018 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.00 | ||
| Neil Reynolds | England |
18 October 2018 | 11 September 2024 | 114 | 45 | 26 | 43 | 39.47 | Brian Lomax Trophy winners: 2021 | |
| Mark Beesley | England |
22 September 2024 | Now |
Current Coaching Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
 Mark Beesley |
Manager |
| David Raven |
Assistant manager |
 Callum Greenwood |
Goalkeeper coach |
| Olivia Smith |
Head physio |
| Joseph Winskill |
Kitman |
| Sam Irvine |
Women's Team Coach |
| Mark Thomas |
Assistant head coach |
| Source: | |
Club Honours
F.C. United has won three league titles, two league cups, and two county cups.
- Northern Premier League Premier Division
- Champions 2014–15
- Northern Premier League Division One North
- Play-off winners 2007–08
- Northern Premier League President's Cup
- Winners 2007–08
- North West Counties League Division One
- Champions 2006–07
- North West Counties League Division Two
- Champions 2005–06
- North West Counties League Challenge Cup
- Winners 2006–07
- Fenix Trophy
- Winners 2021–22, 2023–24
- Manchester Premier Cup
- Winners 2016–17, 2017–18
- Supporters Direct Cup
- Winners 2006
- Brian Lomax Trophy
- Winners 2021
Club Records
- Best FA Cup performance: Second round, 2010–11
- Best FA Trophy performance: Quarter Final, 2014–15
- Best FA Vase performance: Third round, 2006–07
European Competitions
| Season | Competition | Round | Opposition | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Fenix Trophy | Group B |  AKS Zły |
10–0 | 1–6 | 1st |
 Brera |
2–1 | 1–3 | ||||
| Final |  Prague Raptors |
2–0 (N) | ||||
| 2022–23 | Fenix Trophy | Group A |  KSK Beveren |
4–1 | 2–3 | 1st |
 CD Cuenca-Mestallistes |
12–0 | 2–5 | ||||
| Semi-final |  BK Skjold |
3–2 (N) | ||||
| Third place play-off | Brera |
1–0 (N) | ||||
| 2023–24 | Fenix Trophy | Group C | Krakow Dragoons |
14–0 | 1–4 | 1st |
 Vinsky FC |
4–1 | 0–4 | ||||
| Semi-final | Lewes |
1–0 (N) | ||||
| Final | Prague Raptors |
4–0 (N) | ||||
| 2024–25 | Fenix Trophy | Round of 16 | Prague Raptors |
5–0 | 25 Nov. | TBC |
Women's Team
F.C. United's women's team started playing in the 2012–13 season. They finished second in the Greater Manchester Women's Football League. They also reached the League Cup final but lost. After finishing second again in 2013–14, the team won both the league and a cup in 2015. This earned them a promotion.
They finished second in the next two seasons. In 2017–18, the team won their first "Treble". This means they won three competitions: the league and two county cups. They did not lose any league games that season. After two seasons affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, F.C. United's women's team moved up to the 4th division. This was the highest they had ever been. In 2023-24, they were relegated back to the North West Women's Regional Football League.
The women's team is currently managed by Sam Irvine.
| Season | Division | Level | Position | Average league att. | Top league goal scorer | FA Cup | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Greater Manchester Women's Football League Premier Division | 7 | 2nd/9 | — | — | — | Final |
| 2013–14 | Greater Manchester Women's Football League Division One | 7 | 2nd/7 | — | — | — | Semi-finals (Challenge Cup) Winners (League Cup)# |
| 2014–15 | Greater Manchester Women's Football League Division One | 7 | 1st/6 | — | — | — | Winners (Challenge Cup) Semi-finals (League Cup) |
| 2015–16 | North West Women's Regional Football League Division One South | 6 | 2nd/8 | — | — | — | Runners-up (Manchester FA Cup) |
| 2016–17 | North West Women's Regional Football League Division One South | 6 | 2nd/12 | — | — | 3QR | Winners (Manchester FA Cup) Winners (Argyle Cup) |
| 2017–18 | North West Women's Regional Football League Division One South | 6 | 1st/10 | 115 | Jessica Battle (46) | 2QR | Winners (Manchester FA Cup) Winners (Argyle Cup) |
| 2018–19 | North West Women's Regional Football League Premier Division | 5 | 2nd/11 | 105 | Jessica Battle (32) | R1 | Winners (Manchester FA Cup) Winners (Argyle Cup) |
| 2019–20 | North West Women's Regional Football League Premier Division | 5 | N/A | — | N/A | 2QR | |
| 2020–21 | North West Women's Regional Football League Premier Division | 5 | 2nd/11 | — | — | R1 | |
| 2021–22 | FA Women's National League Division One North | 4 | 10th/12 | R1 | |||
| 2022–23 | North West Women's Regional Football League Premier Division | 5 | 1st/11 | — | — | R1 | |
| 2023-24 | FA Women's National League Division One North | 4 | 12th | Winners (Manchester FA Cup) |
# Shared with Middleton Athletic
See also
In Spanish: Football Club United of Manchester para niños
- List of fan-owned sports teams
