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4,158 reasons to be positive.

4,158 reasons to be positive.Saturday’s home match against Salford City saw FC United record their highest league attendance at Broadhurst Park - The crowd of 4,158 was our 5th highest home attendance since the Club was formed in 2005.

Saturday’s home match against Salford City saw FC United record their highest league attendance at Broadhurst Park. The crowd of 4,158 was our 5th highest home attendance since the Club was formed in 2005.



It was an early start for many FC United fans and volunteers who headed to the ground to assist the club’s matchday operations. On arrival at the ground, despite the rain, it was great to see lots of junior football matches taking place on the 3G pitch.


The ground opened early for fans to attend a 11:22am discussion called ‘Rubbing it Red’ in the Main Stand Bar. Fans spoke passionately and positively about their involvement in their Club and shared their thoughts on how collectively we can move things forward. The general theme was all about positivity and togetherness.

By midday the Main Stand Bar was filling up quickly as supporters gathered for Course You Can Malcolm, our club night in the afternoon, waiting to hear talks from Pam at the Hummingbird Project, Charlotte Delaney and rising Manchester band Cabbage. By 1pm the room was full to capacity.

Inside and outside the ground fans from FC United and Salford City mingled together, demonstrating that large numbers of opposing fans can enjoy their afternoon’s football without the need for segregation or having to buy tickets in advance. The Salford City fans chose to wear their traditional tangerine colours to celebrate the clubs history and heritage. (Their club’s colours were changed to red and white following their recent takeover by the Class of 92). Talking of the Class of 92, it was a great honour to welcome Paul Scholes to Broadhurst Park who stood with the Salford City fans at the Lightbowne Road End of the ground.

It was soon evident that there would be a big crowd on, with fans patiently queuing to pay on the gate at the very affordable price of £9 Adults, £5 Concessions and £2 for under 18s. Many FC fans also chose to make a further donation via the DF Turnstile Number 4 and the DF collection box on the main reception.

By 2.30pm most of the unreserved seats in the Main Stand were occupied, we’d sold out of all of our printed programmes at £2 each, and Cabbage were rounding off CYCM with a sterling rendition of ‘These Boots are Made for Walking’ with everyone in the room singing along.



As the teams ran out at 3 o’clock the ground was almost full, only 242 short of the 4,400 capacity. The FC fans were in good spirits with songs being sung for all areas of the ground. Despite Salford practically sealing victory with their second goal of the game on 56 minutes, the FC United fans carried on singing, with the ‘Main Stand Paddock Party’ in full swing airing the FC version of Stone Roses hit Waterfall, a new song that has been slowly gathering pace since it was first sung in the Stalybridge Buffet Bar at our away match at Stalybridge in November.




For those who didn’t catch the two verses, the words are as follows:
"This is our club, belongs to you and me,
We’re United, United FC,
We’ll never go home or feel down,
Now we’ve built our own football ground,

Der der...
We’ll carry on through it all,
Playing Punk Football

To all the haters, I’ll make a bet
This time next year, we’ll be out of debt
To all those who want us to fail
We will hoist up the Sloop John B sail???

As the game came to a close with Salford bagging a third in injury time, there was a sense of celebration and togetherness throughout the ground. Fans leaving with beaming smiles having thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon at the football.

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that helped out on Saturday and to those who helped make it a special atmosphere. We would like to encourage more people to get involved in the club and donate their time and energy to make our club as successful as we would like it to be. If you can help by volunteering in any way, shape or form please send Vinny Thompson an email on vinnythompson@fc-utd.co.uk or ring the office on 0161 769 2005.



So it’s onto next weekend which sees a plethora of activity taking place as part of the European Friendly at home to SV Austria Salzburg, with over 300 Austrians planning to make the trip over to join us in a celebration of fan ownership in football.

The FC United Beer Festival starts on Friday evening, 7pm, and runs through to the following Tuesday for our Manchester Premier Cup Semi-Final home tie with West Didsbury & Chorlton (if any beer remains). On Saturday 4th February fans will have the opportunity to watch the Reserves play Hyde United on the 3G Pitch at 2pm followed by the First Team match at 5pm on the main pitch. CYCM will also be taking place in the Main Stand Bar prior to kick-off too.

On Sunday ko 2pm, FC United Women’s team, who are now top of their league following a 6-1 away win at Stockport County Blues this weekend, host Egerton Ladies on the 3G Pitch, with the Beer Festival taking place in the Main Stand Bar between 1pm and 6pm.

We look forward to seeing you all again at Broadhurst Park next weekend and also at the matches on 7th February and 11th February (for Chorley in the league - (Last season’s match with Chorley attracted a crowd of 4,050).

“We’ll carry on through it all……. Playing Punk Football???

FC United Top Home Attendances.
6,731 – Brighton (FA Cup) 08/12/2010
6,023 – Great Harwood (League) 22/04/2006
4,328 – Winsford (League) 02/01/2006
4,232* – Benfica (Friendly) 29/05/2015
4,158* – Salford City (League) 28/01/2017
4,152 – Chorley (League) 08/04/2014
4,150* – Chorley (League) 26/03/2016
*Broadhurst Park.




First Posted ~ 16:10 Mon 30 Jan 2017
News ID ~ 7294
Last Updated ~ 16:00 Fri 19 Feb 2021