Proud to be a Red

Despite the scoreline the club can be proud of the performance of the team at Bower Fold yesterday. For a team that has only been together a few weeks the lads again showed a tremendous spirit. The fitness training that Karl and the coaches have been putting the players through is starting to show real benefit.

Stalybridge are expected to be challenging for the Conference North title this season and represent the strongest side we have met so far. "There were a lot of positives from the performance," said Karl Marginson. "The game showed that things are starting to come together but there are still plenty of things to work on."

The team management are still making adjustments to the squad and a few new faces found their way into yesterday’s line up.

Phil Priestley has now fully recovered from his knee injury and got his first outing in goal replacing terrace hero and last week’s man of the match Barry George. Nick Wolstenholme, Luke Byrne and Steve Spencer all got a chance to sample the fabulous atmosphere created by over 1400 FC United fans. And playing without a number on his shirt was Rory Patterson or "Mr Mystery" as he became known yesterday.

Stalybridge Celtic extended a warm welcome to FC United and were delighted with the turn out. Club Secretary Martyn Torr was particularly impressed with the FC United following, "you can come back whenever you want. Your fans are a credit to your club the way they behaved and the way that they got behind the team was terrific."

As a club FC United are still an unknown quantity but the reputation of our supporters to have a good day, get behind the team and leave everyone with smiles on their faces is growing - well done to everyone on and off the pitch. Onwards to Flixton on Tuesday night enjoy your football.