For the 2026/27 season, the adult membership fee will be £60 per year (£5 per month).
This will apply to all renewals and new memberships for the 2026/27 membership year, beginning on 1 July 2026.
Why is the membership fee increasing?
As part of the “Growing The Pie” engagement and consultation exercise undertaken over the last six months, the Board presented a range of proposals aimed at helping secure the club’s long-term future and support the continued development of FC United both on and off the pitch.
Those proposals included measures designed to increase commercial income, alongside options involving additional direct financial support from co-owners. In the survey issued to co-owners earlier this year, 69% of respondents supported an increase in the annual membership fee. The proposal was subsequently approved as a formal Members’ Resolution at the General Meeting, with 73.3% of voting co-owners supporting the change.
The challenge facing the club is not simply balancing next season’s budget, but ensuring FC United remains financially sustainable and independent over the long-term whilst protecting the values, identity and supporter ownership model that make the club unique.
Whilst the club’s financial position has improved significantly over recent years, the financial pressures facing football clubs continue to increase year-on-year. The costs of utilities, insurance, staffing, food and drink, maintenance and operations have all risen substantially in recent years. Alongside that, the club also carries significant long-term obligations, most notably the repayment of the debt associated with the construction of Broadhurst Park.
In addition, with Broadhurst Park now more than a decade old, the costs associated with maintaining, renewing and improving the club’s facilities continue to grow — including the future replacement of the 3G training pitch, which is approaching the end of its usable life.
As a supporter-owned club, FC United does not have a wealthy benefactor able to absorb financial shortfalls or underwrite losses. The club’s independence and long-term success ultimately relies on the continued support, commitment and collective responsibility of all of us as co-owners.
At the same time, the club remains ambitious about the future. There is an exciting long-term vision continuing to develop for FC United and the additional income generated through the Business Plan will help support the club’s long-term sustainability, infrastructure, football development and wider ambitions in the years ahead.
What other options were considered?
The “Growing The Pie” engagement and consultation exercise asked co-owners to consider a wide range of potential revenue-generating measures aimed at strengthening the club’s long-term sustainability.
These included a combination of commercial opportunities and proposals involving direct financial contributions from co-owners. Whilst several commercial proposals received strong support, co-owners also made clear that they believed a proportion of the additional income required should come directly from the supporter base itself.
Of the proposals involving direct supporter contributions, the membership fee increase was the only option to receive majority support, with co-owners strongly opposed to increases in matchday admission prices or bar prices. The outcome therefore reflects the balance co-owners collectively chose between commercial income generation, supporter contributions and protecting affordability on matchdays.
The commercial initiatives that co-owners have given the Board a mandate to explore will form an important part of the club’s future revenue generation. However, the membership increase also forms a key part of the club’s wider financial plan and reflects the balance co-owners collectively chose between commercial income generation, supporter contributions and protecting affordability on matchdays.
Supporting affordability
Alongside the increase in membership price, the club will also be introducing a new pay-monthly option to help co-owners spread the cost of membership across the year.
Initially, this will operate through GoCardless, with payments spread equally across the remaining months of the membership year. For example:
- Someone joining in July will pay £5 per month over 12 months
- Someone joining in September will pay £6 per month over 10 months
You'll be able to sign-up for the monthly instalment scheme from next week.
What do I need to do?
If you purchase your membership via GoCardless / Direct Debit and wish to continue your membership for the 2026/27 season, you do not need to take any action - your membership will automatically renew in July at the updated rate.
Co-owners who purchase their membership each year can renew here: Season Ticket, Ten Match Ticket Book and Membership System | FC United of Manchester
Co-owners who wish to sign-up to the new monthly instalment scheme will be able to do so from next week.
What does co-ownership of FC United mean?
FC United was founded on the principle that a football club should belong to the people who care about it the most — its supporters.
For more than twenty years, FC United has shown that supporters can build, own and sustain a football club independently and democratically, without relying on a wealthy owner or external investor. That has never been the easiest path, but it is what makes FC United unique.
As co-owners, the future of the club is shaped collectively by the decisions we make together. That responsibility can sometimes require difficult choices, but it also means that the identity, values and long-term direction of FC United remain in the hands of its supporters.
The Board firmly believes that co-ownership of FC United continues to represent something unique within football — offering supporters an unrivalled level of transparency, involvement and democratic influence over the club they collectively own.
As a Board, we have committed to delivering the highest levels of transparency and supporter engagement in the club’s history. Co-owners have the opportunity to observe Board meetings and, for those unable to attend, comprehensive written summaries are circulated after every meeting. The club is also publishing more Board papers and governance information to co-owners than ever before.
As a co-owner, you have the opportunity to directly shape the future of your club — including voting on major issues, proposing resolutions and holding the Board to account.
Now entering our third decade, we remain committed to establishing FC United as the leading example of active supporter ownership in English football and demonstrating that supporter ownership, independence and financial sustainability can succeed together.
That can only be achieved through the continued commitment, support and collective responsibility of all of us as co-owners.
The Board would also like to thank all co-owners for their continued support, commitment and contribution to FC United. It is that collective support which has allowed the club to reach its third decade as an independent, supporter-owned football club and which will continue to shape its future in the years ahead.
Nick, Warren, Bhavna, Paul, Eamonn, Amanda, Simon & Tony
The Board of FC United of Manchester