We Are 20!

FC United of Manchester is 20 years old today!

On Tuesday 14th June 2005, FC United was legally incorporated. That might not sound like the most exciting anniversary to celebrate, but it was an hugely significant milestone that reflected the work that had taken place in the weeks after the Glazer takeover to get the fledging club off the ground.

It was also the key stepping stone that unlocked many of the other milestones that led to an FC side taking to the pitch for our first competitive game on a wet afternoon in Leek - being accepted by the North West Counties Football League, securing our ground share at Gigg Lane, and ultimately turning the idea of FC United into a reality.

It is probably the case that few knew what to expect when arriving in Leigh on Saturday 16th July. In the end, it was a joyous afternoon culminating in a pitch invasion with the players carried off on the shoulders of the supporters - not exactly a common occurrence after a 0-0 draw.

That excitement continued throughout the summer and into the 2005/06 season, as Karl Marginson’s side celebrated the NWCFL Division 2 title, with 6,023 fans inside Gigg Lane for the the last home game against Great Harwood Town.

Margy’s side made it back-to-back titles in 2006/07, racking up 112 points en route to the NWCFL Division 1 title.

A further promotion, our third in three years, from the Northern Premier League Division 1 North followed in 2007/08. This time it was via the playoffs, as we finished a point behind champions Bradford Park Avenue. Victories over Bamber Bridge and Skelmersdale United saw us reach the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

Perhaps the biggest moment in the club’s history came on Friday 5th November 2010, as we reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time. Not many would’ve given us much of a chance as we were drawn away at League One side Rochdale. 

The Reds took an unlikely 2-0 lead through goals from Nicky Platt and Jake Cottrell. After being pegged back to 2-2, most would’ve settled for the draw and a replay, but in injury time, Mike Norton had other ideas - nicking the ball away from Dale’s goalkeeper and slotting it into the empty net to give us our most famous victory. 

A trip to Brighton and Hove Albion followed in the Second Round, with the Reds remarkably holding the League One leaders to a 1-1 draw, despite going down to ten men and conceding a penalty deep into injury time. Sam Ashton’s magnificent save secured a replay at Gigg Lane. The cup dream came to an end with a 4-0 defeat, despite a spirited performance in front of 6,731.

The 2010/11 season ended in playoff final heartbreak - something which was to sadly become a theme over the next few years - with Colwyn Bay securing promotion with a 1-0 win. The following year saw another 0-1 defeat, this time at Bradford Park Avenue as future FC captain and manager Tom Greaves grabbed the winner in the last minute of extra time. 

2012/13 saw a third successive playoff final defeat, Hednesford Town the victors on this occasion. In 2013/14, the Reds missed out on the league title by a single point to Chorley, before falling to a semi-final defeat against Ashton United.

All of this played out against the backdrop of the club working towards building its own stadium at Broadhurst Park - a dream that was finally realised on May 29th 2015 as we opened the ground with a friendly against Benfica. A few weeks earlier, we finally sealed promotion to the National League North, a 1-0 victory against Stourbridge getting us over the line. A second FA Cup First Round appearance, this time at home, against Chesterfield came that November.

A series of mid-table finishes followed, with Karl Marginson leaving the club after 12 years in October 2017. Tom Greaves stepped in on a caretaker basis and secured safety from relegation. After taking on the job on a permanent basis, he departed in August 2018 with the club in the relegation zone. Neil Reynolds was appointed as the club’s third permanent manager, but was unfortunately unable to keep us up.

In his first full season in charge in 2019, Reno had his side well on course for the playoffs, before the season was brought to a premature end due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following season also fell victim to the pandemic, but not before a third FA Cup First Round appearance. The 1-5 defeat against Doncaster Rovers was played behind closed doors but broadcast live on BBC1, showcasing the club and its community work to a huge audience - along with a superb solo effort from Regan Linney for what was perhaps the goal of the game.

2021/22 saw the club win the inaugural Fenix Trophy. Trips to Warsaw and Milan in the group stage saw the Reds secure their place in the final, with a 2-0 win over Prague Raptors on a memorable weekend in Rimini.

The following year saw the club, remarkably, play in the San Siro as they took third place in the competition by beating Brera, before regaining the trophy in 2023/24, again against Prague Raptors - this time in Desenzano del Garda. Last season saw us take the runner-up spot after defeat in the final by Caledonian Braves in Iseo.

Neil Reynolds departed the club in September 2024 after almost six years in charge, with Mark Beesley coming in as just our fourth permanent manager in 20 years, steering us to safety, and now prepares for his first full season in charge.

Sometimes it can be easy to forget how far we’ve come in the last 20 years. From an article in Red Issue, protests and a meeting in a curry house, to playing in the San Siro, having a ground of our own and being able to call Eric Cantona a co-owner.

It’s been a remarkable ride, and none of it would ever have been possible without the love, care and dedication of our co-owners. We are proudly 100% fan-owned, and stand as a beacon of what football can be when those who care most about their club - the fans - are at the heart of everything the club does. Our fans drive that, and without the thousands of hours you volunteer to the club every year, we simply couldn’t do it.

We will continue to be at the forefront of the fight for fan culture, and at the heart of our community in North Manchester. Every time we run out on that pitch at 3pm on a Saturday is a moment of celebration as we show that there can be a better way for football, and that We Are Stronger United.

If you want to be a part of it all, you can get your season ticket and membership for the 2025/26 season here:

https://fc-utd.co.uk/seasontickets
https://fc-utd.co.uk/membership