Things you might not know about United

vidic blood & sand

New Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
4,134
Been a fan since 1979 and I had no idea David Platt was a Utd apprentice, and that he and Mark Hughes were offered to West Brom in 1981 as part of the Bryan Robson deal. West brom weren't interested apparently. Never knew that.

Edit: the part about Platt and Hughes being offered to West Brom may need confirming, as it was told me by my friend in work who is a big West Brom fan.
 
Last edited:

Josh 76

Full Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2018
Messages
5,565
Hazard would have signed for Utd, if Chelsea never won the champions league in 2012. He wanted Champions league football, and Chelsea got it by wining the trophy, after finishing out of the top 4 that season.
 

shamans

Thinks you can get an STD from flirting.
Joined
Oct 25, 2010
Messages
18,226
Location
Constantly at the STD clinic.
Maybe not about United but when I found out there were many people from Manchester supported both United and City back in the day I was quite surprised. Might be something not many know.
 

711

Verified Bird Expert
Scout
Joined
Dec 10, 2007
Messages
24,206
Location
Don't sign old players and cast offs
Been a fan since 1979 and I had no idea David Platt was a Utd apprentice, and that he and Mark Hughes were offered to West Brom in 1981 as part of the Bryan Robson deal. West brom weren't interested apparently. Never knew that.
Platt was the most expensive player in the world at one time, if you added his various transfer fees up that is. Peter Beardsley was another United player a lot have forgotten about.
 

mazhar13

Kermit Inc. 2022
Scout
Joined
Sep 10, 2013
Messages
36,524
Location
Toronto, ON, Canada
Maybe not about United but when I found out there were many people from Manchester supported both United and City back in the day I was quite surprised. Might be something not many know.
United and City had very good relations before hooliganism came to the fore. United had Maine Road as their home when they faced financial issues very early on and after Old Trafford was bombed.
 

Deleted member 101472

Guest
The club has won more league titles than Liverpool, contrary to the attitude of avoiders.
 

Nickthepip

New Member
Newbie
Joined
May 22, 2015
Messages
182
The use of the name "Manchester United" was first used to describe a team consisting of players from several different Manchester teams to take part in a benefit match. The name resonated with people and was put forward as an option when Newton Heath wanted to re-name itself.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Penna

OldPop

Full Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2018
Messages
708
Location
In An Oak
A tourist guide in Manchester told me they usually say that the people who live in Manchester support City, the rest of the world supports United. Maybe it's not quite true?
 

Starkie_1

Affluent and Likeminded
Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Messages
2,898
Location
Failing a Jib anywhere, anyhow
A tourist guide in Manchester told me they usually say that the people who live in Manchester support City, the rest of the world supports United. Maybe it's not quite true?
This is always peddled out by any rival clubs fans or city fans as a joke. Even if you admit City have a bigger perfecentage of their fan base in Manchester, it’s only because it’s a much smaller number.

Plus, if we go on the glory hunter basis (not family links etc) why the hell wouldn’t locals want to support the most successfully team anyway?
 

JohnnyKills

Full Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
7,098
United can't build up one side of the ground (the side they film from during games) because there's a railway underneath it.
 

OnlyTwoDaSilvas

Gullible
Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Messages
21,623
Location
The Mathews Bridge
Hazard would have signed for Utd, if Chelsea never won the champions league in 2012. He wanted Champions league football, and Chelsea got it by wining the trophy, after finishing out of the top 4 that season.
He would have got Champions League football here though. We finished 2nd on GD.

I thought missing out on Hazard was all about the agent fee?
 

wolvored

Full Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2016
Messages
9,871
Wilf Mcguinnes, a Utd youth, managed Utd for a season and it turned him bald!
 

Jules_T

Full Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2012
Messages
1,040
Location
New Zealand
Been a fan since 1979 and I had no idea David Platt was a Utd apprentice, and that he and Mark Hughes were offered to West Brom in 1981 as part of the Bryan Robson deal. West brom weren't interested apparently. Never knew that.
Platt didn't join United until 1982.
He played for Chadderton in 1981.
 

vidic blood & sand

New Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
4,134
Platt didn't join United until 1982.
He played for Chadderton in 1981.
A friend of mine is a massive West Brom fan, and he was reminiscing over the loss of Robbo, what a sad day it was etc, and he added, to make matters worse, Ronnie Allen turned down Hughes and Platt. Must be wrong about that. I still didn't know Platt was ever at United though.
 

jojojo

JoJoJoJoJoJoJo
Staff
Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
38,144
Location
Welcome to Manchester reception committee
A tourist guide in Manchester told me they usually say that the people who live in Manchester support City, the rest of the world supports United. Maybe it's not quite true?
The Manchester split was always summarised as United are Salford's club while City are Stockport's.

The rest of Greater Manchester is probably closer to 50:50 these days. Though as you move into Oldham, Bolton, Bury and indeed Stockport (that historically have league clubs) a factor in any poll done will be the "Anyone But United" fans adding to the City vote.

MEN did an online survey last year, which while it might not be statistically accurate, gives an idea of how it splits and how it changes. The video of how it changed during the voting is interesting as well, I'd say that's the ABU vote coming in :D
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/derby-day-map-shows-parts-15407574
 

LARulz

Full Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
18,138
He would have got Champions League football here though. We finished 2nd on GD.

I thought missing out on Hazard was all about the agent fee?
This. At least that's what was reported at the time. Think that was just as agent fees etc. became even more ridiculous and the whole "value in the market" thing started
 

Red4Life_#7

Full Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2014
Messages
1,112
He would have got Champions League football here though. We finished 2nd on GD.

I thought missing out on Hazard was all about the agent fee?
Yes it was something to do with money... can't remember exactly right now. I thought it was the fee, we didn't want to pay £32m.
 

Josh 76

Full Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2018
Messages
5,565
He would have got Champions League football here though. We finished 2nd on GD.

I thought missing out on Hazard was all about the agent fee?
He wanted Champions league football. But wanted a move down south. If Chelsea didn't win the Champions league, his only choice was UTD, as we matched the fee and wages he wanted. He waited until the final was over, then announced his decision.
 

Adam-Utd

Part of first caf team to complete Destiny raid
Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Messages
39,954
He wanted Champions league football. But wanted a move down south. If Chelsea didn't win the Champions league, his only choice was UTD, as we matched the fee and wages he wanted. He waited until the final was over, then announced his decision.
Fergie refused to pay the agent 6m agent fee. At the time it was thought as “extortionate”.

We will never know who he truly would have chosen, or whether it was a fair choice and
He wanted Chelsea. It was nothing to do with having CL football anyway, he just announced “I’m joining the CL winners “ and people thought that was the reason.
 

OldPop

Full Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2018
Messages
708
Location
In An Oak
This is always peddled out by any rival clubs fans or city fans as a joke. Even if you admit City have a bigger perfecentage of their fan base in Manchester, it’s only because it’s a much smaller number.

Plus, if we go on the glory hunter basis (not family links etc) why the hell wouldn’t locals want to support the most successfully team anyway?
Maybe David against Goliath? That match has always attracted a lot of audiences and David usually gets most of the supporters.
 

jojojo

JoJoJoJoJoJoJo
Staff
Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
38,144
Location
Welcome to Manchester reception committee
Charlie Roberts was our captain when we first moved to Old Trafford and when we won our first big two trophies - the FA Cup and the League.

He was also one of the leaders of the first players union. When the FA banned the Union, most players left - leaving the United players high and dry for a while, "the Outcasts". United were temporarily without a team and started looking at cancelling/postponing games. Other players, including Everton's, stepped forward to demand the United players reinstatement, which led to a limited FA retreat.

United, causing the FA trouble for over a hundred years :devil:
 

jojojo

JoJoJoJoJoJoJo
Staff
Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
38,144
Location
Welcome to Manchester reception committee
Maybe not about United but when I found out there were many people from Manchester supported both United and City back in the day I was quite surprised. Might be something not many know.
I don't know many that supported both, though plenty of people watched both when they were at home. I think most had a preferred team though - a team they'd shout for in the derby match if you like. My dad did it as a young man, but he was United when it came to allegiances.

Before live football became a regular thing on TV, there wasn't another option. Matches kicked off at 3pm on Saturday - encouraging it to be a habit. You didn't need a ticket, you just showed up at the ground, and stood with friends, family, like minded fans as the case might be. A different pattern of match going really.
 

OldPop

Full Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2018
Messages
708
Location
In An Oak
The Manchester split was always summarised as United are Salford's club while City are Stockport's.

The rest of Greater Manchester is probably closer to 50:50 these days. Though as you move into Oldham, Bolton, Bury and indeed Stockport (that historically have league clubs) a factor in any poll done will be the "Anyone But United" fans adding to the City vote.

MEN did an online survey last year, which while it might not be statistically accurate, gives an idea of how it splits and how it changes. The video of how it changed during the voting is interesting as well, I'd say that's the ABU vote coming in :D
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/derby-day-map-shows-parts-15407574
Thanks, it was interesting, reflecting the same phenomenon that one can see in other places in the world. Local patriotism is strong, but loyalty can change quite quickly.

Unfortunately, I can only guess what the abbreviation "ABU" stands for, my knowledge of English doesn't go so far.
 

Reiver

Full Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2016
Messages
2,518
Location
Near Glasgow
I don't know many that supported both, though plenty of people watched both when they were at home. I think most had a preferred team though - a team they'd shout for in the derby match if you like. My dad did it as a young man, but he was United when it came to allegiances.

Before live football became a regular thing on TV, there wasn't another option. Matches kicked off at 3pm on Saturday - encouraging it to be a habit. You didn't need a ticket, you just showed up at the ground, and stood with friends, family, like minded fans as the case might be. A different pattern of match going really.
You're right, most people didn't support both, even if they watched both. My grandad worked Saturday mornings so he would often go to watch City's home matches just to watch some football. But his team were always Utd. A major difference would be that he didn't hate City the way many modern fans do, he just wanted Utd to do better.
 

Bestofthebest

Full Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2018
Messages
529
Used to be able to turn up for most Utd matches and pay at the turnstiles and there was always a token in the program which you saved for getting tickets for the bigger games. Me and my mates used to stand in front of the main stand in line with 18 yard line at Stratford End. In those days I hardly new any City fans on our estate, we were all Reds. The good old days eh!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 711

Denis' cuff

Full Member
Joined
May 13, 2007
Messages
7,769
Location
here
In the late 60s when I was a kid, (11/12) used to watch City with my best (blue) mate when United were away. Had always gone to the match with my dad but was old enough to go alone, but not old enough to go to away matches alone. Always wanted City to win but absolutely hated them when we played them. I suppose they’d just come up from the 2nd division and I didn’t perceive them as a threat until they actually became good... and mouthy. That’s when it really changed. Occasionally went to watch/support them vs Liverpool in the 70s with blue mates.

United always had more support in Manchester than City. Anything other is utter Bollox apart from the odd season in the 30s? or something. Ludicrous myth that still persists. Just fabrication since commercialism kicked in with sky etc. A very small minority of “cockney reds” started following us in the 70s and we’ve always had a following from Ireland but that wasn’t substantial and for those that did catch the boat over, it was usually an annual treat. I know because my relatives did it - but it was a special treat.
 
Last edited:

Josep Dowling

Full Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2014
Messages
7,622
Hazard would have signed for Utd, if Chelsea never won the champions league in 2012. He wanted Champions league football, and Chelsea got it by wining the trophy, after finishing out of the top 4 that season.
Not sure I believe this. I can remember Lille accepted the same offer from us, City and Chelsea. Ultimately I think he chose Chelsea because of being in London.
 

United58

Full Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2019
Messages
2,190
Location
Ireland
I thought missing out on Hazard was all about the agent fee?
He had a big thing on Twitter whereby he was going to move to Manchester in the summer (there was a huge 'City or United?' debate), but once Chelsea won the CL he confirmed that was his destination.

A bit mad, given that us and City were better teams at the time (and are now :D), Chelsea had finished 6th and won the CL on backs to the wall performances as opposed to any attacking football Hazard might have enjoyed playing in.