FCUM A.D.

Play-off Final: Hednesford Town FC 2 v 1 FC United of Manchester:

And so to the match itself.  We met up at Piccadilly and caught the slow train down to Rugeley.  Dave had done a little research in advance, and had found out that most trains would be carrying Wigan and city fans down to the cup final at Wembley, and therefore alcohol would be banned.  Sure enough, the majority of trains had police on the platforms, checking what people were bringing with them.  Fortunately we had found another route though, and so could have a breakfast beer as normal.  As we passed Stockport, we paused to make tired, clichéd jokes about the number of city fans on the platform, whilst then looking in the direction of Edgeley Park.  If all went well, we could be travelling there next season.

Arriving on the edge of Rugeley, we went for a few drinks in the rather unfortunately named “The Yorkshireman” pub, before getting taxis to the ground.  The ground was buzzing.  You could hear that the place was pretty full, and there was a long queue in.  Some fans were even climbing in over the roof of the stand.  It was like the old giddy days of our first season!  Once inside, we realised the main stand where the FC fans were, was already closed for being too full.  There still seemed to be a bit of space to stand down at the front though, so like many, we climbed over the advertising hoardings and ran across the corner of the pitch to get in.  Hednesford also had plenty of extra fans in tow, although oddly their smokebombs were still in United red.  With the place rocking, the match kicked off.  Almost immediately, Hednesford scored.  Typical.  Oddly though Si had mentioned, that he’d dreamt that we would go 2-0 down before coming back to win.  Even though I’m not particularly superstitious, this sort of comforted me.  Even as Hednesford with their pacier, stronger players, bossed the first half and deservedly took a 2-0 league, I still thought we might get back into things.  In the second half, Hednesford didn’t have to look for goals anymore, and as a result we started to get more possession.  Norton pulled one back, and the crowd got back up again.  The roar off that goal was incredible.  Unfortunately though we never looked like finding a second, with the exception of a very strong penalty shout that was ignored.  As Hednesford fans (or more likely one or two who were going to be fans for just the one day) started to collect on the edge of the pitch, nothing would’ve been sweeter than a last minute equaliser.  It was not to be.  The final whistle went, the Hednesford fans celebrated a deserved win, and for us it was another year of falling at the last hurdle.  Some of their fans seemed to want to have a go at us, rather than celebrate promotion.  The police didn’t seem very bothered, so we decided we would go on the pitch too and thank our players.  As nice a feeling as promotion is, going up all the time isn’t necessarily what we all want as fans.  Another year in the same league is bearable.  Being a football fan isn’t just about success.  FC fans let off flares, chanted the players’ names or just milled about chatting to friends.

We stopped off for a couple more pints in Rugeley, but there was no party mood.  city losing to Wigan was quite funny, but it wasn’t going to save the day.  We got some gin and caught the train home, passing Stockport on the way back.  Edgeley Park will have to wait.  The buzz however continues…

Listening in on the radio, as FC overcame Witton in style, I opened every travelbooking online portal going.  Whether by coach, train or plane, I had to be at the final.  Having walked away from Old Trafford in 2005, there aren’t European Cup finals etc to attend anymore.  A play-off final is the substitute.  Realising I would have to miss Sankt Pauli’s match against Braunschweig, I found some half-acceptable flights.  Plenty of changes, but at a price I could afford.  By Thursday afternoon, I was mooching around a drizzly Manchester.

The extra time, not only allowed for a few pubs, but also a trip to the new National Football Museum.  For a freemans, it’s alright.  Just alright though.  For starters, I don’t really like football much.  Thats always going to be a problem.  I don’t need to see replays of former Liverpool triumphs, or Thierry Henry’s bad clothes.  I think they should’ve opened a FCUM fan’s collection of stuff from teams that are alright, and old footage of terraces, and scarves Museum or something.  Still, FC do feature quite a bit (and the North-West in general), including in the excellent film featuring football across the levels.  That was the best part actually.  Not just because we were in it, but due to that kind of charming bit of Britain (the location more than the concept of nation).  However downtrodden things get, however much the Tories fuck everything over, however shit the weather is, somehow life goes on, people muddle through.  Milky tea from a chipped cup sort of muddling through.  Ahhhh. 

Generally the museum seemed to be suggesting that everything in the modern era of the game, with its all-seater stadiums, is better.  I don’t really agree with that.  I just buzzed off the shitty, run down ones.  Well that and Spuddy skying penalties and paying a fiver for the privilege ;-)

Spotted in town…

It’s a bit odd for me, usually on the wrong side of the sea for FC, leaving Manchester and saying to my mates “See you in about two weeks”.  But it really is “about two weeks” till the next match this time!  We’re off to the Karli!

(poster designed by Filmstadt Inferno 99)

Flag!

I really enjoy the process of making your own flag.  The hours spent knelt over a bit of material, painting away, old brushes and bits of masking tape littering the floor.  And then the moment comes when it’s ready, and is taken into a football ground for the first time.  Then all the effort was worth it.

As a result I was delighted to get sent these pictures from the back of a terrace in South Manchester.  Fellow FC fans who feel the same way.  Last night the flag got its debut.  Winning a place in the playoff final means it wasn’t a bad one!

Here is the flag in action.

We’re on the road to the play-offs!

New Sticker…

Done!  The new Cantona flag.  Showing the correct way to deal with racists.  And that all despite me only knowing a few words in French.  ”Ou est la Gare” or “Tu roules avec OCB” wouldn’t have fitted you see…

I am injured, I was bored.