Altrincham beat FC - oh well

Altrincham 3-0 FC United
Pre-season friendly match
A warm, 17 degrees, summer evening and a tram ride from Stretford to Altrincham to see a non-competitive match. Really just to see the new signings for FC United, and what else am I going to do on a Tuesday? Stay in with the Tv - the Biffa herself is in London and the cats are out hunting.

It looked a promising open game. FC in an unfamiliar all blue, and Altrincham in yellow shirts and black shorts. But a goal down after 7 minutes and after that FC didn't look like they'd find the net. Second half they came closer - about five shots towards goal but nothing on target. Altrincham are an organised squad and don't appear to be troubled. They score again, on 65 minutes - game over. They get a third in the 80th minute. But by then I'm wondering how much the houses they are building behind the goal will be selling for. Think I'd go for the middle one, dreaming of watching Conference League football for nothing, and finding lost footballs in your garden.

So far from a thrilling game, just a run-out for the teams to get some match fitness. Get hungry in the second half and buy some chips. You can watch the game whilst in the queue but it's mostly Altrincham bringing on lots of substitutes.
Game 26, admission £7, programme £1, pie and chips £2.70, tram £2.70, bus £1.10

Crowd trouble at Ressies friendly

Today I discovered that the friendly between Altrincham and Manchester United reserves was abandoned in the 86th minute. Pitch invasion, smoke bombs, no arrests, police involved. It made the local BBC Tv news tonight which blamed United fans. The Altrincham FC website says it was a small section of visiting supporters. Reads like drink was involved - causing trouble at a Reserves game not something to brag about.

"unsavoury scenes that ultimately led to the abandonment of the game." - Altrincham FC
Scroll down for Club Statement 20 July 2008.

"A sad end to what should have been an enjoyable afternoon"- United Reserves website.
- which is a good source of news & reports. United were winning 0-3 with the goals from Federico Macheda (2) and Rodrigo Possebon

I was hoping to get to the FC United of Manchester friendly there this Tuesday - if the game is still on that is.

Manchester Football History Book

Purchased the new heavy hardback - Manchester A Football History by Gary James. 510 pages and a weighty 1.54 kilos, so you get you're monies worth. But the best part is you can dip in on any chapter and get a good story. It's all in here, and as someone who knows their football history there is stuff I didn't know. Plus myths are dispelled - for instance Denis Law didn't play his last game in the derby that sent United into Division 2. The other smaller clubs in the region get good coverage too - Stockport County, Altrincham, Rochdale even the short-lived Manchester Central and the newest club FC United. Yes it has pictures and some stats. It's the sort of book you can return to again and again and not have to swallow in one sitting. Looking forward to a few more chapters over the summer break.

There is a website www.manchesterfootball.org

Countdown to the new season

Giddy about the new season already - only a month away. The fixtures are out and Sky and Setanta have started to wave their magic scheduling wand. Not so happy about Portsmouth away on a Bank Holiday Monday night. Also what's that pre-season match in Nigeria about? Also against Portsmouth. Possibly it's the million quid pay-out and not for getting ill on a lot of yellow fever vaccine. Just so we all get familiar with Portsmouth there is the Community Shield match at Wembley - the one you don't mind not winning as it's a good omen.

Hope you like the picture of the tunnel at Old Trafford with the background boards for the Tv interviews. Did the tourist bit last Friday by taking the Old Trafford tour. Must praise the staff at Old Trafford - friendly, very helpful and customer focused. They could see our disappointment when the trophy was away being polished or wherever it goes to. So they went and got it for our photo opportunity even though they were closing in a few minutes. You can see our snaps here on Flickr - includes a couple of biffas with the trophy. Had to keep our fingers off it - I'll take rubber gloves next time....

Lots more stories to tell. So back to blogging, and make smart the layout of this page. First game to go and see is next Tuesday - Altrincham v. FC United in a friendly. Altrincham must be one the luckiest teams of recent years. Should have been relegated from the Conference North for the last three seasons but escaped everytime because another team went into financial troubles.

Just A Pic; Glossy in Italy

In a city centre bookstore in Bologna today and spotted the official United magazine on sale. It costs nearly 11 euros so it remained on the shelf. Meanwhile the UEFA Euro 2008 continues every night which adds to the holiday. Eat, drink, sight-see and footie everyday - got familiar with German or Italian commentary now. Every night I support the wrong team, usually the favourites and they get knocked out. Tonight is the the Italy v. Spain game so it'll either be long faces or jolly ones around here later on.

Just A Pic; Italy Maybe

What better time than to take a holiday in a warm country like Italy. Sunshine, and a couple of Euro 08 matches on every evening. Picture is of football and sports stadium in Lipari which is a small volcanic island off Sicily. Watched some kids playing 4 a side - two named Kaka in AC Milan shirts and a sprinkling of Juve shirts. Italia is in a bit of a sulk today after last night's 3 nil defeat by Nederlands. Disaster is the newspaper headlines. As England and Ireland didn't get invited, along with the other neighbours it's a tournament I'm enjoying as a happy neutral.

Cantona filming in Manchester

You see a film crew with vans and generators where I live in Chorlton on a regular basis. You don't pay any attention anymore. Cycled past some yesterday, but I might have paid more attention if it was the crew filming Eric Cantona in a new Ken Loach movie - 'Looking for Eric'. The legendary No.7 with the great film maker are shooting some scenes locally. It might have been a different film crew. Release date is summer 2009.
Eric brings Hollywood to town

Just A Pic :Double Champions 2008

You have to enjoy the moments when they are here. After a season that went to the last two games and a penalty shoot-out to collect the double I think a few more weeks of trumpet blowing is in order.
Manchester Evening News

FC Friendlies & Unibond

FC United of Manchester
Pre-Season Friendlies (confirmed to date)
Friday 6th June: Marburg XI (a)
it's in Deutschland, and part of an anti-racist demo & festival

Tuesday 22nd July 1945h: Altrincham (a)
Saturday 26th July 1500h: Tamworth (a)
Wednesday 6th August 1945h: Curzon Ashton (a)

Already looking forward to watching FC in the Unibond Premier next season, that's 3 divisions below the Football League. A chance to see plenty of teams I've never seen before like Leigh RMI, North Ferriby United from Hull, Buxton with the highest football ground in Britain, and some Scouse clubs like Marine and Prescott Cables.

Friendlies & Super Cups

The upside downside of winning major trophies is you're entered into extra competitions. The Community Shield is a regular extra fixture but I forgot about United having to turn up in Monaco at the end of August to play Zenit St. Petersburg for the UEFA Super Cup. Even more exhausting is the FIFA World Club Championship in Japan, 12th - 21 st December, which means two weekends of Premiership fixtures postponed....


Friendly
Saturday 12th July 1500h; Aberdeen (a)

Vodaphone Challenge 2008 in South Africa
Saturday 19th July: Kaiser Chiefs (a) in Cape Town
Tuesday 22nd July: Orlando Pirates (a) in Durban
Thursday 24th July: Orlando Pirates v. Kaiser Chiefs in Port Elizabeth
Saturday 26th July: winners of above game play United in Tshwane

Ole Gunner Solskjaer Testimonial
Saturday 2nd August 1500h: Espanyol (h)

Friendly
Monday 4th August: Peterborough United (a)
possibly another home match against Juventus (advertised on MUTV no date announced)

Community Shield
possibly on Sunday 10th August: Portsmouth (Wembley)

UEFA Super Cup
usually last week in August: Zenit St. Petersburg (Monaco)

Hull City in the Premiership

I always like it when a team I've never seen in a live game get to the Premiership. So congratulations to Hull City winning the play-offs. One goal from the ledgendary Dean Windass. All set up by Fraizer Campbell, another of those United young players out on loan. Will he ever comes back to wear the red shirt and find a place in the squad?

I get a few text messages saying the usual 'that's 6 points off them next season'. It may well be, but a team that's never played in the top division before always adds a bit of interest to the season.

Season Over : Collect Winnings

I don't do gambling, went to Las Vegas once and I thought it was a dreadful place apart from a very good Indian restaurant. However I make an exception with an end of season flutter.

"Can I have a Yankee on four football matches?" I asked at my local branch of William Hill's. "I'll ask the manager" she replied. Of course you can, you can bet on anything these days. Last year it was a grumpy bloke behind the counter, this time a very helpful women who produced the Yankee betting form. It's a stupid 11 bets on four outcomes, the mathematics favour the bookmaker but what the hell....

Zenit to beat Rangers in the UEFA Cup
Portsmouth to beat Cardiff in the FA Cup
United to beat Chelsea in the Champions League
Rangers to beat Queen of the South in the Scottish FA Cup

Didn't win much as it's all the favourites winning at odds-on but at least I won this time.

Just A Pic : Front Page of Evening News

For the Manchester Evening News coverage in quotes, photos and video go here.
There is a 32 page Manchester United special being published on Tuesday next. Will I be buying it? Yes, no news black out here. Watching everything - it only happens a few times in life.

We've Won it 3 Times

United 1-1 Chelsea United
win on penalties 6-5 after extra time
UEFA Champions League Final : ITV1

The tension and adrenaline kicked in hours before the game. Couldn't face eating a dinner, settled for a sandwich and beer. What a match - thought United would win it in the first half about 3-0. Thought Chelsea would win it the second half and they came very, very close. But still in it at 90 minutes, and at 120 minutes. Oh, the dreaded penalty shoot-out, a cruel lottery - bring back the fairness of a cup replay. We never win on penalties - bit like England in this department. But fate has it otherwise - EdwinVan der Sar saves from Anelka - it takes a few seconds for it to register but United are the Champions of Europe. The champagne comes out of the fridge, break open the jaffa cakes (it used to be our favourite half time snack when they sold them at Old Trafford)....i'm getting photos on the mobile from celebrations in town, can hear a few fireworks from somewhere, sack the beer now let's have some good red wine. A night that will live long in the memory.

Believe believe

Believe #2 from biffadigital on Vimeo
This is a mash-up montage of footage from before the start of the United v. Barcelona semi-final. I thought I was holding up a white sheet of plastic that was spelling the word 'Believe'. It was not until I saw some clips on YouTube that we were part of something saying '68 / 99'. Seeing as that match, though not the best in football, was the most tense, noisiest and memorable I've been to in years I put this together. It's to celebrate the achievement of getting to the Champions League Final. Not thrown the plastic away - I wonder if someone is buying them on eBay.

Believe! Looking forward to the coverage from Moscow. Just the getting there after witnessing so many semi-final defeats. I'm now hoping, praying and believing the trophy will come back on the plane to Manchester.

Collective Madness

What a week in Manchester and it's not been United but the Rangers invasion. Went into town during that day. It was already full of thousands of fans many walking around with slabs of lager - 18 cans for an afternoon in the sun. They don't have trams in Glasgow but you don't stand on the tracks when one is slowly coming towards you. Basic common sense. But to me the whole notion of hundreds of thousands driving 200 miles to watch Tv is madness. Manchester city centre is quite small and doesn't have enough open spaces to cope with those numbers.

So now after the rioting there will be no big outdoor screens showing the United v. Chelsea final. There will probably not be any showing big screen football in Britain for a long time. The authorities will be worried about another repeat of alcohol fuelled violence. Instead it's big indoor screens at the M.E.N. Arena showing the final at £10 admission.

On a brighter note Manchester City have got themselves into the UEFA Cup with a fair play place. It's a bit of comedy going on at the council house. Is the manager staying, are the whole squad up for sale by the owner? Well they have a few weeks to sort it out. The UEFA Cup campaign starts in July and the pitch won't even be ready. There is speculation of the qualifying game being played at Huddersfield. A week after an 8-1 defeat by Middlesboro the team flies out to Thailand to get beaten 2-1. It's always a recipe for disaster when the owner interferes with playing and selection.

Reserves win Manchester Cup

I was planning to go to tonight's Manchester Senior Cup final tonight at Old Trafford. But got home late, and it wouldn't have gone down too well with the Biffa herself who is off to that Londonshire tomorrow....oh well, it was only a fiver admission but it would have been full of kids smacked up on Haribo sweets.

Anyway it was United 2-0 Bolton Wanderers. Top marks to the official Man Utd site for getting the result published before 2200h. I usually make a note of the team playing - just in case anyone makes it to the first team.

Zieler; Gray, Chester, Eckersley, Cleverley; Barnes, Hewson, Possebon, S Evans; Welbeck, Eagles.
Subs not used: Amos, Fagan, Macheda, James, Drinkwater.
Goals from Danny Welbeck (79), and Rodrigo Possebon (90)

Trivia notes : won this trophy 28 times; when they won it in 1999 the first team won on the treble but back then Teddy Sheringham played in one of the early ties; the cup is quite small by modern standards and is usually on display in the museum.

C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S

Wigan Athletic 0-2 United
It went just as I wished for. Nervous, and getting more nervous until Ronaldo slotted home a penalty on 33 minutes. Scholes just avoids getting sent off. Got to half time and Chelsea still at 0-0. Second half and the need for a second half goal, especially when Chelsea go in front against Bolton. Now I'm nervous again, but Giggs seals it. Relax the cushion is in place though we had to wait until 81 minutes.

Thankfully the season is over, that big silver trophy doesn't leave Old Trafford, I can return to calmness, get the champagne out and be happy. Next season can be it wrapped up in April.

Ahead of Final Sunday

What a dramatic end to the season? The media and the neutrals must be loving the make or break of who gets the Premiership. For a fan it's not easy. Too many hopes dashed over the years and you still come back for more. Just sorted out the season tickets for next season - only a mere 6% rise - so it will be back for more. Let's hope for an early goal to settle the game down, and a two goal cushion before the break - then I can enjoy the football.

United's debts - sustainable?

If there isn't enough to be concerned about, like Sunday's must win game, or the Moscow final then the media has conflicting stories over the debts at Manchester United.

Disturbing article in The Guardian "United play for the double on back of £58m losses last year". Essentially the debts come to £765m (some reports say it is £666m). It's bigger than ever! You don't think about these things with the current success. The world of high finance is beyond my knowledge - but anyone can see it must be a drain. £82m in interest last year, the amount of debt is actually grows year on year - up £124m in the last year. The revenue can never repay the money borrowed. What's going to happen - refinancing on better deals, selling, re-floating, carry on it's all manageable according to the Glazers??? Looks like another price hike for a season ticket will be my contribution to pay it off.

Links : MU Supporters Trust Comment
Channel 4 - Rising Debts