http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/RSS.php FC United of Manchester Latest News en-GB Sat, 19 May 2012 03:53:26 CEST Sat, 19 May 2012 03:53:26 CEST http://www.fc-utd.co.uk http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4246
Tournament organised by Salford Youth Services and FC United of Manchester community coaches Carlos Roca and Jack Dickenson.

Time - 1pm to 4pm

Dates are;

19th May
26th May
2nd June
9th June
16th June
23rd June
30th June
1st July

Tournament will be cancelled if it is very wet.
]]> Fri, 18 May 2012 16:36:32 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4245 Friendlies Criteria, which remain the same for this season.

Pre-season often seems a little crowded, because we try to play enough friendly games to ensure all squad members benefit from a complete programme of pre-season matches. These are the probable dates, but they might change and we might squeeze one or two more into that list.

Sat 14 July 2012 –
Thur 19 July 2012 - Chadderton v FCXI Original News Story
Sat 21 July 2012 – Game confirmed, waiting for approval to announce Original News Story
Tue 24 July 2012 –
Thu 26 July 2012 – Probable friendly v FCXI
Sat 28 July 2012 – Bishop Auckland (Please note this game was originally announced for Sat 21 July, but it is definitely on Sat 28 July 2012)Original News Story Updated News Story
Wed 1 Aug 2012 -
Sat 4 Aug 2012 –
Tue 7 Aug 2012 - Mossley Original News Story
Thu 9 Aug 2012 – Possible friendly v FCXI
Sat 11 Aug 2012 – Radcliffe Borough + Funday Original News Story
? midweek – a final friendly might be played before the league campaign starts
Sat 18 Aug 2012 - League starts



Supporters Coaches
We will be running a supporters coach to Bishop Auckland, subject to demand. To book please click here or call the office on 0161 273 8950.

]]> Fri, 18 May 2012 16:32:44 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4244
The home club have asked us not to announce this game until they are ready to publicise all their pre-season friendlies.

We frequently complain when opposition clubs jump the gun and announce they are playing FC United in a friendly before all the details are finalised by both clubs, so we’re happy to comply with that request. We hope it won’t be too long until we can give you the details, so we ask FC United supporters to remain patient for a little bit longer.

In answer to the much asked question, the game will be in this country, because we don’t at this stage have any plans for an overseas friendly this year.
Other than that, please stop mithering us - we’re not going to tell you!
But we promise the game will be announced as soon as possible.]]> Fri, 18 May 2012 15:57:15 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4243
Full details on how to log-in etc will be provided when the launch is announced.

]]> Fri, 18 May 2012 15:55:18 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4242 online club shop. The more co-owners we have as a club, the stronger we are, so if you have been a Member previously or are thinking of joining for the first time, join up now and own your own football club.

As well as that, Membership for 2011/2012 is still available up until June 30th of this year. Some people may have not renewed for one reason or another and may want to keep a continuous record of Membership going.

For anyone who does, or already has, joined for the current season will be entered into the final Members’ Prize Draw of the year on the 30th of June. The prize will be a trip for two to an away game on the team coach. Remember, only people who co-own the Club for 2011/2012 have a chance of winning.]]> Fri, 18 May 2012 10:42:00 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4241


Centre-back Adam Jones collected several awards for his first season with the Reds including the coveted Russell Delaney Supporters’ Player of the Year. He said: “It was an amazing feeling and gives me a massive sense of achievement. I think this is the award that all the lads want to win.

“Players’ player of the season is obviously an award everyone wants to win too but at a club like FC United, which is all about the supporters and the unbelievable contribution they make, this award is really special.”

And, despite losing in a play-off final for the sixth season in a row, Jones added: “It’s been a really enjoyable season for me. I’m not really one for change, so leaving Curzon Ashton after six years was a big decision to make but it has been fantastic.

“The way I was welcomed by the management, the rest of the lads and the supporters has been amazing. I can’t describe how it feels when the supporters sing our names and cheer us on, it means so much to the lads. We really appreciated all the fundraising and work behind the scenes all the supporters and volunteers do, even though we only get to see a fraction of it.”

Forward Matthew Wolfenden was voted as the players’ player of the season, goalkeeper James Spencer was chosen as the manager’s player, whilst Carlos Roca was voted FCUth’s (Junior Supporters) player of the season and won the Match Reporters’ Award for most man-of-the-matches of the season.

Roca said: “The junior supporters means a lot because I like to think that I’m the sort of player who plays exciting, attacking football whilst trying to do things that are a little bit out of the ordinary.

“Sometimes they come off and sometimes they don’t but if the younger supporters enjoy the way I play football, that’s really good because hopefully it will inspire a few of them to play the game in an exciting way. I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me, it means a lot and it’s really appreciated.”

Roca certainly excited all age-groups of the FC United faithful during the season and probably no more so than when his 25-yard-screamer against Altrincham set the Reds on their way to first round proper of the FA Carlsberg Trophy for the first ever time. And for that, the winger won the Didsbury and Withington Supporters’ Branch goal of the season award.

Other branch awards went to Adam Jones (Trafford Branch and Armchair Army), Kyle Jacobs scooped the Newton Heath Branch award and goal of the season against Whitby from the Irwell Valley Branch, whilst Jacobs and Jones were joint players of the season from the Stockport Branch and James Spencer’s safe-hands were recognised by the Eccles Branch.

Our Under-18s manager Dave Brown selected James Brooks as player of the season, whilst Alex Stones was voted players’ player.

Looking ahead to next season, all of the players were in agreement that they wanted to keep the squad together and have a go at winning promotion as champions before ‘having the honour’ of running out at FC United’s new ground.
]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 09:05:27 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4240
Women over 16 years of age are all welcome at the trials. To register your interest and attendance please email womensteam@fc-utd.co.uk and you will receive a trial form to complete and return prior to attending the trials together with full details of the trial venue.

The new FC United women’s team will be playing in the Greater Manchester Women’s Football League next season and will be managed jointly by John Marsden and Lee Sutton. Lee said: "Since we announced that FC United would be forming a women’s team for next season, the response has been brilliant. John and I are hoping that the interest will result in an excellent attendance at the trials on Sunday 10th June."]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 07:34:34 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4239
They won their first corner with less than a minute gone but failed to take advantage. The Millers could have made them pay for that as they quickly broke down field and won a free kick on the edge of the FC box. Fortunately the delivery was poor and in truth they were never to really threaten the reds goal again in the first half. That though wasn’t entirely true as they did have the ball in the FC net on 37 minutes, but it was put there by a player who was always in an offside position yet couldn’t stop himself getting involved.

FC United were two goals up by then although it did take until the 26th minute for the first goal to arrive. Chances that came and went before then, were largely spurned by Matthew Boland. Though given his contribution to the rest of the half he might claim that he was merely finding his range on a hard, uneven surface.

Matthew scored the first goal himself after Connor Naughton had given Theo Kidd a chance to cross from the right. Matty fired home through a crowded box. He turned provider for the next two goals as his corners were fired home by Sam Howell in the 34th minute and Richard Smith in the 41st.

In the first half New Mills had been playing with a gusting wind behind them and had found a lot of passes being over hit. In the second half it was FC who faced that problem and not surprisingly the Millers were able to make a better game of it. They were awarded a penalty in the 48th minute for an untidy challenge in the box, but Liam Millen, in hitting his shot straight towards the middle of the goal, saw a trailing Andrew Farrimond leg clear the ball out for a corner. If that and a Lee Gregory shot over the bar in the 56th minute had gone in, there could have been a truly titanic cup final on offer. Neither did it took until the 85th minute before there was any addition to the score as Jordan Young pulled one back for the Millers.

This could have made for a tense finale but no sooner had the reds kicked off than Andy Lee launched a shot from outside the box that dipped into the top corner of the goal giving Jack Barlow absolutely no chance and that was that; the game finished 4-1 and the reds collected the cup and the winners medals. That is once the New Mills players realised they had been given them by mistake and handed them back.

FC United of Manchester: Andrew Farrimond, Alex Stones (Matthew Hassall 55mins), Josh Smethurst (Andy Lee 75 mins), Richard Smith, James Brooks, Kial Callacher, Sam Howell, Connor Naughton, Theo Kidd, Matthew Boland (Joshua Matthew 65 mins), Jonathan Poizer. Subs not used: Kyle Cunningham and Jonathan Beisty.

Goals: Matthew Boland, Sam Howell, Richard Smith and Andy Lee.
]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 21:21:17 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4238
All nine players have their own fundraising pages and each of them is being supported and sponsored by an FC United supporters’ branch. We also have a group page for those runners that don’t wish to set up their own fundraising page. This year, for obvious reasons, it’s called "the FC41ers". You can pledge your support to all our runners collectively on the group page by clicking here

Listed below you’ll find links to the players’ pages, along with the FC United branches backing them, and also a list of supporters’ fundraising pages should you wish to sponsor them.

There’s sure to be some healthy competition - and lively banter - between the players who are running the 10k course on 20 May and it will be interesting to see if any of the supporters taking part manage to finish before any of the players. Not that we’re encouraging people to be too competitive of course - it is, after all, the taking part that counts, and the raising of much needed funds for FC United!

Players
Paul Armstrong - Moston - click here
Adam Jones - Stockport - click here
Dean Stott - Tameside - click here
Kyle Jacobs - Irwell Valley - click here
Richard Battersby - Eccles - click here
Matty Wolfenden - Trafford - click here
James Spencer - Newton Heath - click here
Nicky Platt - Didsbury & Withington - click here
Mike Norton - London - click here

Supporters
FC41ers - click here
Dave Keelan - click here
Lucy Pendlebury - click here
Brett Turton - click here
Lindsey Howard - click here
Andy Walker - click here
Marcin Zelechowski - click here
Chris Blackpool - click here
Neil Nelson - click here
Mike Sherrard - click here
Andy Lake - click here
Helen Walker - click here
Jo Purcell - click here

FC41ers group page - click here]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 17:39:00 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4237 Mossley AFC on Tuesday 7 August 2012 to commemorate the centenary of their ground, Seel Park. Imagine us in 101 years celebrating the centenary af our ground at Moston.

Further details of the game will be published nearer the time.









(P.S. We know some supporters are waiting for an announcement of the friendly on Sat 21st July 2012 that we swapped around for, but the details aren’t confirmed yet, so please be patient.)
]]> Tue, 15 May 2012 19:49:24 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4236
The college won their semi-final with a win against Exeter College played at Exeter City’s St James Park. Exeter College were supported by a 300-strong crowd but The Manchester College made it to the final after a 2-1 win with goals from Kial Callacher and Frank Van-Gils. The Academy will now play South Essex College at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium in the BCS National Final on Wednesday 16th May with a 2pm kick off. The winners of the Final will be crowned BCS National Champions and deemed the best College football team in the country.

The Football Academy at the college is closely linked with FC United and uses this link to enable professional coaches to develop and guide players in the academy and enables The Manchester College players to be given opportunities to play in FC United’s youth team and first team.

FC United manager Karl Marginson, who is also first team coach at The Manchester College, said: "The College Football Academy squad has made great strides this season and our main aim was to help these players understand the game and develop their technical and tactical ability. It is great that they have reached the BCS National Final as it shows them that their hard work has paid off and hopefully these players can continue to develop and meet the standards required to get into FC United’s first team."

BCS Elite Colleges National Football League Final
Wednesday 16 May 2012: 2pm kick off
The Manchester College v South Essex College
Pirelli Stadium, Burton Albion FC, Princess Way, Burton on Trent DE13 0AR.]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:29:46 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4235
There are two guest speakers this month , Barry Woodburn who works for the FC United Community Team and Phil Frampton a consultant to FC and the organiser of the FC United Minithon.

The meeting will finish before 9pm to be followed by a social event with a bar and refreshments . All FC members and supporters are welcome.
]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 12:57:33 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4234
Admittedly it is at Burscough

Admittedly the first game was a bit of a disappointment.

Admittedly most of you were at Bradford last week.

But you are not going to let all that stop you supporting the lads and reacquainting yourself with the delightful surroundings of Victoria Park are you?]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 12:58:18 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4233
The rest of the first half was a tale of missed chances for Morecambe, with James Riley having at least two gilt-edged chances without hitting the target. The nearest the home side came was a move in which Richard Smith found Matthew Boland. The ball was put in the net but not before the assistant ruled Matthew to be offside.

Eventually the half time whistle went and the lads retreated for some well chosen words of advice from Manager Dave Brown and the maximum allowance of three substitutions.

The second half started with promise as Jonathan Poizer and Theo Kidd quickly combined down the left to get a cross in which was somehow scrambled away. After that chances were few and far between as the game drifted.

With twenty minutes to go, the game burst into life as FC started to play pass and move football, letting the ball do the work rather than try and bulldoze through the Morecambe defence. The equaliser came with a quarter of an hour left; Josh Matthew and Alex Stones combined to give Theo a ball down the right touchline. His driven cross into the box was met equally firmly by Matthew Boland.

The winner came in the 85th minute as FC were awarded a free kick out on the right edge of the penalty area. Jonathan Poizer’s low cross was met with a deft touch by Connor Naughton before being fired home by MatthewBoland. However there was a brief scare as a Morecambe shot a minute later was deflected, only just wide by Kial Callacher.

FC United of Manchester: Jonathan Beisty, Alex Stones, Josh Smethurst, Richard Smith (Connor Naughton), James Brooks, Kyle Cunningham (Kial Callacher), Andy Lee (Theo Kidd), Jonathan Poizer, Matthew Boland, Josh Matthew. Sub not used: Andrew Farrimond
]]> Wed, 09 May 2012 21:27:30 +0200 http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=4232 Saturday 28 July 2012. We’re announcing this straight away to help supporters who might already be making summer plans and we apologise if the change of date causes any difficulties.

This date change is because we are in the process of finalising another game on the original date of Sat 21 July 2012, so it is extremely good of Bishop Auckland to agree to swap the date of their game to allow us to schedule another interesting fixture for FC United.

The updated original story about the Bishop Auckland friendly can be found here

Further information about the game being planned for Sat 21 July 2012 will be announced as soon as all the details are finalised.

FC United will be running a coach to the game. The coach will leave Chorlton Street at 10am and also pick up at TGIs, Prestwich. The cost will be £16 for adults and £8 for juniors under 16. Bookings can be taken HERE or email travel@fc-utd.co.uk or by ringing the FC United office on 0161 273 8950.
]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 12:58:58 +0200