Away Days - FC United of Manchester

You can't beat a non-league away day, there is just something about a few of you travelling together to support your local team! 
A few more than a few turned out for probably our biggest away day of the season, FC United.
This was the second time we had tried to play this game but due to bad weather, the first game on New Years Day ended in a day out in a Bury pub.

We don't normally do supporters coaches for games based around the Manchester area but since it was FC United, Mr Hornby had arranged a mini bus to take us to the game (via the same pub we had visited on New Years Day).

We left the Nags Head on time at 5.45. I sat next to Richie who had a word with me for mentioning in a previous post that he'd had his hair cut especially for a player of the month presentation. I said I wouldn't mention it again. The journey was full of banter and a can of energy drink mixed with vodka, kindly supplied by one of Hornby's mates, who was dressed in FC United clobber (I forget his name, sorry!).
We soon approached Bury and due to some bad directions, we saw more of Bury than we had planned. Finally, I came to my senses and gave the driver the postcode for The White Boar pub instead of trying to remember the way from last time! A couple of beers and a game of killer later we set off to Gigg Lane. The rain had started coming down. By the time we got into the social club, we were informed that there was a pitch inspection going on as we spoke. Not again, surely?!

It got to 7.40 and we took the plunge and paid in. They couldn't call it off now. Into the ground and we were ushered into the away section where, according to FC United, there were 92 of us. It sounded more like 292. The atmosphere was good, the start to the game less so. 6 minutes in a 1-0 down! More worryingly (or perhaps luckily baring in mind we were losing), the rain was now coming down by the bucket load. It resembled the Amazon during monsoon season!

1-0 down yet we still sang. We were going to enjoy this game regardless. But we needn't had worried about the score as the team soon picked up and started playing some decent stuff and after one previous good chance from a free kick, our second effort was right on the money. The money being Ste Mason's head! Boom! 1-1 and cue celebrations, which can be seen on YouTube and yours truly stands out waving my scarf like an idiot! I have since shown this clip to my class at work and I am now officially famous according to 31 8 year olds!!!

The 1st half came and went with both teams fairly even. A half time chat with our forever suspended Andy Smart and an expensive bottle of cider later, and the 2nd half was under way. The weather dominated most of the half as it continued to batter it down! FC United did manage 2 great chances but we looked dangerous on the counter attack and from set pieces. Before we knew it we were into the last 5 minutes and the game had an unnerving feel to it. We all started thinking back to the home game where FC United pinched all 3 points in the 90th minute! Luckily, no more chances came FC's way and we saw out the game for a valuable point and up to 14th in the table!

The team and management had ONCE AGAIN, done us proud. I just hope we did them proud. We might not be anywhere near as big as FC United but our passion for Trafford from our fans is unrivaled. It was a great away day!

Many high fives and see you Saturday's later, I hitched a lift home with Taxi Tim, I knew the mini bus was off back to the Nags Head and I had a class to teach the next morning. For once I made the sensible decision (it had nothing to do with being scared of the missus after the the trouble I got into the last time I went on an away day and was out for 13 hours!)

Good luck to our neighbours and friends, FC United for the rest of the season.

Ratings

Value for money: 9 (great game considering the appalling conditions)
Beer/Food: Beer 1. Nice tasting cider but far too expensive (Bury FC prices rather than FC United prices I guess)
Ground: 7. Clealry a professional ground but just didn't feel right staring at an empty stadium!
Man of the Match: Martyn Mason Nia Beadle!
Fans: 10 good banter and WE were in great voice/spirits!
Referee: 9. Actually thought he was the best I've seen at this level.

Andy Glinka