United We Stand - Fans, Fans, Fans.

Football fans, read on. Others, better luck next time :-)

I’ve been a fan of Manchester United ever since I started following football seriously as a teenager. Needless to say, I was over the moon when they did the coveted ‘double’ this season. I could go on and on about the laurels, the trophies and the history of the club, but that’s what Messrs Wikipedia are for.

Let us talk about the fans – they are the real backbone of any club. To me, a true football fan is like a dog – loving yet demanding, faithful yet fidgety. He gives his all and expects much less in return, sticks by his team through thick and thin, watches every match like it’s a matter of life and death. One look at the majestic stadium at Old Trafford, and you’ll know why it’s known as the theatre of dreams. The faithful flock the stadium, expecting nothing less than a convincing win for the home side. Admittedly, the beer-guzzling, prawn-sandwich-eating fans of United are among the better behaved and docile in the premiership. But boy, can they intimidate the opposition if needed.

If all this doesn’t turn you on, maybe you are not a football fan. But don’t lose hope yet, there’s a little something for everybody here. Let us say you are an average heterosexual male, who isn’t interested in watching 22 other men running after a giant round object. Turn your attention to the hoards of female fans at Old Trafford. Sure, Chelsea or Arsenal have more glamorous/fashionable/cosmopolitan fans. But are you suggesting that you wouldn’t go weak in the knees when you hear a female fan scream “Manchsta Unaitid Fubol Kloob” in her Lancastrian accent? Gentlemen, start your engines!

It’s hardly surprising that watching United play Arsenal at Old Trafford remains one of the top items on my ‘bucket list’. I hope to be there soon, but until then, as a true United fan would say “Lets party like it’s ‘99”. Go United!