“When you first walk on that ground five or 10 years ago, you love the team in the red shirt, in the big stadium,” Bury-born Gary Neville once said. “And the addiction is yours for life.”
That sense of allure seems to be missing outside Trafford, where its size and appeal have faded in recent years.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was believed to be the man to turn things around, to have established unity with those affected by the disease, but he was now the target of his wrath. There are economic issues; Juventus posted net losses of £113.2m for the 12 months ending June 30 and, as Ratcliffe put it, required “difficult and unenviable decisions”.
The minority owner is facing criticism from supporters for increasing ticket prices in the middle of the season and removing concessions for children and seniors, starting to look like a club at £66 when the previous prices were £40 for adults and £25 for children and boarders. Unconvincing defending being: “I don’t think it makes sense to pay a Manchester United ticket at a lower price than a ticket to see Fulham,” as Ratcliffe said. We stand united fanzine
A pure savior, Ratcliffe has already earned the moniker “Monk Manc”, a man who lives a different existence for those who wish to participate in the match. Generations have attended Old Trafford, but those traditions are at risk because of the club’s desire to “invest in a stronger financial position”.
That process has led to 250 staff leaving, Sir Alex Ferguson’s role as ambassador has come to an end, and the thin wedge is looking to end, although the bigger fear this mid-term is increasing is a dangerous example.
“It just doesn’t make any sense,” says Steve Crompton, a 1958 proponent of the value-added group. “You don’t bite the hand that feeds you. We get clubs in a financial mess, but the club’s debt is debt, not debt. They should be mindful of that. Since the product costs £66, there isn’t a day when I don’t wake up angry.
There were protests, from The 1958, at Old Trafford last Sunday when the message blared: “Stop abusing the Faith” and a sign at the Forest match on Saturday read “£66 Your Debt Not Ours”.
The major Premier League clubs of today are rarely overly concerned about having a return of supporters, the greater the profit from those who attend every match and pop into the megastore to buy some expensive brand name. Who wouldn’t want a £180 Paul Smith pajama set from Manchester United?
“If they prepare the prices for one day, you can only see that the price of the season ticket is going to increase so much,” says United fan Ste Thom, who brings his eight-year-old. daughter “He loves to come, he loves a full day, and I fear for the kids that will come from him.”
Post Newsletter promotion
In a world where the latest Premier League fixture is worth a staggering £12.25bn, it seems a little incomprehensible that full stadiums and passionate supporters are the delivery of a product that has been sold desperately to the highest bidder. Tickets for the visit of Forest were available the day before, potentially the first sign fans are not keen to expand as funds are tight. “The amount of money that will be made from this is so small on the scale of things,” said Crompton.
“It seems the most insane thing. When have tickets ever gone on general sale at Old Trafford for a Premier League game? It doesn’t happen.”
They are not the only teams, especially in the top half of the league, that die hard supporters once in a while. Targets are nothing without fans, and owners should know that this is the last option. “I’m very aware that we’re looking for a community that’s a community partnership, but I also want to optimize the income from people who can afford it,” Ratcliffe said.
The danger is that the club becomes less Manchester and is far from joining.