Love United, Hate Glazer: F.C. United of Manchester, Red Knights and ‘Green and Gold’

Abstract

When Malcolm Glazer and his family seized control of Manchester United, they leveraged much of the acquisition debt back on to the club. This prompted some fan groups to mobilise. Indeed, Crowther’s fan diary (2006) suggested that every Manchester United supporter remembers where they were when they heard the news that Glazer had bought 75 per cent (plus one share) of the club on 12 May 2005, after supporters had been sceptical of his motivations since he had begun buying shares in the club two years earlier (see Guttersnipe’s quote). While Crowther may have exaggerated, the purchase created consternation among many supporters and divided opinions about what course of action should be taken (Brown 2007; 2008). Brady’s fan diary (2006) detailed one of the first forms of protest: on 21 May 2005, Manchester United played Arsenal in that season’s F.A. Cup final. Under the gaze of the global media, many Manchester United supporters dressed in funeral attire for the game, to signify their belief that the club had ‘died’.

The Glazer camp seem surprised at the level of opposition to any takeover by the King of the US trailer parks. Why? Glazer has been asked over and over again by newspapers and magazines for interviews but all approaches are met with a firm ‘nothing doing’. Begs the question what does he have to hide? And what does he want from United? And finally what happens when he passes away? After all he is 71.

‘Guttersnipe’, United We Stand Issue 135: 8 (November 2004)