RMI lost 3-1 at home to Stalybridge in the rain after being 1-0 up. The long winter continues

In trying to rectify the situation, threats to those charged with facilitating the broadcast ain't a great way to go about it.


Anyway.... Someone explain this to me. You set your stall out for a 0-0 in an away game at an in-form opponent. When the in-form opposition score, why would you continue to play for a 0-0?

Curzon Ashton 0 (0) – (1) 2 FC United of Manchester
Att: 297………………….........S. Carden 32
……………………………...........Nugent 64

On a landmark day in the history of FC United – a club whose fans are famed for making a huge racket wherever they go – it was the silence that rang out around the Tameside Stadium that spoke loudest.

In a well organised and brilliantly executed boycott, only 20 or so away fans were visible among the 297 in attendance, with an estimated 1,500 refusing to trek to Ashton for the puzzling 12.45pm kick-off arranged at the whim of an internet television channel and without the approval of both clubs.

A few miles away at the home of Abbey Hey - just as captain Rob Nugent was powering home United’s second, building on Simon Carden’s first-half tap in - about 500 reds were watching the first-place reserves outfit beat nearest league rivals Club AZ.

It meant that for the first time in the club’s short history, as the first-team shirts put on an impressive display on the field, there was no singing, no merriment, no smiling young faces or joy expressed off it.

The mood of the day was reminiscent of the emotional Sunday back in May 2005 when 100 or so ‘Big United’ fans dressed in black to mourn the loss of their club to current owner Malcolm Glazer, but those taking part will this time know that, unlike on that dismal Cardiff afternoon, they’ve won their battle.

The Curzon fans, who have seen their savvy team rise to the top of the table in a promising five months, seemed to have no problem with having the league puppet them about on their Saturday afternoon.

One middle-aged man queuing up for a much-needed steaming cup of coffee at half time seemed to sum up the apathy, or just downright stubbornness, of his fellow Curzon supporters.

“What’s the point in staying away? It won’t achieve anything. People need to realise it’s not the 1960s anymore. You just have to get on with it,” he said.

But, according to some of those who do have the power to change the status quo, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

The magnitude of the boycott certainly seemed to home with today’s grim-faced match commentator John Warrington, head of In Vision, who said he is confident such a situation will not be allowed to take place in future.

Speaking at half-time, he said: “It is hugely disappointing that the attendance is so low for everyone involved, especially Curzon Ashton, who have lost out on a big slice of revenue.

“When the board of FC United announced that they would be in favour of a boycott of this game, I was in Las Vegas and I was disappointed that Andy Walsh was not prepared to wait just one more day until I got back to discuss the issue with me so we could have talked it through.”

He added: “As it is, I cannot see any club being shown more than once before the play-offs on a Saturday.

“But when there are concerns of the change of times, we will certainly be prepared to hold discussions with the league in order to find a solution.”

Indeed, Mr Warrington admitted he did ask the league if they would move the fixture back to 3pm, with In Vision showing the game in full at 5pm. The league refused.

League secretary Phil Bradley was at today’s game, but wasn’t too prepared to make himself available for a comment. He left right on the final whistle.

Curzon chairman Harry Galloway said that, while he expected a low attendance, it was still a blow for his club to miss out on an estimated £10,000 windfall from a bumper attendance.

FC United of Manchester general secretary Lindsey Robertson, meanwhile, said she was delighted with the success of the boycott – and that, according to Mr Warrington, it could avoid kick-off times changing in future without agreement of the clubs involved.

She said: “It just shows how strongly the supporters feel about this matter. I know it is hard for them because they want to support the team, especially in such a big game, but it’s important we stand up for what we believe in.

“If what has happened today provokes discussion about whether this will happen again, it has been worth it and it will show how essential it is for supporters to have a voice.”

The Unibond league stated no games would be moved in 2007. They stated that no games would be moved without the consent of both clubs. They've also stated that a communication was made to all league clubs that would've absolved them from any wrong-doing in this instance. FCUM never received said communication and I also received a text from a Bamber Bridge committee member yesterday stating they'd never received said communication, either. No other club has been able to produce this communication and the league can't produce any evidence of it.



I'm still waiting for someone to point out just what threats have been made, by who they were made and who they were made to?

As for breaking the boycott, I was stood in the car park. So ner.

I was there! I questioned my sanity as I trecked through Leigh through the rain and then when I was cold and sat down in the stand. The rain was bloody horizontal! I think RMI only had the lead cos the wind was behind them.

Farsley at Halifax for me today, hopefully.

Against your wiser judgement with the benefit of hindsight.

2-0 defeat despite playing against 10 men for about an hour.

Most people question their sanity as they walk through Leigh.

Crikey. That was something else at Droylsden this afternoon.

Whilst thanking their lucky stars that that's the most worrying thing on their mind, instead of dodging bullets and joyriders in Salford.

Did you go John? couldnt make it up. Man Utd/Bayern AC/Liverpool eat your heart out, the best game ever lol. We werent satisfied with the initial comeback from 2-0 down so we thought we'd make it more spectacular and give our selves 3 mins insted to score 2

Didn't make it to the Shay today. Lost 2-0, and Alty won too, so only 2 points away from the relegation zone. Though we still have Weymouth in our sites.

Droylsden - York sounded like a cracker!

I'll be in Yorkshire again at the weekend, so will aim to get to Farsley v Histon, the clash of the two village teams in the Conference

Now that's a nibble and a half!

FC beat yesterday Mossley 5-2. Could've been more, some interesting decisions by the officials. Again.