08 Oct 2024 06:04:01
For a bit of fun and to address an earlier comment about how long fans have been around and their "pedigree". Can we list the first game you went to, how old were you, where and when? That will perhaps give away peoples age! Be good to see the spread we have on here and perhaps give some perspective to opinions.
1.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 07:00:37
May 2003 for me vs. Charlton. 4-1 win with a RVN hat-trick!
2.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 07:21:44
Mine was at Hillsborough. 1976. Cup semi v Derby County. Gordon Hill won 2-0.
3.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 07:32:09
1990 FA Cup Final.
3-3 v's Palace
I was 9 years old at the time.
4.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 08:43:12
Leeds at OT it was a 1-1 draw. Scholes for us and Alan smith for them. I think it was 2003.
5.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 09:00:06
How about fans who have never had a chance to watch Utd but for TVs?
6.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 09:31:24
1985 FA cup quarter final against west ham. 4-2 win on our way to FA cup victory that season. Was 8 and loved Whiteside and Hughes.
7.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 09:51:41
Luton at home, 1991, 5-0 win.
8.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 09:52:15
77 cup final v Liverpool I was 8.
9.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 09:59:13
1987: Man Utd 3-1 Oxford. Jesper Olsen was my instant hero.
10.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 10:12:05
1957. Age 7. Home to Aston Villa. 1-1 draw. Lost to them later in the FA Cup final. Lost everything the following February.
11.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 10:17:56
Ha mine was the exact same as angry Keane, 3-3 v Palace in 1990, my Dad took me, I was 7 and I’d chosen United to support with my Dads encouragement. Little did I realise I’d have the best growing up ever to come, with United, lucky to have been part of all that really.
12.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 10:19:31
1979, FA Cup 4th round replay, Fulham. Won 1-0, Jimmy Greenhoff.
13.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 10:19:57
Manchester United 2 v 0 West Ham United, 26 August 1985.
Funnily enough Jesper Olsen was my favourite player and probably the reason I first followed Utd, being a fan of the Danish national team.
14.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 10:26:32
I have been a fan since 1974 but first match was sadly
1977 Man Utd 0 Chelsea 1
Never stopped me believing though.
15.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 10:45:08
For me. First game was 1962. I was 3 months old! First game that I watched properly was August 1966 WBA. But in all fairness it was just a blur as a memory.
First game as real active fan was 1970. Leeds at home. Lost 1-0
Had a season ticket from then until 2001 when we moved to Oz. Still regretting giving it up.
Spend. Jesper lives in Sydney. Met him when United were there.
16.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 10:51:04
the famous 1995 3.1 away game defeat against villa, i was 12.
17.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 11:07:11
Birmingham 2-0 at home 75 season.
18.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 11:35:22
Bournemouth in the FA Cup Feb 1989. Finished 1-1, got a picture in the Match magazine at the time. Squad I found online was:
Jim Leighton, Steve Bruce, Paul McGrath, Clayton Blackmore, Mal Donaghy, Lee Martin, Bryan Robson, Gordon Strachan, Ralph Milne
Mark Hughes, Brian McClair.
19.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 11:36:32
1984 - 1st December v Norwich. Hughes and Robson in a 2-0 win.
20.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 12:01:33
19th August 1989, Arsenal at home - late 9th Birthday present.
4-1 win at home against the defending champions - I was hooked, but that was about as good as it got until the cup final.
Weirdly, there were stark similarities to the tenure of ten Hag - Fergie was heavily backed in the market, there were takeover murmurings and machinations that seemingly engulfed everything, there was an injury crisis, cup win seemingly buying the boss some time, and we ended the season in 13th.
Being devil's advocate here, but we would have had Bobby Robson as manager if that takeover happened - how different things could have been. ?
That said, ten Hag is no Fergie.
As a young lad I watched a few more games that season and saw Fergie as some grumpy, red-faced, pork pie-looking thing who reminded me of a bellend neighbour we had. However, as a self-confessed nerd, over the years I began to appreciate the art of orchestrating the team, whether that was helped by measured instruction or berating a player so badly that the recipient must have seen his gaffer's tonsils.
I don't feel that from ten Hag who, while trying to appear studious and composed, has the irritating habit of looking like a toddler seeking someone to blame for the ice cream falling out of his cone.
So there's my first 'Stripe', a match that is matched or bettered by little. That doesn't make me any more or less valid a fan than anyone older or younger, but I have seen the doldrums before and won't presume the 'Good old days' to be the overarching gauge for merit or suggest 'Long-standing fans' to be any greater authority on anything over younger people simply because their teeth are longer.
I mean, look at the state of the planet - some older people are morons.
Let's just accept reality.
Some people think they know more or should have their opinions regarded more highly simply because they're older - that's as pathetic as it is arrogant. As I've said before, I've spoken to many old hats over the years and there's an equal reflection amongst them of the levels of stupid seen elsewhere in the world.
A person's 'stripes' do not determine authority amongst a fanbase - it's not an army, is it?
Pedigree? Nah, delusion.
21.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 12:15:06
February 2001 - 1-0 Win at Home to Everton, rather uneventful game.
22.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 12:16:14
1959 pre season 1st team vs Reserves warmup match. Scoreboard standing only end, sat on a crush barrier on my Dad's mac. I was 9.
Waited outside and got my first ever autograph. Had to ask him who he was.
"Albert Quixall".
23.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 12:52:36
Well done Keefy for getting that somewhat pointless poll off the top.
24.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 13:00:34
First home match was King Eric’s testimonial. First away match was a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
25.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 13:18:37
Home to Leeds march 1979, I was 9, we won 4-1 Andy Ritchie scored a hat trick. Instant hero to my young self!
26.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 14:16:26
77 season under sexton. 2nd game of the season, We beat Coventry 2-1 Started that season really well and then it went badly:) Those were some tough years.
27.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 14:25:49
Embarrassing to say, I don't remember! Some time in the mid 60s. I do remember watching Best score a beautiful goal v, Sheffield United in a top of the table clash in 1971. Then there's the enduring memory of standing in the SE Paddock as a sodden Dennis Law flicked a V sign at the linesman for calling him offside. Dementia must be setting in!
28.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 15:10:50
2nd December 1978. Norwich at home.
Went over on the old overnight cattle ferry to Liverpool with my dad and three uncles. Stayed at another uncle's in Audenshaw or somewhere like that.
Went down the day before and met Mickey Thomas, Jimmy Greenhoff and Sammy McIlroy coming out of training and they signed my autograph book. Jimmy was my hero, but Mickey was great craic with us, and with me especially. Back in the days when the players would just stroll around outside OT.
Game was frozen off the next morning! ?
Went back at the end of the month to see them play WBA. Great game, beat 5-3, but what a team WBA had back then.
29.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 15:15:06
Ork, I remember that game as Neil Webb's debut. He scored a corker.
30.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 16:44:16
United vs PSV in 2000 was my first game. 3-1 win with goals from Sheringham, Scholes and Yorke.
31.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 17:19:12
West Brom 1981. What I didn't realise at the time or for a few years until my dad or grandad told meafter was that my all time hero was playing, but for West Brom that day, one of three future United players playing for the opposition that day with Robson still the greatest player I ever saw.
I have no idea about the players playing I just remember the atmosphere was electric.
32.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 17:25:15
Spenno
Didn't he just, that was a proper little worldie.
I remember it more for being bounced around early doors when Brucey did a Brucey - what a start.
33.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 17:55:19
Ipswich 6 MU 0 - 1980. Gary Bailey (my favourite player then) saved 3 pens.
34.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 18:36:06
1985-86 season, Chelsea at OT, we lost to a last minute Kerry Dixon goal. Didn't wear my glasses cause I thought they would get knocked off from an enthusiastic crowd, so saw a blurred version of the game.
Eric and Spenno are right Jesper Olsen was a legend and still my favourite ever United player. He scored the penalty that day if my memory is still working.
35.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 22:18:30
Watching us spank Roma 7-1 at old Trafford. What an introduction!
36.) 08 Oct 2024
08 Oct 2024 22:29:33
geez everyone is old here lol. no wonder the conversation. bunch of old grumpy men lol.
37.) 09 Oct 2024
09 Oct 2024 05:11:43
FA Cup Final 1979, beat 3-2. i was 8 years old.
38.) 09 Oct 2024
09 Oct 2024 12:22:50
Okay so “pedigree” was a wrong choice of words. It was merely to understand peoples background as fans to understand what may or may not influence their feelings whether they be right or wrong.
Everyone else entered into the spirit of it but hey ho whatever puts wind in your sail.
I have never flagged my relative longevity as a fan to push my opinion and as you say anyone who does is foolish. Far smarter fans than me that are many years younger.
39.) 09 Oct 2024
09 Oct 2024 13:27:23
Keefy most people are younger than you???.
40.) 09 Oct 2024
09 Oct 2024 14:07:38
Keefy
It wasn't directed at you mate, I just grasped at the word which defines the position of another poster on here.
He knows who he is and I'm sure he read it, but has opted to duck it.
In hindsight, I maybe should have worded it better.
Sorry mate. ?.
41.) 09 Oct 2024
09 Oct 2024 19:42:15
All good! Sorry for being grumpy!
42.) 10 Oct 2024
10 Oct 2024 14:54:15
1st live match I caught was on the radio 1995 we beat Soton 4-1.