The story behind the Manchester United protests: Good old days that unite army of fans

The inner city, industrial area of Newton Heath lies to the east of Manchester city

centre, hemmed in by the similarly urban districts of Monsall, Failsworth, Miles Platting and Ancoats.



Many of the Manchester United supporters who travelled from around the country to watch their team at Villa Park last night would, perhaps, not be able to find it if they tried.



Once more, however, Newton Heath is somewhere near the centre of United’s world.

Angered and dismayed at the financial climate in which the modern club now exists, supporters of the Barclays Premier League champions have chosen to look into their club’s history for comfort and for an appropriate point of reference from which to mount their challenge to the owners, the Glazer family.

The history boys: United adopted the Newton Heath colours as a third-choice kit and their players and staff dressed up to celebrate the centenary of the club’s entry to the Football League in 1892. Back row (left to right): Lee Sharpe, Dion Dublin, Peter Schmeichel, Les Sealey, Eric Cantona, Gary Pallister. Middle row: Andrei Kanchelskis, Brian Kidd, Mike Phelan, Darren Ferguson, Steve Bruce, Lee Martin, Alex Ferguson, Mark Hughes. Front row: Paul Ince, Denis Irwin, Bryan Robson, Brian McClair, Ryan Giggs, Danny Wallace, Paul Parker

Newton Heath, of course, was the name of the club — formed in 1878 — from which the modern United was to grow. Or the Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways Football Club, to give it its full and proper title.



For six years, during two spells in the late 19th century, the club wore a green and gold strip. And it is these colours that have become the symbol of a growing resistance to the Glazers’ ownership.



It is said that 30,000 green and gold scarves have been sold since they were produced at the behest of the Manchester United Supporters Trust two or three weeks ago.



Sam Black was Newton Heath’s first star. The full back with a build like Wayne Rooney was club captain from 1883-1887.

At £2.50 a throw they have proved understandably popular. In the region of 15,000 were in evidence as United beat Portsmouth at Old Trafford at the weekend. Last night, there were plenty in the away section, too.



Just five minutes into the game they were being swirled above fans’ heads as the travelling support began their ‘Love United, Hate Glazers’ refrain. Two banners expressing opposition to the Americans and chief executive David Gill were decked in those colours, too.



Already the scarf has become a remarkable symbol. Dreamed up in a room above a pub in Stretford, it has already proved more effective than anything any of United’s handsomely-paid marketing directors could have come up with. One senses it is beginning to make Gill and Co squirm a little — and understandably so.

The modern United, said to be valued at more than £1billion, could not on the face of it be further removed from the club formed by railway workers and small-time industrialists more than 100 years ago.



The only trophy the club ever won, for example, was the Lancashire Cup and for some time they were bettered in league standing by neighbouring clubs such as New Brighton Tower and Glossop.





There are, however, some peculiar similarities that may make some of the club’s more cynical supporters smile a little.



Tables turned: Newton Heath prop up the First Division in 1894 (with last night’s opponents Villa at the top)

Newton Heath were, for example, evicted from their first ground on North Road by their landlords, the Manchester Deans and Canons, in 1893.



Recently the Glazer family warned in a prospectus ahead of a £500m bonds issue that, if their financial situation worsens, they may sell Old Trafford and effectively become tenants too.



United’s founder club also suffered its share of financial woes as it struggled to become established. Money was a constant concern in the 19th century and at one point Newton Heath attempted to raise £2,000 in share capital.



It wasn’t quite the £500m the Glazers have been trying to raise through their bond issue, but it was a substantial sum all the same.



Duncan Drasdo, of the Manchester United Supporters Trust, said: ‘The club has been in debt several times in its history and has always been saved, usually by local businessmen or entrepreneurs. The problem this time is that we really don’t know who is going to come along to save us.’

Dedicated: Supporters wear the Newton Heath colours at Old Trafford



As United’s support has rallied, so the club has attempted to resist. Anti-Glazer banners have been removed — allegedly with force — from Old Trafford, while one steward with 19 years’ service claims he was sacked after attempting to return one to supporters in the club car park.



At Milan in the Champions League next week, there are unlikely to be any offending slogans either. The Italians, according to United, don’t want any. But at Wembley in the Carling Cup final at the end of the month, United are expected to face last night’s opponents against a backdrop of green and gold.



United, of course, have traditionally embraced their own history —but the fact their supporters are now looking to a bygone age to attempt to shame them must

trouble the current board. United fans, blessed with so much talent in Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad, are remembering previous players not for their ability but for their authenticity.



Once, back in the early 1990s, United produced a commemorative green and gold away strip, designed to remind people of Newton Heath. It is highly unlikely they will ever look to do such a thing again.