Old Yard Dog
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Aug 2011
- Messages
- 1,487
It seems fairly obvious to me: FCUM supporters are essentially a sub-set of Manchester United supporters. The two sets of fans coming together at Manchester Victoria before or after a game would have potential to flare up if the "banter" gets out of hand. It's a shame such things have to be considered, and it's almost certainly an over-reaction... but the thinking behind it is obvious.
The most threatened I've felt around football fans related to a game not involving my team, was on a train down The Marches when Chester were playing away at Wrexham: both were in the division I can't stop calling "The Conference".
I find it hard to believe that anybody would feel threatened by FCUM fans. My respect went up for them enormously after the sporting way they applauded our side when we beat them in the 118th minute of the 2012 NPL play-off final. And there is no longer any need to segregate their fans despite our rivalry over many years.
Sadly many NLN clubs like Stockport, Boston, Chester, Kidderminster and York still think they are in the fourth division and corral away fans into tiny corners or uncovered ends. Sometimes at Bradford we are forced by the powers that be to segregate when fans of clubs like these come in numbers, but they are given seats of equal quality to home fans and we put up a temporary beer tent and food stall.