Old Trafford Lounge

The fans are the customers - football's a business first and foremost.

I'm sure United fans are happy you've managed to make the three CL finals and be so consistently successful in the EPL as well. The only reason you've managed to keep up with the competition is through accelerated commercilisation bringing extra revenue into the club.

Which would be unnecessary if not for the level of debt they piled upon us.

The debt they bought has been a millstone around our neck, the accelerated commercialisation has done nothing except tackle that debt. Little to do with our success (which has basically allowed the commercialisation, not been caused by it).

So, the added revenue of commercialisation only brings in enough money to cover debt repayments?

Perhaps the original ability to commercialise is based on you having success, but now all the big clubs are doing it and brings in plenty of money it's the reason (or at least part of the reason) you're remaining in competition with other sides

The 'millstone' doesn't seem to have had too much of an effect on your on pitch results, it's not like you've had any issues spending on players when needed.

Out of curiosity, what aspects of commercialisation do you have problems with?

Fantastic business men they might be, but they're parasitical cunts who are lucky they had Ferguson there.

Who even wrote that?

Judging by the language used, an American.

Can't you read? Ferguson was about to be 'fired'.

Your nephew knows more about football than this guy i´m sure.

Munich’ programmes may net Manchester United fan £8,000
19 Mar 2013 07:25

Keith Hames found the 12-page copies of the United v Wolves programme for February 8, 1958 - a game postponed because of the air disaster two days earlier - in the loft of his house in Hyde

It was the programme that never was, a treasured relic from a tragic time.

And now a Manchester United fan is hoping to cash in after unearthing two match day magazines from a game postponed in the wake of the Munich Air Disaster.

Keith Hames found the 12-page copies of the United v Wolves programme for February 8, 1958 in the loft of his house in Hyde.

They are considered the ‘Holy Grail’ of Reds programmes because the vast majority were destroyed in the aftermath of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 23 passengers and eight of the Busby Babes, after the match was postponed.

But Keith’s dad, Harry, worked for the Phillips Park Press, where the issues priced at 4d, were printed, and took two copies home before the majority were pulped.

They have remained in the family’s possession for 55 years and are now expected to go under the hammer.

Manchester United fan finds rare 'Munich' programme in his loft

Former BT engineer Keith, 60, reckons they may net him £8,000. He said: “I didn’t really know my dad that well because he died when I was 10 but I think he brought them home to check for accuracy and make sure they had printed alright.

“The other day I sold something on eBay for the first time and it started me off thinking.

“I knew I had a load of United programmes and I had a look to see if any were valuable.

“I saw a story about the Wolves programmes and how one had gone for £7,000. I went to the loft and they were right at the top of the bag. I don’t think I will get that much but we will see what happens.”

Keith says some of the money will go to his two daughters, Sarah, 32 and Kimberley, 29.

He said: “They never knew their grandad and I think it would be a nice legacy to give them something from it.”

The programme is full of poignant words including a match report of the European Cup clash with Red Star Belgrade from which the gifted squad were returning on that fateful trip.

Their plane had stopped to refuel in West Germany and was attempting a third take off when tragedy struck.

Four of the starting line up in the programme, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones and Tommy Taylor, perished in the wreckage.

A fifth, Duncan Edwards, died 15 days later in hospital.

M.E.N. journalist Tom Jackson was among the fatalities.

Keith also has copies of the programme from United’s first match after the disaster in which the teamsheet is left blank because nobody knew who would play. They are thought to be worth £100.

Say that to Switzerland, and all that sweet, sweet Nazi gold they've got stockpiled.

Anyone know anything about your young goalkeeper Sam Johnstone? We've just signed him on loan from you apparently.

Everyone is highly rated on Redcafe though.

Collymore's at it again. And no I don't mean dogging, beating his partner or threatening to burn his wife's family house.

There's so many things wrong with this article.

That's an awfully written article but I agree with the principle that Rio's ended up looking like a bit of a chump after all of this. I wouldn't select him again if I was Hodgson.