It's Now Or Never

Tuesday, 19 April 2011 IT'S NOW OR NEVER....

After Saturday's disappointing defeat There’s the old saying that you can’t away to Chasetown, which saw Wright switch form on and oƪ, and if you don’t and Norton sent oƪ, FC United need start a game properly it can be really to get back to winning ways against diƯcult to turn things around when you need to. That was the main problem on Marine, a team with an outside chance Saturday - we always like to play at a high of reaching the play-oƪs. It should be tempo, but we didn’t do that, seemed to a great night of tense, action-packed get into a rut, and were unable to football. Get yourself to Bower Fold, respond, even when they took the lead. Stalybridge, and create a brilliant atmosphere. I always stress the need for our players to work hard Ƭrst and foremost, as that’s Here's what Margey has to say... how you earn the right to play the The Chasetown keeper pulls oƪ a great save to football that wins us games. Chasetown deny Nicky Platt the equaliser. “It was disappointing to lose on Saturday, gave us a reminder that the team has to especially in the manner that we did, but do it from the start, as a collective, and That’s something we keep telling the lads, but it’s every team has its oƪ days. The run we’ve not wait for individuals. meaningless unless they remember to show it. been on has been magniƬcent, but it was always going to come to an end at some There was a bit of that early on against We’ll be in for a very tough game on point. Hopefully, it will prove to be a Frickley last week. I felt we were taking Wednesday. A team like Marine, coming from slight blip on our way to the play-oƪs, too many touches, especially in midƬeld, Merseyside, is never going to roll over for us, so rather than anything more serious. where we didn’t move the ball nearly we know what we’ve got to do. We’ve got the quickly enough. Once we were down to prize of the play-oƪs Ƭrmly within our grasp, and Although we didn’t play at all well, we ten men, we realised that we were not we don’t want anyone taking that away from us. weren’t helped by some poor refereeing going to get as much time on the ball, We probably only need three or four points to decisions. The lack of consistency was with them having a man advantage, and, secure a place, but we’re still very much staggering - their number nine kicked in the second half, there was a lot more targeting second spot. To achieve that, we’ll Scott McManus oƪ the ball and it should urgency in our play. At times, it looked have to win all three of our remaining games, have been a straight red. Instead, like we were the ones with the extra man. starting Wednesday. After the run we’ve been bizarrely, she merely called the two on, there’s no question that we can do that. captains together. Yet, later in their box, That’s what I want to see more of in the Playing at Gigg Lane would give us the massive we had a collision between Norton and a next three games - preferably when advantage of a decent pitch and your defender, and she sent Norton oƪ! I we’ve got a full team on the pitch. Some magniƬcent backing.” don’t know what the oƯcial’s seen, but of the football we’ve played has been we can appeal against that decision, and brilliant, when we’ve been forced into it, Get yourself to that football ground. FC United hopefully it will succeed. Jerome’s but we have to take the initiative and V Marine, Bower Fold, Stalybridge, Wednesday bookings were ridiculous. The Ƭrst perform like that from the oƪ. The 20th April 2011, kick oƪ 7.45 pm. booking came from the only tackle he'd players have been a joy to watch at times, made, but the referee’s pointed to Ƭve but it’s all about us setting the tempo diƪerent plac es on the pitc h, indic ating and going on the front foot, putting the persistent fouls. To think he will now miss opposition under pressure. Then, when the play-oƪƬnal, should we get there, is we’ve got the ball, we can express infuriating. ourselves. I say it time and again, but I truly believe that we’re the best team in We’ve discussed the overall performance the league, except perhaps for Halifax. since, and the players know where they went wrong. We’ll be looking to rectify those mistakes on Wednesday.

KENDAL TOWN - KIDS GO FREE!

Easter Monday, 25th April we'll be at Gigg Lane for our Ƭnal league game of the season, which is against Kendal Town. Everyone will agree that this has been an epic season, irrespective of what happens in our Ƭght to win promotion.

The Club has, therefore, as in previous end of season Ƭxtures, decided to make the Ƭxture a Kids Go Free day, to create an atmosphere of celebration. So, please join in on the day, bring the kids and tell all your children to invite their friends and their friends’ friends!

Should any supporters know of any community groups, junior football clubs or any other organisations who may be interested, then please take it upon yourself to let them know it’s an under 18’s free game, and invite them along.

FC United at Wembley for FA Cup Final?

Would you like to see FC United at the FA Cup Final at Wembley on May 14th? If yes then please vote for your winner of the inaugural FA Cup giant-killing award by logging on here:- http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFACup/NewsAndFeatures/2011/ronnie-radford-award

The poll is now open for fans to vote for the club they want to win the inaugural FA Cup Ronnie Radford Award and there's also a chance to win two pairs of tickets to this season's FA Cup Final.

To place you vote in the Ronnie Radford Award poll on TheFA.com you'll need to register for a FAN number, which only takes a few seconds. The Ronnie Radford Award was launched by The FA to recognise the team which achieved the season's most impressive giant-killing act in The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON. The award is named after Ronnie Radford whose long-range goal for Hereford United against Newcastle United in 1972 helped bring about arguably The FA Cup’s most famous giant-killing. (Watch the goal in the player on the right)

The shortlist of the Ƭve teams up for nomination are:

Alton Town (Sutton 1-2 Alton Town, First Round Qualifying) FC United of Manchester (Rochdale 2 - 3 FC United of Manchester, First Round Proper) Dover Athletic (Gillingham 0-2 Dover Athletic, First Round Proper) Stevenage (Stevenage 3-1 Newcastle United, Third Round Proper) Crawley Town (Crawley Town 2-1 Derby County, Third Round Proper)

The fan vote will run from: Friday 14 April through to Thursday 28 April. Fans can vote either on the poll on the right hand side (FAN number required) or on the oƯcial FA Cup facebook page:- http://www.facebook.com/TheFACup

Voters will also go into a random prize draw to win a pair of tickets to The FA Cup Final on 14 May, for which terms and conditions are on the website

Votes on both TheFA.com and Facebook will be combined to determine the winning team. The result will be announced in the build-up to the 2011 FA Cup Final and the winning team will be guests of The FA for The FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium where they will be presented with the ‘Ronnie Radford Award’ on the pitch at half-time.

Get voting!

Howard's Way

Roly Howard may not be a name familiar to many FC United fans. His 33 years at Marine, however, has made him the longest-serving post-war manager in English football. Even Sir Alex Ferguson won’t last that long. Between 1972 and 2005, Roly was in charge for 1,975 games, which is quite amazing, given that some non-league clubs go through 2 or 3 managers a season. During his reign Howard won 30 trophies, and raised the proƬle of the club with some notable FA Cup runs. In 1992-93 they even reached the Third Round, taking the League scalp of Halifax Town (4-1) en route. They've also reached the Semi-Finals of the FA Trophy twice, in 1983-84 and 1991-92.

Whilst at Marine, Roly nurtured some future professionals including Jason McAteer (Liverpool & Republic of Ireland) , Paul Cook (Wigan Athletic & Wolves) and Paul Beesley (Wigan Athletic & SheƯeld United). And,as if being in the dugout wasn't enough, Howard was also groundsman for six years, and still managed to Ƭt in a window cleaning round, with Kenny Dalglish being one of his customers.

The Mariners obviously like continuity. The Northern Premier League Premier Division was formed in 1987, and they, along with Frickley Athletic, have been ever-present since. The Merseysiders did Ƭnish as Champions in 1993-94 and 1994-95 but their ground failed the grading required for promotion.

Marine’s results against FC United follow a consistent pattern, with The Reds winning 4 out of the 5 previous meetings, and the other was only drawn due to a last minute equaliser from Liam Rushton at the Arriva Stadium in April 2010.

FC United V Frickley Athletic, Bower Fold, Stalybridge, Wednesday 13th April 2011, kick oƪ 7.45 pm.

ADULTS £8, UNDER 18s £2, OVER 60s £5

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