Thousands of Manchester United supporters gathered on Sunday, the 1st of October, 2023, for a significant protest against the ownership of the club by the Glazer family. The demonstration commenced at approximately 3.15pm from the Tollgate pub, organised by The 1958 fan group ahead of the highly anticipated Premier League match against Arsenal.
Estimates indicate that around 5,000 fans participated in the march, which featured supporters draped in black clothing and brandishing a variety of banners and placards expressing their grievances regarding the club’s trajectory. Among the messages displayed were phrases such as “RIP fan culture”, “We want our club back”, and “Love United. Hate Glazer”, highlighting the deep-seated frustrations regarding the perceived decline of the iconic football institution.
The Glazer family acquired Manchester United in a controversial leveraged buyout in 2005, a move that has resulted in the club incurring approximately £700 million in debt. Fans believe that this financial burden has contributed significantly to a notable downturn in various aspects of the club, including on-field performance, player recruitment, and the maintenance of the historic Old Trafford stadium.
The 1958 group urged fellow supporters to wear black as a poignant symbol of their view that the club is “slowly dying” due to the overwhelming debts, mismanagement, and the perceived exploitation of the fanbase. Speaking to the Independent, Steve Crompton, a spokesman for The 1958, stated, “The club is slowly dying before our eyes, on and off the pitch, and the blame lies squarely at the current ownership model. The club is facing financial armageddon. Debt is the road to ruin."
Crompton went on to express concern over the club’s legacy, suggesting that “Sir Matt Busby would be turning in his grave at the current plight of one of the world’s greatest football institutions which is being brought to its knees and in many ways becoming a laughing stock.”
As the fans marched towards Old Trafford, their united front highlighted the ongoing discontent towards the Glazers’ ownership, underscoring a growing movement within the fanbase that continues to question the sustainability and future direction of Manchester United football club.
Source: Noah Wire Services