The close season is a totally different world for me. I can get initially excited by Wimbledon and the Ashes, but the inevitable disappointment both tend to bring English fans usually kills it. For me, far more than supporting our nation, following United is what it is all about.
We have the fixture list now and with nine teams from the North West represented in the Premier League this year our mileage will take less of a pounding than ever. This is both a good and a bad thing.
One of the top things about following a team is getting to visit new places en masse to cheer them on. I was too young to remember it, but when United went down in ’74 my old man and his mates went to every single away game we played in the second division.
Towns up and down the country did not know what had hit them. Thousands of Reds would swarm an area determined to cheer on the mighty Man Utd. Many still regard that season as one of the best ever as a fan.
When the Champions League draw is made in a couple of months I am sure we all want to avoid another trip to Celtic. Equally, I am hoping for some new climes to explore on the continent. Watching United away in Europe is a great experience and the excursions the fans have made is an important part of the club’s fabric.
As I await the start of the new campaign I find myself locked in a cage, reading up on United stats and history the same as usual. This year I have had the great pleasure of finding a new book that covers in amusing detail the antics of our fans overseas.
Ian Hough’s Perry Boys Abroad delves into the adventures of some of our more colourful supporters. He ties in the history of Manchester’s music and fashion cultures with the evolution of the club’s fan-base during the ’70s and ’80s.
Scattered through his sharp social commentary, there is also a wealth of anecdotes on the scrapes some of United’s lads have gotten themselves into. Rather than being another biography of the club, it charts the rise of guys like us who will do anything just to get to see the team play.
Fortunately, Ian is not only a good writer but a top bloke to boot and would like to give one lucky fan the chance to get a copy of his book for free.
If you are interested please e-mail aeonhuff@gmail.com with the answer to the following question:
Can you name the 5 Manchester United managers to have won a major trophy?
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