Today at TF Towers I’ve asked Kay to write for you all, she like us all is totally and utterly obsessed by those 11 men in United’s colours. I “met” her through twitter and have had the pure delight to meet her in person and be there with her as she took her first glances and then step inside Old Trafford. Here she tells us of her love for United and her first Manchester United match.

I’m just a baby when it comes to supporting Manchester United. Discovered I’d been sucked into the void that is football in 96′. I hadn’t meant to. In fact had fought against it. Was on in the background as my Man Utd loving husband and his mates watched all the matches at ours. But it got under my skin. Hooked.

I got my first shirt at the end of 97′, a black shirt. I kissed the badge and hauled it over my head. Wore it every match thereafter, wore it with pride. I’d made my allegiance. I’ve since obtained one more shirt, in red, the black shirt tucked up safely, the badge stroked lovingly, the new shirt worn fervently. My passion for the game surprised me. I didn’t expect that overwhelming feeling you get for your team. That rollercoaster ride that is the juxtaposition of all fans, the exhilaration and the devastation as your team fights for the title. Season after season. The highs and lows, the players, the team formations, the Boss and his choices. Every cheer, sigh, tut, curse…

How can 11 men and a ball cause such an addiction???

As my passion has grown so has my group of friends who love United as I do. United is in their blood. They talk, walk, sleep, eat United. Memories are marked by matches. I listened enthralled, became the hostess with the mostest as games were held at ours. Superstitions re who could sit where, who could attend, what shirts were worn – 16 years of tradition going strong. The majority of matches watched in “the back room” our movie room on a 55″ screen. The players right there in front of me the girl comes out in me as I drool a tad at Ryan Giggs #notsorry

With Twitter from 2007, there came a constant pre, during & post match discussion and/or deconstruction of the game. That feeling that the back room is full of footy fans all equally as passionate as me, some even more so, as the feistiness rises, opinions clash and fans dispute the beloved game. Glory Glory Man Utd.

I’ve met up with some of these twitter United fans. Was immense. To meet people I’d talk to daily is an experience in itself. To meet other fans and go to Old Trafford, hear and see the history, do the tour, submerge myself; indescribably emotional. If you’ve not done the tour as a fan, why not?

My only regret? That there wasn’t a match on when I was over…. Yes I’ve been to Old Trafford BUT I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing the boys in action, that is, until May 15th when I was surprised with tickets to attend the Harry Gregg testimonial in Belfast

After an absolute rollarcoaster of a season which ended on such a climatic but devastating blow, Sir Alex gave Harry the tribute and testimonial he deserved, by sending the full squad over. For the Man-Utd fans in N.I. we were ecstatic. Windsor Park is not huge. The players were right there, just like on TV but better. So very much better and closer. Their skills so clear to see. They didn’t hesitate to entertain, the Irish Premier League Select brought them a game. ’twas not a walk in the park, but oh how wonderful were my boys in Red. 90 minutes of pure bliss. Like orchestrated observers we roared together, chanted together, shouted “shoooootttt ” as the ball fell at Scholesy’s feet. The deep ROOOONNNYYY as he came on the pitch. Yes this was a match to remember. A match to Harry Gregg, the ulster man who played goalie for Utd, a Busby Babe who survived the Munich disaster. A reluctant hero, ‘the hero of Munich’. The disaster that some say changed Man Utd from a football club to an institution.

The final score 4-1 the lads clapping around the stadium, the fans cheering and clapping back. Proud to be a fan. Proud to be part of the testimonial. Proud to see their team play. I’m determined to get to Old Trafford in the new season, there are thousands of fans like me who are passionate from home, but there’s nothing like watching your team at Old Trafford so I’ve been told. The roar, the emotion,the passion, it flows around the stadium.

I want to be part of that….. I will be part of that.

As you can see from the above photo Kay had fun on her tour of Old Trafford. Can’t wait to go to her match with her too.

You can follow Kay on twitter @_Soapgirl_

Manchester United’s reserves travelled to the Etihad to take on Man City “Elite Development Squad” last night in the final of the Manchester Senior Cup.

Having wrapped up the league the previous week, beating Aston Villa on penalties, this was the reserves chance to get their hands on another piece of silverware and they didn’t disappoint as a first half effort from Will Keane and then a sucker punch of a goal from Luke Giverin late on gave Warren Joyce’s side the 2-0 win.

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One quarter of Europe’s football faithful (41 million) are classed as Fans Without Borders, with FC Barcelona the most popular foreign team (29%), followed by Real Madrid CF (10%) and Manchester United FC (8%).

Fans Without Borders have been categorised into three groups:
1. Highlight Fans, representing 60% of all Fans Without Borders, are attracted to a club’s playing philosophy (85%) and success (79%).

2. Regional Affinity Fans account for 12% of the total number of Fans Without Borders. Many of these faraway followers feel a special connection with the team because of a link to the city, with 55% of these fans regularly visiting the club’s region.

3. Star Followers represent 11% of Fans Without Borders – their loyalties are firmly set at the feet of great players and coaches and these fans are prepared to switch allegiance in line with wherever their favourite stars go.

Fans Without Borders ring up €35bn worth of spending each season and here’s how:
- One fifth of the total spend, or €7.5bn, is on Pay TV.
- Merchandising (club-branded goods) earns 13% of our far-away follower’s money.
- Actual match attendance consumes 10% of Fans Without Borders’ spending, with an additional €2.5bn allocated to food, drink and other goods purchased when there.
- 6% of spend is given over to visiting a pub or sports-bar to take in a game on the big screen, and subscription to a club’s own TV channel takes 5%.
- One in four fans attends home matches abroad. Accommodation and travel relating to match attendance, or visits to their favourite stadia, cost Fans Without Borders €8.75bn each year – one quarter of the total spend.
- The impact on tourism is positive; one third of all Fans Without Borders have booked a trip for the sole purpose of watching a match or visiting a stadium. One fifth intentionally combine match attendance with a short city break, or integrate the game into a regular holiday. In total, cities hosting Fans Without Borders at live matches, benefit by around €4.5bn per season.

The saying ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ couldn’t be more wrong in the case of Paul and Tom Ince.

Whilst Paul was loud and fierce on field, earning a reputation as an enforcer; Tom is quieter and is more interested the more subtle and skilful side of the game.

Formerly on the books of Liverpool, the younger Ince is 90 minutes away from Premiership football with Blackpool if they can overcome West Ham, and speaking prior to The Daily Mail ahead of tomorrow’s playoff final he spoke of his admiration for a United legend:

“I am so proud of my dad, and really value his advice and guidance, but we are not at all alike as players or in personality.

“In fact, I’m the opposite to him in many ways. He has this stern look and has an opinion about most things, whereas I am a lot quieter, much more laid back.

“While he was a midfield enforcer, I was always much more interested in taking the ball past players, rather than off them. My idol has always been Ryan Giggs, and it is weird to think he lodged with us for six months when he started out at [Manchester] United.”

This morning, word from Norway was that Solskjaer was absent from Molde training.

The club have now confirmed that our former striker is in talks with the Premier League club.

“Molde FC is aware of interest and contact from Aston Villa, and that they are talking together.”

In his first year of management last season, Solskjaer won Molde’s first ever league title. The club Solskjaer left to join United regard him as a legend for what he has achieved with them, particularly when you consider Molde finished 11th out of 16 the season before he was appointed.

Personally, I’d hope that Solskjaer remains at Molde and takes his time. They are in the second round of the Champions League qualifying so he should see what he can do with them and pick up valuable experience.

“I don’t think he should rush into it because experience is good and the experience he has got at Molde is a very good one,” Ferguson said last November. “He comes from the area. His wife and family are all back home there. He has won the championship and there is no need to hurry. The time will come and the timing will be important but he is easily capable of coming into English football.”

Although, if Solskjaer does take the job, it would be great to see him every week on Match of the Day and welcome him back at Old Trafford when Villa come to play.

“I saw a few days ago they scored two goals in the last minutes, 91 and 93,” he said. “I had a bet that Manchester United would win the league but I lost. I feel very disappointed because United are still in my heart. City have a fantastic team now, but I think Manchester will carry on being kings of England.”

Teasing like usual, Ronaldo left the door open to a potential return to United.

“The future? Nobody knows,” he said. “But I feel very happy here. It’s a great club, fantastic fans… it’s great. In one year or two you never know. A man’s head is always complicated.”

Caught Offside looks at the five players we should buy and sell.

Beautifully Red has all the gifs from our best moments of the season.

Soccerlens looks at Ferguson’s big decision this summer.

RoM has a Valencia 16 Ecuardor shirt to give away.

The Telegraph looks at Michael Owen’s rise and fall.

The Guardian looks at how visualisation helps Wayne Rooney.

Sport Witness has pictures of United fans invading the pitch after the Reserves’ cup win at the Etihad.

Follow RoM on Twitter and #ff @R_o_M to spread the word.

“It’s true that I said I want to retire at United,” he said. “But what I want does not always translate to reality. It becomes more feasible when the whole situation clicks.”

Park, who will be out of contract next summer, admitted he had a disappointing season.

“I want to forget the past and think about what I have to do in the future,” he said. “I do not have time to think about next season. I need to rest mentally and physically.”

With yesterday’s announcement that Michael Owen is leaving Manchester United after the former-England striker wasn’t offered a new contract, the question every United fan is thinking about is this one:

‘Who will be the club’s new number 7?’

Sir Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to Michael Owen after the striker revealed on Thursday his contract with Manchester United wont be renewed.

The striker who arrived at United in July 2009 played 52 games for the Red Devils, scoring 17 goals in the process.

Sir Alex told ManUtd.com:

“It is a pleasure to have had Michael at Manchester United. Michael is a consummate professional and was an influential figure in our dressing room. Unfortunately he had no luck with his injury this season.

“Michael’s record of goals per game is exceptional and we wish him all the best for the future.”

We keep hearing that United will buy players who will develop, and Gill quotes De Gea, Jones and Ashley Young as prime examples of recent signings. I’m not even going to quote you the last three City major signing!

Here’s what he had to say:

“Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea, he came in 2003 and they won the title in 2005 and 2006,  ”everyone was saying: ‘This is it, Abramovich and Chelsea are going to be there for 10 years.’ It doesn’t happen like that. We have got to concentrate. Chelsea, I am sure, are going to be better in the league next year. Tottenham had a good year, Arsenal … That’s the great thing about the Premier League, there are many teams.”

Gill then said that United are equals to City (or others) as a club of choice, “Whilst other clubs may pay slightly more, we pay what we believe are very, very good salaries, the commercial spin-offs, if players want to go down that route, are arguably better than at other clubs.

“We shouldn’t be shy or embarrassed or worried about not being able to attract top players. I firmly believe that we can, with  Sir Alex Ferguson and what we offer as a club. Many people want to come and play for us. We’ve got experienced players in Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, we’ve got Rio.

“These are players who have won many trophies. There is Wayne obviously. We can blend that with the youngsters and hopefully that will stand us in good stead. If a player is saying: ‘I am relaxed, I can either go to Manchester City or Manchester United or Chelsea,’ and it just comes down to a money thing they may outmuscle us. We’d say: ‘That’s fine.’ We have our parameters in which we work. We look at the whole squad and the salary ranges within it, make sure they’re appropriate, make sure people can look each other in the eye.

“Our turnover and our cash profits demonstrate that we can invest in players. We showed that last year when we bought three players: Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David de Gea. Those are the sort of players we like to buy – players who are still developing.”

Class report – 6 out of 10, must do better!

In an interview last night, he started with a message for those who think City will now dominate:

“Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea, he came in 2003 and they won the title in 2005 and 2006,  ”everyone was saying: ‘This is it, Abramovich and Chelsea are going to be there for 10 years.’ It doesn’t happen like that. We have got to concentrate. Chelsea, I am sure, are going to be better in the league next year. Tottenham had a good year, Arsenal … That’s the great thing about the Premier League, there are many teams.”

Gill went on to deny that United would not be a first choice club for players on the move, “Whilst other clubs may pay slightly more, we pay what we believe are very, very good salaries, the commercial spin-offs, if players want to go down that route, are arguably better than at other clubs.

“We shouldn’t be shy or embarrassed or worried about not being able to attract top players. I firmly believe that we can, with  Sir Alex Ferguson and what we offer as a club. Many people want to come and play for us. We’ve got experienced players in Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, we’ve got Rio.

“These are players who have won many trophies. There is Wayne obviously. We can blend that with the youngsters and hopefully that will stand us in good stead. If a player is saying: ‘I am relaxed, I can either go to Manchester City or Manchester United or Chelsea,’ and it just comes down to a money thing they may outmuscle us. We’d say: ‘That’s fine.’ We have our parameters in which we work. We look at the whole squad and the salary ranges within it, make sure they’re appropriate, make sure people can look each other in the eye.

“Our turnover and our cash profits demonstrate that we can invest in players. We showed that last year when we bought three players: Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David de Gea. Those are the sort of players we like to buy – players who are still developing.”

On that last quote, I’m not actually sure I agree with him, there were not huge signings compared to other Premier League clubs.

The targets on the board now give me greater hope.

Possibly Related Posts:

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He left the door slightly ajar as he left five years ago by saying:  ”"I am very happy to be back, I didn’t think I would be here again but this is very good for me. Manchester United is a great club and I enjoyed winning things. To play with world class players has helped me and now I want to continue this at Barça.”

There have been rumours in Spain of a fall out with Pep Guardiola  rather than the club, but the Spanish rumour mill insists that both Manchester clubs are courting Pique.

Pique bloomed after leaving Man United and became the La Liga player of the year the following season. He has made well over 100 La Liga appearances and has won three La Liga titles and 2 Champions League winners medals.

I’d welcome him back with open arms and it looks like Sir Alex Ferguson would do to.

On the betting front, I hope some of you followed me last night when I tipped both sides to score in the Torquay v Cheltenham game for  over 90% profit. That’s three days since I started and three winning days. Pride before a fall eh? Will start scouring the markets now for a little something later.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Manchester United Against Manchester City Next Season
• Manchester United striker to leave
• Nasri admits he turned down Man United for City – and says Hazard will too!
• Man United Rumours – Van Persie In, Nani Out?
• Evra on that Suarez row

He left the door slightly ajar as he left five years ago by saying:  ”"I am very happy to be back, I didn’t think I would be here again but this is very good for me. Manchester United is a great club and I enjoyed winning things. To play with world class players has helped me and now I want to continue this at Barça.”

There have been rumours in Spain of a fall out with Pep Guardiola  rather than the club, but the Spanish rumour mill insists that both Manchester clubs are courting Pique.

Pique bloomed after leaving Man United and La Liga player of the year the following season. He has made well over 100 La Liga appearances and has won three La Liga titles and 2 Champions League winners medals.

I’d welcome him back with open arms and it looks like Sir Alex Ferguson would do to.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Manchester United striker to leave
• Nasri admits he turned down Man United for City – and says Hazard will too!
• Man United Rumours – Van Persie In, Nani Out?
• Evra on that Suarez row
• Man United defender admits he is leaving Old Trafford