FC United chairman Nick Boom says supporter-owned club 'more important than ever' ahead of FA Cup tie
As FC United prepare for an FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at Altrincham, chairman Nick Boom reflects on 21 years of supporter ownership and criticises Manchester United's Glazer and Ratcliffe eras.
FC United of Manchester face a short trip to Altrincham this weekend in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, with £9,375 for the winners and a guaranteed further £15,800 in prize money for reaching the first round. The club, formed 21 years ago by fans opposed to the Glazer family's takeover of Manchester United, is now in the Northern Premier League and plays at the 4,900-capacity Broadhurst Park.
Striker Adam Le Fondre, 39, has been working with the club's academy players, who combine training with education through a partnership with Manchester College. Chairman Nick Boom said FC United retains Manchester United's songs, humour and history but has built its own identity in North Manchester, attracting fans priced out of Old Trafford or disaffected with Premier League football.
Boom acknowledged that supporter ownership is not easy. The club carries significant debt after overextending to build its own ground, and while a profit above £100,000 is forecast this year, an annual surplus of £200,000 is considered necessary to cover essential work and loan repayments. Members receive monthly board updates, and a £5-a-month ownership initiative continues.
Boom described Manchester United's post-Glazer trajectory as a tragedy, criticising the leveraged takeover and saying the club has been treated as a financial asset. He also said he sees little evidence that Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS represent a different philosophy, pointing to controversial measures including redundancies. Ratcliffe has defended those actions as necessary for profitability.
Boom welcomed a developing relationship with the 1958 Group, which has led recent protests against the ownership. While FC United and those supporters have taken different paths, he said they are united in believing Manchester United and its supporters deserve better.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
