“We won’t give up, this is just the start,” one supporter hanging around the Holy Trinity statue outside Old Trafford, waiting for the main protest to begin draped in green and gold, told i prior to their Manchester United’s clash with Liverpool.
“One new signing won’t put us off. We won’t stop until the Glazers sell up. If we have to do it every game, we will do. The numbers will just get bigger and bigger.”
In a more organised show of anger than last May, when fans managed to get onto the pitch and force the abandonment of Liverpool’s visit, around 10,000 supporters met at a local pub pre-match, as decided by a new, underground group called The 1958.
An hour before kick off, with gold and green flares in hand, colours which hark back to the days when United were known as Newton Heath, supporters congregated behind a large banner that proclaimed “United for sale” and made their way down Sir Matt Busby Way, singing their songs in protest against the Glazer family, as they try all they can to oust their absent owners after 17 years of neglect.
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The plan to then assemble around the Holy Trinity statue, depicting George Best, Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law, changed and the core of the group headed straight for the Munich Tunnel and the directors’ box – where they really wanted to make their point.
The tunnel was filled with smoke and shutters for the directors’ box were brought down to protect those inside, with fans camping in there until the match kicked off.
A move that was not backed by The 1958 or the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust – an #EmptyOldTrafford campaign that trended on Twitter – did not materialise, as the stadium was full as the match between the two great rivals got underway.
The anti-Glazer sentiment, however, did not remain confined to the concourses, with more supporters joining in “we want the Glazers out” chants booming down from the Stretford End. Liverpool’s away following revelled in their foes’ woe, replying with “up the Glazers”, before mocking the hosts again with “you’re supposed to be outside”.
Then, what should have been a happy occasion just before kick-off, especially given United’s embarrassing recent exploits in the transfer market, was taken over by anti-Glazer messaging.
With new signing Casemiro brought onto the pitch, arms aloft waving to what he thought would be delighted supporters before being presented with a United shirt in the middle of the pitch, the applause he received was reasonably muted, with fans taking the opportunity to sing another rendition of “we want the Glazers out”.
Green and gold protest have come and gone before, but this time around it seems nothing will appease supporters, other than a change at the very top.
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