United breakaway club FC United of Manchester and the 'Class of 92's' Salford City both promoted

22 April 2015 09:42

On an emotional night in front of 3,588 noisy fans at Tameside Stadium, home of neighbours Curzon Ashton, FC United of Manchester sealed the fourth promotion of their short history with a nervy 1-0 win over Stourbridge which saw them crowned champions of the Evo-Stick Northern Premier League.

The club, which was set up only 10 years ago in protest at the Glazer family's takeover of Manchester United, are now just two promotions away from the Football League.

FC United came into existence in 2005 when a group of United supporters, despairing of the debt-burdening Old Trafford takeover by the US-based family, decided enough was enough and created their own democratically-run club which kicked off at the bottom of the football pyramid in the North West Counties Division Two.

"The Football League is possible," the club's manager Karl Marginson said.

"There will be obstacles to overcome, but we have proved to be capable of that over the last 10 years," Marginson added.

The Rebels will move to Broadhurst Park stadium in May, a new 5,000 capacity purpose-built stadium of their own, ending a nomadic existence spent entirely on the road. The stadium will be opened with a friendly match played against Benfica, the team that Manchester United beat 4-1 to win their first European Cup in 1968.

Just 30 miles down the road the 'Class of 92's' Salford City celebrated promotion from the Evo-Stik Division One after title rivals Darlington 1883 could only draw 1-1 at Warrington Town. That result means the club, partly owned by United legends Phil and Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, and Paul Scholes, cannot be caught at the top of the table and were crowned champions. They will take the place of FC United of Manchester in the Evo-Stick Northern Premier League next season.

Both clubs take that one step closer to the Football League and to the dream of one day playing Manchester United in the Premier League.

Source: DSG