Kind of. The problem isn't a lack of local fans, there are plenty of them contrary to what City fans would have you belive, it's the cost of getting into the ground every week which is prohibitive for most. As much as I don't want to hark back to the glory days of the 80's i'm going to, you could just rock up on the day and go and watch the match for a very reasonable cost. That's no longer an option now. Even in the 90's it was possible to get in for less than twenty quid, the rise in cost prices normal fans out of the equation.
This. The ground used to be full of working class punters from Burnage and Stretford. Now they've all been priced out by the posh ****s from Altrincham and Hale...
Not sure that is quite right Swarbs, I'm certainly not a posh **** from Hale or Altrincham and have always considered myself to be working class. I have to make many sacrifices to continue going to see United but I have to admit it gets harder every year. Apart from my mortgages over the years, United has certainly been my biggest spend by far and it would probably break my heart to add up the total I have spent following the Reds over the past almost 50 years ! Each of the past 4 years I have told my wife that "this is my last season" but keep renewing my season ticket, just the same. I think if Fergie would retire then that would probably make my mind up to finish but I'm up for half price tickets ( seniors )in a couple of years, so who knows ! Even in the 60's 70's and 80's Old Trafford was full of people from all over the UK. In fact walking around the old coach park on match days was like a geography lesson, with coaches from Cornwall, Norwich, Carlisle etc so it wasn't just local fans but certainly die hard United supporters
Source - Andy Mitten from the Manchester Evening News http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...uniteds-singing-section-on-hold-until-2013-14 Manchester United have been forced to put a proposed fansâ singing section on hold until 2013-14. Supporters had put the idea to the club in March, with the intention of improving the Old Trafford atmosphere by having a section of seats where the more vocal fans could be together close to the pitch. United agreed and over 1,300 season ticket holders signed up to move to the proposed section including terrace songster Pete Boyle and Mani from the Stone Roses. That number was set to surpass the initial target set by the club who were prepared to allocate up to 2,500 seats for the area hitherto given to away fans. The vocal Reds expected to be in the new section by the start of the new season, with United hoping that away fans could be moved to tier three of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, subject to agreement with Trafford Council and the police. United successfully trialled that idea when Aston Villa fans sat in there for the recent Premier League game. However following a police report received by United on Wednesday, the plans have been put back. âThe club has been asked for some further detailed analysis,â said a United spokesman. âUnfortunately there is not the time for the club to do that work, conduct a season ticket renewal process, submit the proposals for approval and potentially implement the section for the start of next season. âWork has already begun to address the issues raised and the club hopes to be in a position to make a further announcement at the start of next season. âThe club will keep dialogue going on this matter but thanks the fans for their patience.â
