MANCHESTER UNITED FANS GATHER FOR ANNUAL STRETFORD ENDERS REUNION

Hello! Hello!, We are the Busby Boys..Hello! Hello! was the loud, raucous chant coming from the roof garden of The Old Nags Head pub on Jacksons Row, Manchester as I walked up from Deansgate to the Annual Stretford Enders Worldwide Reunion, 2022, it was also the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation who organised the day.

This fabulous pub is the headquarters of the fanatical supporters of the world famous club and has seen this reunion for the past six years and this was the first since the Covid outbreak and the boys were up for celebrating and they did in style.

It was rammed with several hundred fans all determined to make up for last time, Manchester United flags from all over the country were draped over the walls, and it was great to see some of the, how shall we say "older Reds" had gotten into retro mood, the occasional white butchers coats with the proper Manchester United crest,,,the one with football club on it! painted on the back, Wrangler denim jacket were worn complete with sewn on patches from the Doc's Red Army Years, scarves that looked like they had seen "action" on many a football terrace.

I made my way to the rooftop garden and was met by about a 100 or so Reds belting out songs, some I hadn't heard for years, The Son of a Fisherman song, "A Fine day in May, We are the Manchester Boys, Skip to my Lou Macari...which was fitting because Lou made a guest appearance and spoke to the adoring fans crammed into an upstairs room, so full I couldn't get in!

I have a great affection for Lou, not just the goals he scored for us but the amazing charity work he does with homeless people, I raise my glass of Guinness, Sir!

I went along with Billy Tunnicliffe and Dave Cribben, two Eccles Reds who have travelled the world supporting the team and it was great to see so many faces there and listen to the tales, sadly mostly unprintable for fairly obvious reasons, you know who you are...

But what a perfect day sat in the sun, surrounded by fellow Reds belting out the songs, and a great musical soundtrack being piped out, Smiths, Joy Division, Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Charlatans, reminiscent of an away day when local pubs were taken over by fanatical Reds.

One of the other highlights if that is the correct word was seeing a few fellow Reds had brought their charge sheets with them, from the days when they had been nicked at away games, not naming the people.

I spoke to fellow Reds who had travelled from, Weymouth, Newquay, London, Shrewsbury, Birmingham, Coventry all "united" by their love of the club and it's traditions, and I received messages from Reds who couldn't make it for various reasons but were there in spirit

Big thanks must go out to Steve "Dono" Donoghue for starting this event, and Melissa MooMoo and MMMF who arranged this year, once again, Sean Brett the Landlord who provided a free buffet and also made sure that the extra bar staff ensured no queues at the bar, the boys who made the flags and above all, You the fans who turned up and let your voices be heard over Manchester

Finally I think it's fair to say that we were all agreed one thing.. the Glazer family should go and we, the fans want our club back!