Kop That

An open letter to the red scousers of Merseyside:

I have been in this fair city for six of earth’s years and much of my time has been full of fun and laughter for all. I have, however, on occasion been forced to sit in many of the city’s bars and pubs whilst your football team defeated mine. I saw the t-shirts hurriedly printed proclaiming Michael Owen ‘a weapon of manc destruction’. I did see the man fromUruguaymake the scousers cry and I do remember Wayne Rooney scoring and celebrating infront of you. For all those years of defeats at Anfield, Riise rockets, Steven Gerrard’s whiney face whenever United do anything against either him orLiverpool, and Robbie Fowler, just for being Robbie Fowler, I sat through it all and watched as everyone let me have it when Monday came and I was back in the classroom or work. That is the main reason I make no apology for pointing out a few things today and offering my apologies to the red scousers of Liverpool.

I am sorry that for large parts of the game we were very lucky to hang on when you should have taken the chances.

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Lad and Dad United

Manchester United as a family affair. Given to Score investigates.

Many of us do columns, reactionary and opinionated and they make a good read but for this particular attempt I wanted a change and a challenge. For most of us it is not as simple as a choice of football team to follow, it is something much more than that passed on from someone else. I started thinking of the time when I first became aware of Manchester United, when I was first included on the match day rota at Old Trafford and the game that started it all, West Ham United, November 1991. My own journey following Manchester United is only part of the story; my first scene in this movie comes about half way through. The first one bitten in our family was my Dad, the reason I go to Old Trafford now is because of my Dad and the best match day company I can have is, you guessed it, my Dad. So for this article I thought it only fair to speak to the man who started all this madness off and figure out between us where Manchester United has been going in the years he and I have watched them.  #

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“Frankly Mr. Shankly”

Scouse-Mancunian Relations Investigated 

The Liverpool v Manchester United game takes place in a few weeks and is widely tipped to be the real title decider. A victory and people will well and truly believe that the title is coming back to Old Trafford. For the latest return to Mancunia I have decided to look at Liverpool Football Club and why exactly they are hated by us. Is this a feeling that extends further than Manchester United fans? Neighbours and rivals Everton must despise Liverpool more than we do? Well, the answer is a resounding NO. The dislike of Liverpool does provide a common bond with the scousers dressed in blue, but even they bow out to us.

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