Manchester United Relegation Talk Grows; Perth’s Many Man Utd Fans Quietly Check How Far McDiarmid Park Is From Their House
Nine points from seven games and pundits are talking about the drop. In Perth, glory hunters consider the unthinkable: supporting their local team.
A football stadium seen from afar, which is how most Perth Man Utd fans see it. Photo: Tadpolefarm, “Mbombela Stadium crowd leaving”, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Manchester United have nine points from seven games, and some pundits have started mentioning the word “relegation”, which has caused alarm in a city 300 miles away.
Perth has a surprising number of United supporters, most of whom have never been to Old Trafford but have very strong views on how it should be run. “I’ve supported United since 1999,” said a man from Tulloch. “It’s been very hard. Not as hard as it’s been for me, though. I’ve had to watch it.”
Some are now asking a once unthinkable question. “I looked it up,” said a Letham man, holding his phone up. “McDiarmid Park is 11 minutes from my house. I didn’t know that. I thought it was further. Turns out it’s further from Manchester.”
St Johnstone said all new fans would be welcome. “We’re used to drama,” a Saints fan said. “We played with ten men yesterday and came back twice. United can’t do that with eleven.”
United fans in Perth say they are not giving up. They are, however, asking whether the Saints shop sells scarves in red.
The real story: Football (BBC Sport)
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I’ve supported United since 1999. I’ve never been to Manchester. I’m not starting now.
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