Protest group, The 1958, ramp up pressure on Man United to engage with fans
They send out a warning to club: 'Keep treating fans with contempt at your peril'
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By CHRIS WHEELER
Published: 11:39 EST, 14 February 2025 | Updated: 11:39 EST, 14 February 2025
Manchester United protest group The 1958 will stage a demonstration before the game against Arsenal at Old Trafford next month over the prospect of ticket price increases and the way the club is treating the fans.
The protest will take place before the game against the Gunners on March 9 as The 58 ramp up the pressure on United to engage with supporters.
A spokesman said: ‘We have been preparing for this for a few weeks in anticipation. We are angry, the fans are angry and it’s been building for some time. We have all been more than patient.
‘We all know the root cause; we have always known the elephant in the room. Yet, this isn’t being addressed. It’s those who can least afford it, have the most emotional connection with our club who are being asked to pay the price in more ways than one. The current owners are trampling over generational support and memories of friends and family. Enough is enough.
‘We need actions not words and it’s not good enough. The club preach fan engagement but the reality is they don’t practise it.
‘They can hold meetings with the Fan Advisory Board which is all under NDA. It is supposed to be for the fans, yet they can’t tell the fans hardly anything. It’s a disgrace!
Man United supporters' group, The 1958, have staged high-profile protests in recent years
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Man United, has been criticised for increasing ticket prices
The 1958 have warned Man United to 'keep treating the fans with contempt at your peril'
‘These meetings are effectively gagged and it is not open and transparent dialogue with fans. Not even close.
‘The silence from the club is deafening. We rise again to defend our club and be warned this will not just be on the street campaigns at the ground. Keep treating the fans with contempt at your peril.
‘As we’ve said before cutting adrift our club from the community, it’s working-class roots and generational fans, represents the ringing of the death knell for fan culture.
‘The simple answer to all this is to remove the Glazers and their debt mountain. Revenue will increase once this happens. But it looks like the new investors are ignoring the millions paid in interest on the Glazers’ bad debt per year.
‘They prefer to squeeze as much money out of the match-going fan base than confront the real financial issue with the club. The debt, the mismanagement of the club and the crippling interest payments. The current atmosphere around the club and fan base is in the gutter. Nothing has changed. In fact it is worse than it has ever been.
‘So why are we doing do this? To claim our club back, fight for the next generation, protect our history, protect fan culture, ensure survival of our club and to restore standards, dignity and integrity. Equally we want to unite our fan base and avoid a repeat of a debt-ridden purchase model by any new owner.’