Stone Roses and Primal Scream legend Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, who died aged 63, was born to be a Manchester United fan thanks to his dad's extraordinary links to the club
David Owens and Neil Docking
12:01, 21 Nov 2025
Gary 'Mani' Mounfield was a lifelong Manchester United fan
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Gary 'Mani' Mounfield was a lifelong Manchester United fan(Image: Getty Images)
Stone Roses hero Gary 'Mani' Mounfield was a huge Manchester United fan with deep-rooted links to the Premier League giants - stretching back to his dad's friendship with football icon George Best.
The legendary bassist for the Roses and Primal Scream died aged just 63 on Thursday, sparking a flood of tributes from figures in the music and sporting world. United paid tribute to the "friend of the club", whose music continues to be played at all their home matches, most notably when the Roses' song 'This is the One' signals the teams walking out of the tunnel at Old Trafford.
The club said: "It continued to make him proud when attending fixtures with his family. Mani and the Stone Roses will always be associated with Manchester United. The club was part of his DNA and he was proud to be Red." Mani - whose brother Greg shared the sad news of his passing - once told the club's magazine: "I'm a Manc and support United.
"It was pre-ordained because all my family are Reds - my dad is a nuts fan. He was involved in the club scene around town and he knew Besty."
The Roses' music long inspired matchday culture, including chants and fashion, which wasn't lost on Mani. He said: "I always wanted the Roses to be associated with United and the terraces."
Mani's influence is felt at Old Trafford to this day
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Mani's influence is felt at Old Trafford to this day(Image: X)
Famously, the Crumpsall-born musician sold his prized scooter to attend the 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona, underlining his commitment to Manchester United. He said: "It was infinitely worth it."
United said: "Mani's presence at Old Trafford will be missed. Mani performed to thousands of our supporters when DJing at the fanzone before May’s Europa League final in Bilbao, watched on by loving son Gene.
"A part of Manchester's history, Mani will be sadly missed by everybody who knew and loved him. The club's thoughts are with his family and friends at this time."
Mani's dad, Colin Mounfield, had a storied connection to the club, a big factor in his son's lifelong passion. He was a chef with a restaurant in Manchester and would cook for his heroes after matches.
Steve Jones, of Mountain Ash, who has found his half brother is Mani from The Stone Roses
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Mani's half-brother Steve Jones, pictured in 2013
In 2013, his first son, Steve Jones, revealed to Wales Online how he only discovered about his dad's past and the fact that Mani was his half-brother when searching for information about his father, who walked out of the family home in South Wales when he was three-years-old.
Crane operator Steve had no idea his dad had built a fresh life in Manchester and fathered two boys – one of whom had become one of Britain's most celebrated rock stars. Or that his dad had tragically died from a heart attack in 1991, aged only 52.
The crane operator knew his father had moved to the North West after leaving their family home in Penrhiwceiber, near Aberdare, having met his mum Pauline when they were both serving in the Army in the 1950s. He scanned a photo of his dad and uploaded it to a website that helps people trace each other.
Incredibly, Greg happened to go online and visit the same website, leading to him sending a message. Steve recalled: "I got an e-mail back from him but he obviously thought I was one of the other guys in the picture and told me 'I'm sorry to tell you but my dad died in 1991', which was a real shock to me as you can imagine."
Mani of the iconic rock band the Stone Roses on stage at Wembley Stadium in 2017
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Mani of the iconic rock band the Stone Roses on stage at Wembley Stadium in 2017(Image: Getty Images)
The Mounfield brothers were equally taken aback when Steve revealed he was their half-brother. Back in Manchester, the rock star initially met the news with suspicion.
Steve said: "Greg contacted Mani who told him to beware because he thought it could all be fabricated rubbish, which I guess is understandable; when you're a member of such a famous group you get all sorts of people trying it on.
"Greg then asked me to send him a picture of me. So I sent it over and then that's when it all exploded, because apparently I'm the model of my father, the spitting image apparently.
"The photo was then forwarded to Mani, who had been apprehensive, and Mani's wife Imelda printed it out, slapped the picture on the table and said 'deny that!' He took one look at the picture and said 'Maybe we ought to talk to this guy'."
"They had no idea their dad had a Welsh family," added Steve. "Apparently, when I got in touch Mani was asking around the family, and one of the old uncles said he knew about me but was sworn to secrecy. I said fair play he can keep a secret! He was the only one. Even Mani's mum didn't know."
Mani with Manchester United legend and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskaer
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Mani with Manchester United legend and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskaer(Image: @ManUtd/X)
Remarkably, before destiny united the siblings, Steve had stumbled across an online interview featuring Mani, where he mentioned his father was named Colin and worked as a chef.
He said: "I thought so was mine, no it can't be him, Mani's too famous, I just laughed it off." Steve added: "Emotionally it does feel like I've lost my dad but I've also found a family. Greg and Mani are absolutely great."
Mani invited his half-brother to meet him and Greg at a Primal Scream gig at the Benicassim Festival in Spain. Steve said: "It hit me in Benicassim when I was stood at the side of the stage just how famous Mani is. There were 50,000 people chanting his name. After the gig he presented me with the drum skins off the drum kit, which he had got the band to sign for me.
"I remember what Mani said when we were parting after that first meeting," he added. "We hugged each other and I thanked him for a brilliant weekend and said sorry it's coming to an end. He said 'it's not the end, it's just the beginning'."
He continued: "Not long after we first met, Mani took me on a tour around Manchester. He took me up to the cemetery to see my dad's plot and also showed me where my father used to work." He added: "It was great to be shown around and he even took me to see a Manchester United game."
Mani's dad was friends with the iconic Manchester United wing wizard George Best
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Mani's dad was friends with the iconic Manchester United wing wizard George Best(Image: Bob Thomas via Getty Images)
Mani revealed to his half-brother how the legendary United winger Best had befriended his father and how their father would prepare meals for the United squad at his workplace restaurant following training sessions.
Steve, a Cardiff fan himself, said: "I even discovered that [fellow United legend] Nobby Stiles is a distant relative of the family."
He later received an invite with his wife from Mani to the triumphant Roses reunion tour, seeing the band play at Manchester's Heaton Park in VIP hospitality in 2012. And he told how he carried a treasured photo of Mani and Greg in his wallet.
Speaking in 2013, he said: "It's difficult for people to believe when I tell them that I'm related to Mani. Even when I show them the picture they think it's photoshopped!"
Mani died two years after his wife Imelda, who battled cancer. His death was announced by Greg, who wrote on Facebook: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the sad passing of my brother Gary Mani Mounfield. RIP rkid."
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Mani and Imelda met during the recording of the Roses' second album, Second Coming, and married in 1998. They shared twin boys, Gene and George, 12.