Scott McManus is the only current club connection between FC Halifax Town and our opponents FC United of Manchester- or so it seemed.
Saturday will see friends turn to temporary enemies, in the form of myself and hometown friend Adam Coomber.
Whilst one will be covering the game for the Shaymen, Adam number two will be travelling from Glossop parking himself in the Main Stand and cheering on the hosts as they look to pick themselves up following a 2-1 defeat away at Alfreton Town.
The Shaymen make their first trip to FC United of Manchester’s 4,400 seater stadium on Saturday on the back of a vital second half turnaround against Gainsborough Trinity on Tuesday.
opponents have created a base in Moston since opening the stadium in the summer of 2015, ahead of their maiden season in the National League North.
The non-league side are best known for how they came to be, when a group of Manchester United supporters opposed to Malcolm Glazer’s takeover of the club.
It was the catalyst but not the sole reason for the club’s formation, as fan Adam Coomber explains.
“The ability to go and watch games at Old Trafford grew more difficult, as the average fan was being priced out. Then when the opportunity to go came around, the atmosphere was regularly flat inside the stadium, with the crowd only turning up for the big games” said Coomber
“At FC United it’s different. I love the fact that the fans are put first. It is always a top atmosphere at Broadhurst Park and I just wanted to be part of something that put the fans first.”
Back onto the pitch and Karl Marginson’s side look set to secure another season in the sixth tier of English football, sitting thirteen points adrift of the drop zone with ten games remaining.
Last season saw plenty of behind-the-scenes disruptions and conflicts within the club, resulting in a major shake-up in the club’s background staff. Coomber,21, believes the side have too many players good players to go down but problems off the field have meant the club will take time to stabilise before pushing for the top places in the league.
Player Spotlight
Despite the goals drying up for Tommy Greaves in recent games (1 in 12), Coomber banks on the striker to cause the Shaymen centre-back pairing problems on Saturday.
“Jason Gilchrist is another player who is a danger for us,” said Coomber, “He hasn’t scored in the last four games but after netting fourteen so far this season he’s been terrific, a very smart player with the ball at his feet.”
Predictions
“Saturday I expect a very difficult game for us against a side fighting for the play-offs. Halifax have several top-quality players, so for us it’s all about keeping the ball in our final third, that’s where we are strongest” believes Coomber.
“However, despite this I do expect Halifax to come away with the three points, despite us coming into this one in the better form (3 wins from last five)”.
Adam’s prediction: FC United of Manchester 1:2 FC Halifax Town
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist
;
