# FC United of Manchester: the fan-owned club that started in 2005 > How FC United of Manchester was founded in 2005 in protest at the Glazer takeover, and how fan ownership works at the club and in general. - Source: https://menvafan.net/fotboll/fc-united-of-manchester/ - Section: Football - Language: en - Published: 2026-10-17 - Updated: 2026-10-17 **In short:** FC United of Manchester is a fan-owned football club founded in 2005 by Manchester United supporters opposed to the Glazer family's takeover. It is a community benefit society where members own the club on a one-member-one-vote basis, elect the board and shape major decisions. FC United of Manchester is a fan-owned football club founded in 2005 by Manchester United supporters opposed to the Glazer family's takeover. It is a community benefit society: members own the club, elect the board on a one-member-one-vote basis, and major decisions go to the membership. The club started in the North West Counties League and has since climbed as high as the National League North, though it was relegated back to the Northern Premier League in 2019. ## Why was FC United founded? In 2005 the American businessman Malcolm Glazer completed his takeover of Manchester United, a deal that loaded the club with substantial debt. A group of supporters decided that the best response was to build a club of their own. They wanted affordable tickets, democratic control and a club rooted in its community rather than in leveraged finance. Public meetings for fans were held in May 2005, and the club was formally established later that year. The founders were clear that FC United was not a breakaway in the sense of a new fanbase: it was a protest that took the form of an institution. The club's constitution was written to prevent the kind of ownership that had prompted the split. That constitution, and the culture around it, is the real story of FC United. ## How does fan ownership actually work? Fan ownership at FC United is not a vague sentiment. It is a legal structure with rules. The club is a [community benefit society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_benefit_society), a form of co-operative. That means: - **One member, one vote.** Every member has equal voting rights, regardless of how much they have invested or how long they have been a member. - **The board is elected.** Members stand for election to the board, and the membership votes. The board runs the club day to day but is accountable to the membership. - **Asset lock.** The club's assets cannot be distributed to members or sold for private gain. If the club were ever wound up, its assets would go to another community benefit society or a similar body. - **Members decide big things.** Changes to the constitution, major borrowing or the sale of the ground require member approval, usually at a general meeting. - **Open membership.** Anyone can join for a modest annual fee, and membership is not restricted to season-ticket holders or to people from Manchester. This model is sometimes called [mutual ownership](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_organisation) or democratic fan ownership. It is distinct from the model at many German clubs, where members own a majority of a separate company, and from the supporter-trust model at many English clubs, where fans own a minority stake alongside private owners. ## What has the club achieved? FC United's men's team began in the North West Counties League Division Two in 2005–06 and won promotion in its first season. Further promotions followed, and the club reached the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, in 2015. The club has also won cup competitions, including the Manchester FA county cup. In 2015 the men's team moved to Broadhurst Park, a new ground in Moston, north Manchester, built with community shares and loans. The club's most visible legacy, though, is not a trophy cabinet. It is the demonstration that a supporter-owned club can build a ground, run teams and sustain itself without a wealthy owner. That is why FC United is studied by fan groups across Europe, from [FC St. Pauli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_St._Pauli) in Hamburg to supporter trusts in Italy and Spain. The model has limits, but it is real. ## How is FC United different from other fan-owned clubs? Fan ownership comes in several flavours. At FC United, the club itself is owned by the members. At many other clubs, a supporters' trust owns a minority stake and holds a seat on the board, but private shareholders retain control. At a few clubs, such as [AFC Wimbledon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFC_Wimbledon), the model is similar to FC United's. In Germany, the 50+1 rule requires members to hold a majority of voting rights at most clubs, but the structure is often a members' association controlling a separate company. | Model | Who owns the club? | Member voting | | --- | --- | --- | | FC United | The community benefit society (members) | One member, one vote | | Supporters' trust minority | Private owners plus trust | Limited, often advisory | | German 50+1 | Members' association holds majority of votes | Yes, but via a separate entity | | Private ownership | Shareholders or a single owner | None | The key difference is that at FC United the members are the ultimate authority, not a stakeholder among others. ## What can other fan groups learn from FC United? FC United's experience offers some practical lessons for anyone thinking about a supporter-owned club: 1. **Write the constitution first.** The asset lock and the one-member-one-vote rule are what make the model work. Without them, fan ownership can drift back into private control. 2. **Start small and build.** FC United began in the tenth tier of English football. It did not need a stadium on day one. 3. **Community shares are a tool, not a magic wand.** The club raised money through community shares to build Broadhurst Park, but it also took on debt. Fan ownership does not mean freedom from financial reality. 4. **Membership is not the same as attendance.** FC United has thousands of members, but not all of them go to every game. Keeping members engaged is an ongoing job. 5. **Expect conflict.** Democratic ownership means arguments. That is the point. For punk readers, the appeal is obvious. FC United is a DIY institution: built by people who decided that the existing structure was not worth participating in, and who made their own. It is not so different in spirit from a DIY label or a zine, except the product is a football club. If you have ever helped run a [small DIY punk label](/Musik/how-to-start-a-diy-label/) or put out a [zine](/bocker/how-to-make-a-zine/), you will recognise the meetings, the votes, the endless emails and the occasional triumph. ## Is fan ownership the future of football? Not everywhere, and not automatically. Fan ownership works best when there is a critical mass of supporters willing to put in time and money, and when the club is small enough for members to feel a real connection. At the top of the game, the money involved makes democratic ownership difficult. But FC United, AFC Wimbledon and others have shown that it is possible to run a club on a different basis. The model is not a nostalgia project. It is a practical alternative, and it has been running in Manchester since 2005. For more on football culture and its intersections with punk, see our piece on [FC St. Pauli](/fotboll/st-pauli-punk-football/) and [Oi! and the terraces](/fotboll/oi-and-football-terraces/). ## FAQ ### Who owns FC United of Manchester? The club is owned by its members, who each hold one share and one vote. It is registered as a community benefit society, so it cannot be sold for private profit. ### Why was FC United founded? It was founded in 2005 by Manchester United fans who opposed the Glazer family's takeover of the club, which loaded it with debt. They wanted a club run democratically and affordably. ### What league does FC United play in? The men's team currently plays in the Northern Premier League, having been promoted and relegated through the English pyramid since starting in the North West Counties League in 2005. ### Can anyone become a member of FC United? Yes, membership is open to anyone for a modest annual fee. Members vote at general meetings and in board elections, regardless of how much they pay.