20 years of FC United Protests, poppadoms and promotions

Born in a curry house amid fury with the Glazers' regime at Old Trafford, the club's own story is not without turmoil

- Jamie Jackson

On the Saturday in late March this year that FC United of Manchester and The 1958, a Manchester United supporters group, held a joint-action against 20 years of Glazer ownership of United, Tom Kerse displayed his own protest at Broadhurst Park, FC United's home, which read: "The Glazers? FCUM Hall." The 69-year-old, like many FC United fans, followed Manchester United before the American family's leveraged purchase of the club in May 2005. "'FCUM Hall', as in 'fuck all the Glazers'," Kerse says, just in case anyone missed his point.

FC United were born 20 years ago today, on 13 May 2005 in a Rusholme curry house named Dilda. Paul Hurst, a founder, is the board lead for communication and co-ownership, the latter a core value of the club, with all members having a vote on each key decision. "What we've seen [happen] at Manchester United is what we said [would happen] 20 years ago," Hurst says. "It's maybe taken a bit longer, that's all."

Hurst is referencing two decades of troubled ownership that currently sees six Glazer siblings as majority owners at Old Trafford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 28.94% share the largest single individual holding, £750m worth of debt plus £300m outstanding in unpaid transfer fees, plus a £300m loss in the past three years. There will also be up to 450 redundancies when the latest round is executed, while Ruben Amorim's team may be in the Europa League final but are also 16th in the Premier League following Sunday's 2-0 home loss to West Ham.

When Malcolm Glazer completed his leveraged purchase of United on 12 May 2005 he loaded around £694m debt on to the club and compelled a coterie of disgruntled supporters to found a breakaway club. Officially incepted on 14 June 2005 and swiftly accepted into The Moore & Co Construction Solicitors League four days later, FC United's inaugural game was a goalless friendly with Leigh RMI on 16 July, with a first competitive victory coming against Leek on 13 August.