PL charge City for alleged breaches of financial rules

Karl8 said:
They are…

Manchester United does have notable Catholic connections, though these are cultural and historical rather than institutional. Here’s a breakdown of the main Catholic associations with the club:

1. Irish Catholic Support Base

  • Irish immigration to Manchester in the 19th and early 20th centuries brought many Catholic families, especially to areas like Collyhurst, Miles Platting, and Harpurhey.
  • Manchester United, based in the industrial and diverse heart of the city, became popular among Irish Catholic communities.
  • This is similar to Celtic’s founding in Glasgow to serve Irish Catholic immigrants, though United did not have a religious mission

2. Catholic Players and Legends

Many of United’s greatest players were Irish Catholics or came from Catholic backgrounds:

  • George Best – Northern Irish, raised in a Protestant area (Cregagh), but had strong ties with both communities.
  • Denis Irwin – Devout Catholic from Cork, Ireland.
  • Roy Keane – Catholic from Cork; educated in Catholic schools.
  • John O’Shea, Liam Whelan (a Busby Babe), Paddy Crerand – All Catholic and from Irish backgrounds.
  • Shay Brennan – Born in Manchester to Irish parents; first post-Munich debutant.
Some of the Busby Babes (the young team tragically affected by the 1958 Munich air disaster) were Irish Catholics, particularly:
  • Liam “Billy” Whelan, who was a devout Catholic and reportedly said, “If this is the end, then I’m ready for it,” as the plane took off.

3. Sir Matt Busby’s Catholic Faith

  • Matt Busby, United’s legendary manager (1945–1969), was a devout Catholic of Lithuanian-Scottish descent.
  • He was awarded a papal knighthood (KSG) in 1972 by Pope Paul VI.
  • Busby’s values of discipline, compassion, and unity resonated with both Catholic and working-class traditions.

4. Fan Culture and Identity

  • Some Catholic fans, especially of Irish descent, saw United as “their club” in contrast to Manchester City, who drew more from traditional English Protestant neighborhoods — though this was more subtle and localized, never an overt sectarian rivalry like Celtic vs Rangers.
  • In the 1960s–1980s, it wasn’t uncommon for United to have supporters clubs in Catholic parishes, especially in parts of Ireland, Northern England, and Scotland.
⚖️ Conclusion


While Manchester United has never been officially or institutionally a Catholic club, it has strong historical ties to Catholic communities, particularly through:

  • Its Irish supporters and players.
  • The faith of influential figures like Sir Matt Busby.
  • Its appeal to working-class Catholic populations in Manchester and Ireland.
Hope this helps clarify and demonstrate that United ARE historically a somewhat catholic club..
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Who gives a fuck
 
Our family were all moss side / fallowfield blues and with the exception of our mam all were regular match going blues at some point, all Catholic from Irish Catholics and never once was religious divide ever mentioned, even at school in Wythenshawe ( though 70% red ) nobody ever said you should be red or blue as your Catholic......... until one day the blacksheep uncle ( one of them ) of the family turned up and spouting shite

Never mentioned at grammar school in ardwick either
 
Guess what? Times change. Because it ain't true now (and it isn't) doesn't mean it wasn't true.

I will say, I don't think Manchester was ever as sectarian as Liverpool or Glasgow. But to pretend there wasn't an element of sectarianism amounts to denial

It's no longer an issue (except maybe with a tiny element) but it's part of our history. Maybe best forgotten, but let's not kid ourselves.
 
It rained all day.
Moyet was lacklustre.
Trent was grumpy and underwhelming.

Bowie. Well apart from the song below Glass Spider was such a step down from Let’s Dance. He did have Warrington’s Frampton on guitar though tbf.

 
There were tales that Busby when he was the rags manager used to urge his players to attend church on a Sunday morning
 
I had a relative who was absolutely convinced that the reason his son did not get on at United was that he was not an RC.

Even as a kid, I thought this nonsense. (One did not contradict one's elders in those days.) But he believed it, quite sincerely, and there must have been a reason for that. Even if it was only his prejudice.
 
Carlos- the- jackal said:
As someone who was born and bred in Collyhurst in the 60's, what a load of fuckin bollocks
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Me too mate, Keddington close, went to St Oswald… 70 s though,.. Not sure why you are so opposed to the fact that Utd have historically ties to Catholicism, this wasn’t a criticism of that fact, just an observation, really no need to be defensive, as it isn’t a “load of fuckin bollocks” as you suggest,simply the truth…. As a say, no criticism ,..I’m assuming from your defensive posture you’re a catholic so I mean no harm or offence. If you disagree with this fact, perhaps just research the subject. Google is your friend.
 
Carlos- the- jackal said:
Well theres 12 of us who go to City from Collyhurst, Moston, Blackley, Levenshulme and Longsight all of us catholics and of southern irish heritage.
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My fathers side (English and Protestant) were predominantly united and my mothers side ( Catholic and Irish ethnicity ) were all City. Went to games with Cousins and Uncles from my mother’s side so was confirmed a blue. Never really remember religion being an issue. All I knew was they were not from Manchester and we were.
 
Carlos- the- jackal said:
Well theres 12 of us who go to City from Collyhurst, Moston, Blackley, Levenshulme and Longsight all of us catholics and of southern irish heri
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Nice one no one is suggesting members of the catholic faith, from Collyhurst Moston, Leve, or Dublin even cannot support the best club in the world. Simply that Utd have strong ties and historical connections to the Catholic Church. I believe all faiths
Muslims, Jews, triffids, whatever are welcome at our blue church !
 
Karl8 said:
Nice one no one is suggesting members of the catholic faith, from Collyhurst Moston, Leve, or Dublin even cannot support the best club in the world. Simply that Utd have strong ties and historical connections to the Catholic Church. I believe all faiths
Muslims, Jews, triffids, whatever are welcome at our blue church !
Click to expand...


Most Triffids at the Etihad aren't real blues I suspect they are plants.
 
Karl8 said:
They are…

Manchester United does have notable Catholic connections, though these are cultural and historical rather than institutional. Here’s a breakdown of the main Catholic associations with the club:

1. Irish Catholic Support Base

  • Irish immigration to Manchester in the 19th and early 20th centuries brought many Catholic families, especially to areas like Collyhurst, Miles Platting, and Harpurhey.
  • Manchester United, based in the industrial and diverse heart of the city, became popular among Irish Catholic communities.
  • This is similar to Celtic’s founding in Glasgow to serve Irish Catholic immigrants, though United did not have a religious mission

2. Catholic Players and Legends

Many of United’s greatest players were Irish Catholics or came from Catholic backgrounds:

  • George Best – Northern Irish, raised in a Protestant area (Cregagh), but had strong ties with both communities.
  • Denis Irwin – Devout Catholic from Cork, Ireland.
  • Roy Keane – Catholic from Cork; educated in Catholic schools.
  • John O’Shea, Liam Whelan (a Busby Babe), Paddy Crerand – All Catholic and from Irish backgrounds.
  • Shay Brennan – Born in Manchester to Irish parents; first post-Munich debutant.
Some of the Busby Babes (the young team tragically affected by the 1958 Munich air disaster) were Irish Catholics, particularly:
  • Liam “Billy” Whelan, who was a devout Catholic and reportedly said, “If this is the end, then I’m ready for it,” as the plane took off.

3. Sir Matt Busby’s Catholic Faith

  • Matt Busby, United’s legendary manager (1945–1969), was a devout Catholic of Lithuanian-Scottish descent.
  • He was awarded a papal knighthood (KSG) in 1972 by Pope Paul VI.
  • Busby’s values of discipline, compassion, and unity resonated with both Catholic and working-class traditions.

4. Fan Culture and Identity

  • Some Catholic fans, especially of Irish descent, saw United as “their club” in contrast to Manchester City, who drew more from traditional English Protestant neighborhoods — though this was more subtle and localized, never an overt sectarian rivalry like Celtic vs Rangers.
  • In the 1960s–1980s, it wasn’t uncommon for United to have supporters clubs in Catholic parishes, especially in parts of Ireland, Northern England, and Scotland.
⚖️ Conclusion


While Manchester United has never been officially or institutionally a Catholic club, it has strong historical ties to Catholic communities, particularly through:

  • Its Irish supporters and players.
  • The faith of influential figures like Sir Matt Busby.
  • Its appeal to working-class Catholic populations in Manchester and Ireland.
Hope this helps clarify and demonstrate that United ARE historically a somewhat catholic club..
Click to expand...
Just for the purpose of historical accuracy, the Irish who came to Manchester in the 19th century were migrants, not immigrants.
 
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