Rag

[Timmmmahhhh]

Where has this endearing "term" come from?

Is it just me that cringes the majority of the time this "term" is used in posts?

 

[Blue Smarties]

They had to borrow some kits, we gave them the shitty rags.

Bloke worked for a company which made the kits for them and used the shitty rags to make the kits.

Two I've heard.

 

[peacefrog]

During the war...

 

[Deleted member 14625]

Better than the word Munich.

And it signifies that they haven't always been a top club, a rich club and winning club like they all think they have been! At times in their HISTORY they have been a total joke of a club. Calling them Rags is a perfect way for everyone to know that they were so poor once because the football they played was so terrible that they were only getting 4000 fans through the Old Trafford turnstyles and thus didn't even have the money to buy their own kits and had to lend our old ones; our Rags!

 

[Ancient Citizen]

Because during the thirties they were in the shit and totally potless. They were helped out by various donations of kit, boots etc; hence 'Rags.' Their own fans apparently are credited for giving them this title.

 

[Bilston Blue]

I thought it was the distinct similarity of their shirt to a used tampon.

 

[Timmmmahhhh]

Better than the word Munich.

I think Munich is used nowadays to mean United fans, with no significance/relevance to the tragedy intended, much like in the way people (such as myself) don't know where the term Rag comes.

After reading that it doesn't make much sense, I know what I meant tho!!

 

[stony]

Because during the thirties they were in the shit and totally potless. They were helped out by various donations of kit, boots etc; hence 'Rags.' Their own fans apparently are credited for giving them this title.

So it stems from them having a really bad period.

 

[Bilston Blue]

Because during the thirties they were in the shit and totally potless. They were helped out by various donations of kit, boots etc; hence 'Rags.' Their own fans apparently are credited for giving them this title.

So it stems from them having a really bad period.

Haha - I see what you've done there.

 

[unexpected item]

Remember using it at school in the late 60's - they were, and still are rags (small r). As for origins, we also called them jam rags (the colour of used sanitary protection), but I think the earlier versions about the borrowed kit, and the scrap material are just as valid.

I like the way it differentiates us from your standard anti-united fan - they, being from all parts of the UK refer to them as scum, whereas we tend to use the Mancunian term of rags.