FC United: A punk football fairy tale

FC United of Manchester, the team formed by a group of football activists in opposition to the debt-financed takeover of the Old Trafford club by the American Glazer family in 2005, players make their way onto the pitch for their FA Cup first round tie with Rochdale Photograph: Gary Calton Young FC fans show their enthusiasm Photograph: Gary Calton FC fans display their lofty ambitions Photograph: Gary Calton FC's Richard Battersby deals with a flare thrown onto the pitch Photograph: Gary Calton A young FC fan makes his point Photograph: Gary Calton Overeager fans rush onto the pitch after FCUM's second goal. They squandered a 2-0 advantage but won in injury time Photograph: Gary Calton FC fans celebrate the win. It was their first competitive match against league opposition and their first match at this stage of the world’s oldest football competition Photograph: Gary Calton On giants’ shoulders: Jerome Wright is lifted aloft after FC United’s famous Rochdale victory Photograph: Gary Calton United we stand: FC’s fans celebrate their team’s last-gasp 3-2 win over Rochdale in the FA Cup first round on 5 November, 2010 Photograph: Gary Calton Players celebrate with a beer in the dressing room following the match Photograph: Gary Calton the dilapidated pitch at Ten Acres Lane – the ground will require an investment of at least £1.5m Photograph: Gary Calton Youngsters playing at Ten Acre Lane Photograph: Gary Calton “The idea of FC United needs a home”: Adam Brown, one of the founding board members, outside Ten Acres Lane, the proposed location for FC United’s new ground Photograph: Gary Calton