In a park in the middle of a working-class suburb east of the city center, builders are "putting the finishing touches" on Northern Premier League side FC United of Manchester's Broadhurst Park, according to Mike Keegan of the London DAILY MAIL. This a "symbol that there is another way." Another way a "million miles away from billion-pound TV deals, fat-cat owners, sanitised stadia and all that many will tell you is wrong" with modern football. Set to host Primeira Liga side Benfica for the official opening on May 29, the 5,000-capacity stadium will "finally end a nomadic decade on the road for the breakaway outfit set up" in May '05 by ManU fans "sick of being exploited by the club they loved, for whom the arrival of the Glazer family was a step too far." Broadhurst (some "mischievous souls" voted for FCUM Hall in the naming poll), "dismissed by many as an impossible dream," cost around £6.5M ($9.7M). Of that "colossal sum around half came from the pockets of the democratic club's 4,000 members." The rest came from grants with around £500,000 ($646,600) "loaned by the council." It is a "ground for the fans, paid for by the fans." Broadhurst Park GM Andy Walsh said, "Establishing this football ground is a statement of what football supporters can achieve if they are given the opportunity." On match days, one of the stands will "house a food market, with local businesses from Indian takeaways to vegan cafes offering fans their fayre." In the clubhouse, supporters "will not drink Budweiser, or Aperol Spritz but cask ale from Manchester brewers Joseph Holt." The local brew of the day's opposition will also be "imported for each match" while the club is "planning to install a microbrewery." Discussions, however, are "ongoing over the pies." Walsh: "We have to get that one right." But the provider will be a "local firm in line with the club's policy" (DAILY MAIL, 4/16).
