An Experience Of A Lifetime For United Supporters

Manchester United has just completed their tiresome 17-day, 5-game pre-season tour of America and it was yet another fulfilled dream for this supporter.

The American Reds Made United Feel At Home

For the manager, the point of these tours is for the players to get back to match-fitness, but for the club, itself, it is about thanking their existing supporters while gaining new ones along the way, which for the most part, they did just that.

There were countless positives to take from the Tour 2011. From publishing the first photo of No. 19 this side of the pond, to mingling with club legends; to chatting with the voice of Old Trafford; to experience a press box first hand; to seeing United completely dismantle their five opponents.

Chaperoning the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League trophy to the Phoenix Landing was the best possible way to kick-off the tour, but to be in close proximity to United legends - Andrew Cole, Paddy Crerand, Dennis Irwin, Gary Neville and Bryan Robson - was a dream the supporters here in the States had the chance to turn into reality. But along with meeting them, the traveling fans also had the chance to hear Alan Keegan's voice without the microphone echoing through the rafters of Old Trafford - and, yes, it sounds just the same!

Those were the organized moments that I sort of anticipated, but there were also the occasional one-off instances where I was left speechless and star-struck. Getting on the elevator to go get some drinks turned out to be an amazing experience as I got to ride with Dimitar Berbatov, Ji-Sung Park and Gabriel Obertan to their respective floors. But even that was overshadowed when I had the chance to be Sir Bobby Charlton bellboy and ride up in the same lift as him (Before he got in, he asked me if I wanted an autograph, which I could only answer by shaking my head no.).

However, the best, and most important, part of the tour was seeing Manchester United live and in person. With the few additions to the squad that Sir Alex Ferguson has added already this summer, the Reds looked in great form cutting through their opposition on their way to dazzling the record-number of fans in each location. In the end, United outclassed each of their opponents, including Barcelona, and captured the 2011 Herbalife Football Challenge trophy. United scored 20 goals and only gave up three in the process.

Impressed
One thing that I was able to see first hand was all of the hard work that was put in by the United staff behind the scenes from their "war room" meetings to ensure that things go off as smoothly as possible and the security to keep the players and manager safe from harm.

On top of what Jonathan Rigby and his efficient marketing team accomplished, our very own membership and supporters group, One United USA, performed a major part in getting their loyal members intimate access to the training sessions. Peter Holland, who founded the Manchester United supporters club back in 1991, and David Herman, who is one of the most vivacious and memorable supporters that you will ever meet, both put forth an admirable, unrecognizable effort helping the club get in touch with their local fans in each of the five cities.

United
The best part is meeting up with supporters, like myself, from all across the country sharing our common bond - Manchester United. The United States is 9.83 million square kilometers - over 40 times the size of its former mother land - which means that our supporters are not in a concentrated area.

These random supporters from the Dallas Reds, Houston Reds and New York Reds all joined forces and produced one of the most memorable atmospheres this side of the Atlantic for a Manchester United match.

The 2011 MLS All-Star Game has normally a boring, corporate feeling to the match, but those big wigs were treated to some great enthusiasm from the 500 or so who sat in section 220. Not many people in that section have been able to sit in the Stretford End at Old Trafford, but the electricity produced from this boisterous bunch of supporters was outstanding.

I will not go as far as saying that we helped the Reds to yet another emphatic multiple goal win over the best that the MLS has to offer, but the noise created was noticed by everyone in the ground, including Sir Alex Ferguson, who gave us a wave during the second half, and we were twice clapped by David Beckham, after chanting, "Fergie! Fergie! Give Us A Wave," and "There's Only One David Beckham!," respectively.

Manchester United has now returned back to where they belong, but these last three weeks, although long, were something that will live with me until I leave this earth.