SamLKelly wrote:

QUOTE:
Gangster Octopus wrote:

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So it's agreed then. You can only be a real fan if you bought a replica shirt before they had sponsors' names on them...

You know, some of us even here on OTF aren't actually old enough to have done that. Be fair.

Which is why, of course, you youngsters will never be real fans. <Sounds of maniacal laughter...>

The 'Man U' thing is a fairly recent bugbear. I've got the Happy Mondays Live at Elland Road CD, rather brilliantly called 'Live', and Shaun Ryder (I assume) shouts "Are you Man U, you?" which fits in with dogbeak's assertion that it was fairly well used in Salford.

It's more since the 'footie' arrivistes like Zoe Ball, Angus Deayton, and all those tossbags that sprouted up, declaring their life long support for 'Man U' that the word took on negative connotations. Nowadays you'll get shouted down fairly quickly for using it.

Bored Of Football wrote:

QUOTE:
I have never heard "Sheff U" spoken and rarely written

Are there fools that actually pronounce "Sheff Weds" as it is spelt?

There are fools that write it, so why the hell not?