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FC United of Manchester expect a protest at FA Cup tie with Chesterfield

FC United of Manchester’s landmark FA Cup first-round tie at their new Broadhurst Park stadium against League One Chesterfield is a sell-out, but amid the eager anticipation, resentment still lingers about the match having been moved to a Monday night for television. A protest is expected from some fans of FC United, for whom commercially driven disruption to 3pm Saturday matches was a factor in the original 2005 decision to break away from supporting Manchester United and form their own club.
The FC United board was told by the FA that under competition rules it had to comply with the instruction to move the game to Monday night for live coverage by BT Sport, and registered its displeasure with a strong statement. Adam Brown, a board member since the club’s inception, told the Guardian the move from Saturday has “tarnished” the profound sense of achievement the club feel at reaching their first ever FA Cup first-round tie at the new £6.3m stadium they built and opened in May. The club said they recognise the importance of TV to football but object to the compulsory nature of a switch which has made it more difficult for some fans, particularly children and parents, to be present.
“This is another very special occasion for us, the culmination not just of the qualifying rounds victories, but of 10 years’ work,” Brown said. “To have an FA Cup tie in our own stadium is a magical thing but the FA has tarnished it.”

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