Manchester United fans – where in the world are you?

With Sir Alex Ferguson’s side doing their latest bit of PR in Cape Town, we wondered: exactly where do Manchester United’s fans come from?

They boast that they have the biggest following on the planet but is this true? Certainly, shirt sales in Asia appear to back up the theory. And supporters turned up in their droves to have a kickabout with Rio Ferdinand during his recent charity trip to Nigeria.

Everybody’s heard the cruel taunts about United fans not coming from Manchester – now’s your turn to hit back.

Take part in our simple poll and let us know in the comment box below where in the world you are from.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Comments

[united for life]

If our global fanbase runs into well over in the millions, possibly hundred of millions, and the population of manchester itself is less than a million...what are the chances then of a high majority of fans being from manchester itself? This poll is pointless, because we know the answer already. Football is a global game, accept it. No one questions liverpool and arsenals fanbase and where the majority of them come from, I bet you that you would get similar results. Same applies for barca, real, AC and juve

[Matt Holden]

Do the same Poll for Liverpool or Chelsea and you would have similar results, like it or not all the major teams in the premiership are Global Brands and will inveitably have more fans that dont live in Manchester than do.

However working in Salford everyday i can testify that nearly everyone who works and lives there supports Man Utd, it so happens the rest of the world are quite fond of them as well.

[Keith]

Being from the States, especially Wilmington, NC, and a Manchester United fan is tough. Believe me, most people who even acknowledge that they love football here automatically get harrassed as if they were fans of figure skating. We even get stick for referring to it as football and not soccer. It's like we're traitors.

Then we run into those purists who say that only people from the city itself are real fans. Their the only ones who understand the team's history and no one else can grasp it. I can understand that sentiment, but try and understand what it's like for us when we're the only guy in the bar who wants to see Man United v. Blackburn or any other team not in the big four while every other guy there wants to watch the Redskins v. Cowboys.

We pay our due in other ways.

[Alex]

Completely pointless, much better to go to the Arndale or Trafford Centre and count the City and United shirts in either location. From my observations United come out top by far.

[Robert Balmain]

To Alex (Wilmington, NC. try beuibng the only Engish guy in a bar in Asia that wants to watch Everton and everyone else wants to watch MUFC or Chelsea (or the other favour of the month) for glory hunters who should be suppoting their local team not one 5,000 miles away.

[US MAN UNITED]

When you come to the U.S. you will clearly see that there are more Man U fans than any other club in the world. Its not just because of the american owners but the fans here atually understand the history and the passion of being a United fan.

[apears]

Yes, I'm american by birth and do live in the states, but my family has its roots in Salford. Its tradition to support united, and so i do.

[Jerome Miller]

Montreal, Canada is full of die hard
RED DEVILS!
UNITED!

[roni07]

why dont you do this pointless survey for liverpool ? typical anti united rubish . get one of your reporters up to manchester and check out the shirts you see walking round united must outnumber city 5 to 1

[Daniel]

Most people who "support" Man United abroad are those who asked: "What's that team that always wins the league? Yeah, I'll support them." These fans know nothing of "history" and "passion", they just display the club's brand as if it were an Abercrombie & Fitch shirt or something. Most are pretty ignorant about football. I even met one "fan" who lived in Manchester for a year, never went to a game, and couldn't name any Manchester United player other than Beckham. Having said all that, there are exceptions to this (pretty much anyone visiting this site wouldn't fall into this category).

[Oz]

I'm not from Manchester. I'm from Salford!

[Egill, Kopavogur, Iceland]

Robert Balmain: "for glory hunters who should be suppoting their local team not one 5,000 miles away."

Who says we can't do both? And who says we're all glory hunters? I have friends and family who support teams as varied as Luton, Arsenal and even your beloved Everton.

I think that english supporters have to realise that one of the reasons why the EPL is arguably the strongest in the world is because of the world wide interrest and support of the teams in it.

[william barlow]

When Canada got a second 24hr. Sports channel, live football came to Toronto. At 10am Sat. morns, the only real competition was sleep.

When my honey wandered in to the TV room and saw me, she paused and declared; YOU HAVE TO GIVE SOMETHING UP.

I laughed without fearing the threat,but 11 years later I have voluntarily given short shrift to all other sport. I just won an argument to include 200lbs. of Four Four Two in our move.

The thing is, football never sleeps. They take a month off to stage Wimbledon and The Open, and then it starts all over again.

Games last an hour and 48 minutes give or take a second, and critically...NO COMMERCIALS!

I became a Red Devil by default and withstand much name calling which I deflect successfully by citing my 30 year loyalty to the Toronto Maple Leafs...I have earned a good team!

The reason was more basic and understandable. United were chosen for telecast with much greater frequency so these were the players I got to know first. As well, and I think this was Alex's idea [He would only permit team celebrations for goals scored.] so the squad genuinely seemed to care for each other.

These telecasts started in the fall of 1998 and the season that unfolded was a gift from the gods.

I actually felt guilty as lifelong fans who passed on in the four months preceding the Noucamp were denied what this rookie got.

For my penance, when I accurately cite the year of my team selection
"REAL FOOTBALL FANS' give me stick,
[what ever the hell 'stick' is.]

Regardless, witnessing the perilous margins and sheer delight in the capture of each prong of the treble sealed the deal. I was and am a Red Devil for life, snickering [which I can hear right now] notwithstanding.

[John Derbyshire]

"glory hunters" Robert Balmain? Oh, you mean the 25 years when we didn't win anything?

[jarne]

this is beacuse of the english language link no moreee.
because english language and all the countries that have english as a mother tongue, they support english footballl no moree

[Daryl]

I live in Ireland but visit Manchester regularly to attend matches. Hand on heart you are likely to see at least ten times more replica united shirts on the streets of Dublin rather than Manchster. Their following here is simply phenominal.

[Thom James]

I was born and raised in Cheadle, but moved out to NZ a few years ago. This has got to be one of the worst places to be a football fan, and i loathe the fact that everyone who claims to be into 'soccer' is either a Chelsea or Man U fan, and couldn't name a starting 11 for either.

[jonathan woods]

I'm from oxford, I support oxford united because they are my local team... However... I'm a Manchester United fan and supporter 1st. This is not because they are the most renowned or because I love the glory, but rather that I was raised to support them, as are the majority of the united fans I know. Jealousy from supporters of other clube is a constant plague, because Manchester United is the greatest football team in the world, and in our fine nation, one major draw back we have... we hate a winner.

[Kevin]

A recent poll taken in Singapore shows the best supported club in the country is Liverpool.

[rich]

I think all these die hard foreign fans want to take a look in the mirror. All this, "I know what it means to be a Man utd fan. I understand the history and passion". Rubbish.

[KeithButterworth]

Im am actually from the Manchester area, although have lived in Bath for the past 33 years.In Bath there are more Man Utd fans than any other premiership club by far. I travel to the far east quite a lot and find the same to be true, in China, Thailand, Malaysia too. I am proud of this fact , and it just confirms my long held believe that Man Utd are the most famous, entertaining, and loved club in the world. Long may it remain so. I welcome fans from all parts of the globe, the more the merrier.

[bernard kelly]

The only surveys on this issue i have seen was by the manchester evening news.50 percent united against 40 percent city in manchester.
United also have one of the hightest percentage of season ticket holders who live within 25 miles of the ground.
But why let the facts spoil a good story.

[Andy]

@why dont you do this pointless survey for liverpool?

That's obvious isn't it? No one outside of Liverpool would even consider supporting them.

Don't know why Utd fans get so upset about this, must be some sort of inferiority complex, like the one they have over Liverpool.

But mickey taking aside, don't you think this is actually a complement to your side? The fact so many fans from other parts of the world like your club could be seen as a testament to everything from your style of play to your status and aspirations as one of the best in the world.

So most Utd fans are yuppies and Asians? If they're all as pretty as the girl in the picture I wouldn't be complaining myself..

[Michael Flaherty]

Funny how Man U fans get all sensitive when you ask them where they're from. Go and support your local team you bandwagon jumping glory hunters!

[eddie pasco]

Born in eccles followed utd since I could talk went to every game home and away in the 70s loved docherty as did all the lads in the area no city fans only utd .Now live in New Zealand still go to games when on holiday the city idea is a myth

[Satish]

This only proves that appeal of United can come purely from watching them play, not because you are born in Manchester or London. I live in Asia and I can "safely" support United or Arsenal or Barcelona or Madrid, but I CHOOSE United (unlike you English who are forced into watching likes of Bolton because you were born there!) Secondly how does a large percentage of foreign fans prove that there are few English fans? It only proves that UK = 3 million, USA = 300 million etc.
Third isn't global appeal something to be proud of? I can't name anything other than the Premier League that the UK exports and neither can you!
Finally all you expats who claim United are the flavor of the month in Asia etc. should really venture out more into the country instead of being holed up in the same touristy bar all the time. I really think I know my own country more than you do.

[Sam]

Im Australian and love united. All my mates go for a major team for a variety of reasons and none of us support the same team. Between us, the big four are supported, plus west ham and one friend is still a die hard leeds fan. The BPL is global, and lets face it without international fan bases the league would be nowhere near the power house it is today.

[sarun]

Well i am from India, and here you would find supporters of not only man utd but liverpool, arsenal,chelsea,totenham and others because of the weekend dose of English priemer league thanks to espn star sports

[Ian Morgan, Moston,Manchester born n bRED]

What a pointless poll. How about a poll "If you are from Manchester do you support United or City"

Is tomorrows poll going to ask Liverpool and Chelsea the same question?

Journalism at its worst - keep stoking the myth. Ive had to put up with it for years

[Gary Thompson]

What is this childish obssesion about where Manchester United fans come from all about ? I come from Manchester (there you go you've found one) and everyone i know and associate with either supports or favours United. Carry this infantile poll out on Liverpool then you'll really see some glory hunters come to the fore !

[Kai]

When a team has an estimated global support of 5 million, and a poll is carried out on a site read all over the world, statistically you would expect that the majority of those voting would be frm outside Manchester - even if everyone in Manchester voted yes then they would be outnumbered approx 5 to 1 by non-Manc's in such a pole.

Surely a more interesting and accurate poll would be one of Manc's asking which team they support to see which Manchester team has most support from within the city??

[Gaz]

United fans are always going to suffer from people saying they don't come from Manchester simply because 90% of their fans DON'T! When you consider Uniteds fan base though, you realise that this leave lots of United fans who come from Manchester!

But what I want to say to you United fans in Ireland, the US and elsewhere is that somewhere near you is a football team that needs your support. I support Wigan but I watch non-league when Wigan are away, I even have non-league shirts now! Teams like United don't need your money & support, its the other 90 odd percent of teams that need your money & support. I'm not saying you should suddenly change who you support, but maybe for one season rather than buying the latest strip spend the money watching local sides and buying a local shirt!

[M19 Blue]

I understand why people who come from outside England support The Rags, they have a chance of winning every competition they enter. What I don't understand is those in England who don't live anywhere near Manchester, who should be putting money over the turnstyles of their local club support a team from Trafford?

Lower league football wouldn't be in the financial trouble it is now if the glory hunting sheep didn't support The Rags!

Before you all reply stating I support MUFC because my Dad did....He sleeps with your Mum do you do that as well....

[Muzi,Dlamini]

God is united so in most television stations in the world are bradicasting MAN U.so every child in the street of Swaziland and Mongolia knows about Man U and they can even recognise Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

[Stuart Webb]

I'm a diehard Man U fan, born and bred in Southend and I watch them every time they're on TV.
I've been to Old Trafford twice in my life and thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the 'Theatre of Dreams'.
I also buy the new kit every season; it's important for me that I show my solid support for the club.

[jonathan anthony]

I live in London and have supported Man U since 1968. My Dad hates football so we never went. I went to school outside Manchester where I got grief from Citeh fans and Salford reds alike, so it comes with the territory. Funny thing is, over the last five years or so, I know more London based Liverpool fans than United fans. All of these of course were glory hunters in the 1980s....when most of them were in their teens/twenties! And in London, the number of Arsenal fans from the home counties or Spurs/Chelsea fans from South East London keeps growing....What's the difference

[Noel Mwawa]

Man u is supported all over the world. Dont be haters. Man u is the biggest club in the world whether someone likes it or not.

[Mick]

Man United, as part of their long term business strategy, have pioneered the art of globalising a football club. It is great for the club coffers but what nobody seems to recognise is that it destroys any opportunity for the likes of Korea, Japan, Africa etc. of producing a huge club of their own - a truly great club to represent their own people - as the hearts and souls of the local population have been won over by the MU money/myth making machine.

Surely this is incredibly sad, and on some real level, incredibly wrong?

[Lal Shaitan]

The question you have to ask is which club would not swap places with Manchester United today? How many would rather be a small club with local support outnumbering global fans? Apparently there's some moral high-ground in supporting your local club - a relic of the pre-television and pre-telecoms world. Would you laugh at Amir Khan because he has more fans outside of Bolton?

[Bertrand]

In Mauritius, we've been watching EPL for many, many years. Everyone (90%) supports either Man Utd or Liverpool, and you usually get firecrackers after the game (from Man U fans when they win, from LFC fans likewise).

I would say LFC has just as many fans in many parts of the world than Man Utd. It's just they never capitalised on it, so Man Utd have grown stronger than them in the last 2 decades in terms of support.

[David Ward]

United are a globally renowned club and there will always be fans from around the world in the premiership age. Why is this a surprise?

For those dealing in half truths and myths about Manchester football support, try reading some real evidence on this.

http://www.e-space.mmu.ac.uk/e-space/bitstream/2173/12506/1/seasonticketreport%20-%20brown1.pdf

[Deanamo]

It is 1977 and I am 7 years old. I am from Southend and most of the kids at school support Liverpool, including my older brother. As an act of part randomness and part sibling rivalry I decide to support the team that Liverpool are playing in the FA Cup Final that season, Manchester United. United win and I am hooked for life.

As I said I was a mere 7 years old. I have no concept of where Manchester is and because my father did not follow football I had never been to Roots Hall to see my local club. In days of limited football on TV, I did however, from time to time, get to see Man Utd.

I love watching football live and part of me (now a Londoner) wishes that I had at random decided to support a London club (but am at least thankful that Leeds did not win their '77 semi-final as I might have been watching 3rd division football - I could have got that from Southend). However, once you start supporting a team you cannot just change your loyalties overnight. Thsi is the true acid test as to whether you are a true fan.

So what does this tell you? Quite simply that support for a football club is a random act, normally made by young children with next to no sense of geography. Everyone has their own reasons and geography can be one of those factors where it has a strong cultural influence on impressionable children. There are certainly glory seekers who support United but the same applies to all clubs - certainly Liverpool were a case in point in my youth.

[D.Dent]

Utd have followers, not fans.

The real football supporters in Manchester support City. Anyone knows that. Liverpool have real fans, Arsenal too.

Like Juve, and the Yankees in basesball, anyone with an interest, but not a passion, "supports' Utd. They like the game, and need a team.

That's why real fans hate Utd/Yankees/Juve...

[Tony G]

Yorkshire: I was 14 when I first when to see them. None of my friends would go, so I travelled with Burnley supporters to a cup match at Old Trafford in 1963. United won. The garbage about Utd having no fans in Manchester is another pathetic Man City story (like Ronaldhino playing for them); Utd had 50,000+ home crowds in the 60s, long before the global brand caught on.

[Lirpa Olof]

It seems this is only a problem for Englishmen.

In Portugal there is no such similar problem (and in no doubt many other countires too). There everyone supports Benfica - up and down the country. They only support their local team as a "second favourite".

In fact, according to the Guinness Book of records, Benfica have the most registered members world-wide of any football club.

[Bert Magoo]

Most United fans come from outside of Manchester. I've lived in Stockport for 40 years and have never seen a Mancunian Manchester United supporter.

Bert, Hazel Grove.

[ericisgod7]

What a ridiculous poll, this will proove one way or another!!!!
By the way I don't come from Manchester, I come from Salford and Old Trafford is my local team (I can see it from my house). Glad to see you jumping on the united-bashing bandwagon though!!!

[Ringo]

"Before you all reply stating I support MUFC because my Dad did....He sleeps with your Mum do you do that as well...."

Thats quite funny for a bertie...

192 for Bertie Magoo - Expect Fire works in Stockport up until August 19th as City are above United on Alphabetical order

[Barrowfordred]

Oh dear - yet another worhless poll. When will the old canard about everyone in Manchester supporting lickle ciddy be exposed?
Never, as long as retards believe this tripe wheeled out on a constant basis.

[Beef]

I think internet polls like this are important. Please keep me updated.

[Gareth Edwards]

I've been a liverpool fan since 1978, and i live in cardiff. United don't have any local fans they should just support there local team. Not to mention our fantastic support who only live 10 yards away from anfield. All of us own a scarf from the clubshop so we do go to the games and every night we go to bed humming Y.N.W.A with our scraf raised aloft with our Stevie g Shirt. That's a proper fan.

[Sabremesh]

United's high profile has contributed massively to the growth of the EPL as the world's most popular football league, and indeed "sports franchise" generally. All Premiership clubs owe a debt to ManU for this, whether they wish to acknowledge it or not.

And no, I'm not a ManU supporter - but I don't begrudge them their success, or their army of foreign fans. EPL ftw!

[John Orford]

I believe you should always support your local team. I lived down hill from the Crystal Palace TV mast for 37 years. But many people have a favourite top team as well - mine's Liverpool. What's yours?

[M19 Blue]

How have City been dragged into this debate? The question is "Manchester United fans do you come from Manchester?"

This is not about who has the largest support in Manchester. But I reckon The Rags must be getting worried about us, as a couple of seasons ago they wouldn't have metioned us in relation to this question.

Most sensible comments note that if you come from London why support a team from the North West?

"Barrowfordred" Do you not think Burnley or Blackburn would like your support? Then again you'd continue to be a sheep why risk not supporting a winning team....Baa Baa Baa. Oh and remember 6 points..

Before you start Burnage, Manchester born and bred.....

[M. Shields]

I've been a born and bred Liverpool from the age of 3,I used to live on Merseyside but now live abroad, albeit temporarily. We Liverpool fans really know the score when it comes to supporting our club, just look at the magic of Istanbul back in 2005, without loyal passionate lads like me our club would never have won that night and would never have gained the reputation of the greatest fans in the world! United fans are all moaners and they all live in Surrey. Liverpool and City show how you should support your local team through thick and thin and remain loyal to the moral codes of true supporters. Long live the scouse!

[BIG MAN U FAN]

Man U is my favourite team, I've supported them since the great Champions league final of 1999. We are the best

Man U 4 EVA!!!!!! Lolz

[Barrowfordred]

Barrowford is where I live, not where I'm from. Burnley were a division above United the season I started watching them, as were lickle ciddy.
In the 70's United were applauded for having fans from all over the UK. But somewhere along the line this has been turned on its head and used a stick to beat us with.
3 points every season for you if we win the 2 trophies. I know which I'd prefer.

[Fillipe Vasquez]

Anti-United tripe.

United are one of, if not, the biggest football clubs on the planet. Obviously, local fans from constitute a tiny, tiny proportion of those who claim to be United supporters, but so what? The same is true of all the top European teams. Not least Liverpool and Arsenal, actually.

[Duckrobell]

This poll is utter vomit.

Slow transfer window is it???

I know! Let's wheel out another tired, over used non-story.

United are a club known around the world. Therefore, they have supporters from around the world. You'd think you'd need a degree to figure that out the way the media bang on about it. It's boring now, give it up.

Funnily enough, contrary to popular belief, United have a stronger supporter base in Manchester than City.

But hey, why let the truth get in the way of a popular media myth?

[Mr DG]

In the early seventies when I started going to Old Trafford, United had just been relegated to the then second division.
We had coaches from all over the country then, and the support was revered as the best and biggest set of fans in the country. Even while Liverpool dominated Europe United had more fans and bigger gates. My, how that riled 'em.
From there the success of United has indeed developed the fan base even bigger, but has anyone seen a team or club do well only to see attendences plummet?
Finally, just about every club has a national fanbase, including City. It's just that United have more, that's all.
Oh, and me? Cheshire. 17 miles as the crow flies. I do hope that's ok with you.

[billy li ar]

It's true United fans don't come from manchester, ive live in Hale for 12 years and rarely see a united fan. It's a sea of blue round our way.Stockport is also blue sometimes the traffic jams on the way to the match stretch all the way to Eastlands, this never happens when united are at home

[Ringo]

"Oh and remember 6 points.."

Yeah remember them far more than winning the League and the CL

[michael bradbury]

I work in Manchester city centre next door to what was Krolls offices. Kroll were investigating Alex Ferguson in the race horse saga. The Man Utd supporters club staged a protest oustside Kroll's offices. 4 people turned, 2 of which were dressed as a Pantomime Horse, 1 was a photographer. Point Made

[Edward Jones]

As a neutral, who has lived in Manchester for over 40 years, I can honestly say that United fans outnumber City fans in the city by at least 4 to 1.
You only have to take a walk around Picadilly or have a look on the school playing fields to see this.
This myth about United fans not coming from Manchester, or 'if it wasn't for Munich, United wouldn't be getting the attendances that they are getting now' is just that. A myth. Take a look at the average attendance figures in the year prior to the Munich air disaster and see who had the highest average.
Yes, you guessed it. It was Manchester United.

Edward from Manchester.

[Ringo]

"I work in Manchester city centre next door to what was Krolls offices. Kroll were investigating Alex Ferguson in the race horse saga. The Man Utd supporters club staged a protest oustside Kroll's offices. 4 people turned, 2 of which were dressed as a Pantomime Horse, 1 was a photographer."

They call you lot liars for a very good reason. There were 40 people there at 4.30 on a work day.

nearly as many as attended City vs Mansfield at Maine Road in 2001.

[vik]

Born in manchester =D

[Ringo]

"The Man Utd supporters club "

ha ha no it wasn't!

[Salford Red]

Salford - which ain't Manchester

[vic]

I never ever trust or listen to a "Man utd Fan" unless he/she ahs a Mancunian accent. They are all glory hunters. How come all these people from london´etc ahven´t chosen Crewe / Rochdale as their team to tag onto...........i suggest theres no glory in that. They make me sick

[MUFC,stockport]

some points:
1. what gives liverpool fans the right to comment? after all they all live within a 5 mile radius of anfield dont they?

2. this poll is stupid. obviously you are going to get a small percentage who are from manchester, given the relatively small population of the place, against our worldwide fanbase.

in light of this, it may shed more light on the debate ask if you are from manchester (population 1/2 mil)or greater manchester(pop 2.5mil), do you support united?

[Ian Manchester Red]

Have I got it wrong? There's an awful lot of comments for something "that's pontless". Man U IS news, like it or lump it.

[MANC]

With anybody permitted to vote, not doubt every fan of another team has voted "No".
Also, Man Utd are a global club, the ratio of population in Manchester to the rest of the world is huge, so 29%? i'm surprised it's that high!

Manchester IS red.

and what is that USA flag about on the poll? bias media as usual. pathetic.

[Dave]

Manchester Eevning News conducted a poll a few years ago; Manchester was split 52% United / 26% City. University of Leceister Sir Norman Chester Institute conducted a poll; 62% United / 22% City. Manchester Metropolitan University conducted a poll; more United Season Ticket holders in Manchester than City. Survey after survey, poll after poll, live in Manchester and experience it yourself. But do you believe us? No. Believe The Bitter Liars.

[M19 Blue]

Yet again why are Manchester City being included in this discussion?

The point of this stupid question is to ascertain if more of The Rags support comes from outside Manchester. The answer is of course Yes. They are a world brand so its obvious the majority of their support will come from outside Manchester...

[United Till I Die]

Of course United fans don't live in Manchester, Trafford isn't in Manchester.

I'm from South Shields, support United cos all the family is from Salford and hence brought up as one.

Before the scousers start I was at Anfield for the FA Cup tie (Smiths broken leg) and all I heard was Irish accents.

[Shannon]

I live in the USA. It's irritating how many United fans live here. They don't even consider other sides. It's like asking anyone in England who's the best baseball team on the planet--they'd say the Yankees of course. But they're not. They're just another marketing scheme with a big wallet. I hope the Gunners, CFC and the Reds all put these guys down because their "global" appeal is more akin to bandwagon jumping than real support.

[chris]

I live in Altrincham..about 8 miles from Old Trafford. I know that there are significantly more United fans in Manchester than supporters of any other team. In the 70's, when i was a child there were a number of children in my school who supported Liverpool because they were the dominant team of that decade and children like to be associated with a winning team. However there were 4 times as many United fans and a smattering of City fans.
I've been to anfield on numerous occasions and there's coaches full of their fans from all corners of the UK and even some from abroad. So why is it that Man United get vilified for supposedly getting their fans from anywhere but manchester? it's simply untrue.

[lee in Manchester]

What have MCFC got to do with this survey?The facts are the number of fans who support both teams is more even than people think-and thats the truth of the matter.

[lee in Manchester]

Some wally on here judges support by the number of football shirts worn in the Arndale Centre-funny that non could be seen the day after MCFC beat you twice this season!Its closer than you think!

[Mickey. Shields]

I've lived out here in Bulgaria for 3 years or so now but still follow my beloved reds keenly. That's the 'reds' of Liverpool for all you united 'fans' out there. Their support is frankly a joke, everyone knows Manchester is blue and Liverpool is red! Looking forward to watching the new season from afar as the mighty scouse walk the league!

[JB]

The last time I heard, just under 90% of all season tickets holders came from within a fifteen mile radius.

Oh and I am from Manchester.

[Nick Dixon]

The majority of clubs in the Premiership will have more supporters ,in total , outside the environs of the club .
The bigger the club the bigger the city , the more support they will garner worldwide . It is not something that is is unusual to Old Trafford .
Just a little provocation from the press during the close season to get you lot to post some views .
Not surprisingly it has worked and unsurprisingly became tribal with the first few contributors.
Get a life and go on holiday , everybody else has .

[frank]

I would say that the Japanese Tokyo Giants (baseball) are like Man U, the Yankees and Juve as the team you support if you "have" to have a favorite team...2/3 of the country supports them...

In the NFL there are a few teams that fit this mold-the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers are also national teams; same with the Pittsburgh Steelers-all have fans all over the USA, like the Yankees...

[will]

at the end of the day, if you support manu, or liverpool or chelsea or whoever and your not from manchester west london or merseyside, then your a glory hunter. plain and simple.
i know people who during our time at junior and secondary school, supported, tottenham, then middlesbrough, then manu and then chelsea.
us people who support little clubs like grimsby, might not get glory every year, but when we win something, like when we won at wembley twice in a month in 1998 it was better than anything manu or liverpool could ever imagine, because it was our miracle.

[Nabeel]

I am a Man U fan since the age of 6, and I come from Tanzania, where there are thousands of fans spread across the county. The club has a big following comprising of staunch Man U fans. Indeed, the club is big, bigger than the players!

[Reggie Rhinestone]

To the Asian United fan who wrote

>>how does a large percentage of foreign fans prove that there are few English fans? It only proves that UK = 3 million, USA = 300 million etc.

I say:

Good Lord, man. The UK population is over 60 million. It's one thing to be a foreign fan of a big English club (sure, I can understand that), but it's another to not know a thing about the country they play in, never mind the city. Fans have certain minimum responsibilities, I think.

It's all a very tricky business, I'll grant. Luckily, earning 'the right' to support a globally popular mega-brand has never been an issue for me, as I'm a Motherwell fan.

[Lud0]

Hi! I live in France and to be more accurate in Bordeaux. I support Man utd since Cantona played in this Team!
Even if most people support local teams like Girondins de Bordeaux. There are some French who are united's fans.
Nice poll!

[Alex]

As a southerner it is annoyin to see so many united (and liverpool) fans around the way (esp wen i have family in the north and there are very few fans of london based teams up there), but as a chelsea fan it is also annoyin to see so many chelsea fans appear after we win something...this is just what happens after success!!

[Robert Monteagudo]

I love English football but have never understood this stupid thing about having to be from one place to support a given team. Here in Spain, our three biggest clubs (Real, Barcelona and Valencia) have supporters all around the country and no one makes a fuss about where they come from. In fact, a poll from a few years back showed that Real was the first or second most supported club in every single Spanish region except for the Basque Country, where it was third behind Bilbao and Real Sociedad. But no Atletico fan sings "do you come from Madrid?" in matches against Real, perhaps because they are actually a successful club unlike City.

[Peter...]

Yeh, Oliver, as someone points out, if you're going to pretend the question can give a meaningful answer, and not manipulate a truth about United's gigantic nationwide and worldwide support to further a myth about another truth - United's much superior support over City's in Manchester itself (and by the way, bigger than any comparison attempted for any other English club within its own city/town boundaries) - at least give it a smidgin of credibility and worth, by asking only folk actually from or who have lived a decent length of time in the City of Manchester, who they support.
You have written proof already here from several posters in this "poll", who categorically quote what really counts; that the myth about Manchester-based support for United being anything less than much greater than any other club can similarly claim, including City, is exactly that - a myth. Something seized on by mostly football bigots and know-nothings.
Or doesn't this long-standing truth matter?

[Paul]

Man Utd have lots of so called supporters around the world. In truth they don't watch the games often or have any knowledge or passion for the game.
To sum this up on the day of the champion's league final before the game I met a guy wearing a man u top.
I asked him if he was looking forward to the game, his face was blank, he confessed he didn't know they were playing...and infact had no clue whats the champions league was. He was proud however that he had 5 man u tops. I'm in Canada, you meet man u supporter's all the time here like this, if you can call them that. It's nice to meet supporter's of other clubs, they do actually know what's going on with their teams.

[PaulMacca]

United should have more consideration for their real fans, and build a stadium near where their fans live, save them travelling. Like London, and build a little sheep theme park next to it where they can all graze between matches. BAAGH

[Daniel]

I am a Manchester United supporter from the United States, it has nothing to do with them being the biggest of the richest, it was the way I was raised. My father instilled two things in terms of Football into me, 1. That is it better than any other sport and should be called Football (My dad isn't from the US) and B. That Manchester United would be the only team tolerated in his house. Really if you want to detect false fans look for the ones that call the club"man u" they usually are the glory hunters with very little historical knowledge of the club.

[Tom Floyd]

Its funny I have always felt like a foreign fan coming from Oldham which is greater Manchester 6 miles from the city centre. Theres a guy from Hale saying hes never seen a red shirt there, thats hardley surprising as the public of Hale (which is in Cheshire anyway) wouldn't be seen dead in anything less than Armarni he also goes on to mention Stockport not stricly Manchester either but hey Old Trafford is in Trafford which isn't strictly Manchester anymore either so what is it Greater Manchester or Manchester, just to note as well my brother and all his friends are city fans.

[Stuart]

I'm a massive Man Utd fan (and I'm very passionate to, ho ho ho) and I, shock horror, wasn't born in Manchester, though I did spend a couple of years living there. I inherited my support from my mum and granddad who are both from the area - but believe it or not, in this day and age people actually move around! Yes, fancy that - people don't always stay living in the same city generation after generation, some follow their jobs around the country, or even the world.

Sure I have met Man Utd fans from outside Manchester who were somewhat clueless about the club, then again I've met Salford-born United fans who were just as clueless. And frankly, what does it matter if they can't name the United all-time 11 with players outside of the 90s/2000s? Supporting a team is an individual thing, and done for fun - it doesn't make you a bad person if you aren't up to date with the team, it just makes you a less knowledgeable supporter.

Some people still cling to the preposterous adage that football is more important than life and death. Those of us outside our teens, however, and with rewarding lives, have discovered that it is a thoroughly enjoyable pass-time, and good opportunity to get caught up in the emotions of the event and sing our throat sore - but it really is just a game.

As a side note, there are plenty of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham etc. fans who a) live away from the team and b) don't know much about football. It is more emphasised with Man Utd because they have so many fans, scattered across the globe. And some of those will make a darned sight more effort to see their team than some of those that chunter on about them not being 'real' fans.

[Gary Burns]

Honestly, this question belongs in your sister paper the Sun.

I agree with our Spanish friend, Robert. This obsessing over geographical support is a very English thing; and like most nationalistic stances it has no real basis in common sense. Yes, football support is a form of tribalism but all good tribes move around and garner support from across their borders.

Equally nonsensical is the quasi-elitism of the smaller club's fans. Those who fervently believe that because you've grown up supporting Manchester United or Arsenal and not Bury or Leyton Orient; you're somehow less important as a true fan.

If fans of any club, wherever they hail from, are to be judged at all it should be for their passion and knowledge of the game and nothing else.

[russell wing]

Who cares, i'm a united fan from peterborough, i have a season ticket at united, have been to watch every game for the last 3 seasons, how many fans from manchester can say they travel on a 250mile round trip to every game, answe none, if anything it makes us equally committed to the club. obviously not all the fans do this, that's why the atmosphere at OT is only good when the big games come around.

[lee in Manchester]

Gary Burns-It all depends on your definition of a "fan".I think what gets up supporters noses are all these armchair experts who smugly snipe at clubs and there fans who never actually physically "support" the team they profess to follow.Going to actually watch your team is my definition of being a supporter and not just going once a year when the travelling bandwagon happens to be playing near where you live.These armchair fans are getting very touchy about this subject and lets face it half of them still think Roy Keane is still in the side.

[Wenger's Bag of Harribo]

Slow news day is it?
Here's one for you do all City fans come from Stockport?
Or do all Liverpool fans come from Wrexham?
But never spoil a good story with the truth

[mike]

Everyone wants to be a United fan.