MAN U VIEW: ROSS FROM THE FUTUREHEADS

Ahead of the Man United game we spoke to Ross Millard from Sunderland band, The Futureheads. With his old man coming from Manchester, Ross is a United fan, but has a massive soft spot for the Red & White Wizards and has a few good tales to tell…

Earliest memories supporting the club?

My earliest proper memories are of the FA Cup run in 1990, which led to a final (and replay) against Crystal Palace. The first game was too edgy for me at the time, and I have memories of hiding behind my nana and granddad’s sofa not wanting Utd to lose. I watched the midweek replay on a telly in my bedroom where Lee Martin scored an unlikely winner and set Fergie on his way, really.

Top five favourite players of all time?

Tough question but Cantona, Charlton, Best, Giggs, Ronaldo. 

Given the connection between the Futureheads and Sunderland, would it be easier to just support the Lads and go to the match with your mates?

Haha, well I grew up going to Roker Park with my pals, and loved standing at the bottom of the Fulwell End, but my dad is a Manc and I was just brought up on Man Utd. You can’t have two teams, and as much as I enjoy watching Sunderland even still now, I’ve been a season ticket holder at Old Trafford for 20 years and have been mad about them for not far off 40. I do miss having a big group of pals to go to away games with, though and the drive home from Old Trafford can be a pain in the arse sometimes, especially midweek matches if we’ve lost…

Tell us about your connection to Michael Gray, wasn’t he a neighbour of yours... who did he support as a youngster?

Yeah, Michael grew up in the house next door to mine in Castletown. His cousins lived down the street and I was really good mates with them because they’re a bit closer in age to me, really. I remember a big Jag pulling up at the front of their house every now and then when his agent was visiting in the early days, he also loved Man Utd from what I can remember and he was involved in their youth development set-up for a while if I remember correctly.

Would you rather play one minute for Manchester United at Old Trafford, or play Glastonbury with the Futureheads?

Well, I’ve done Glasto a fair few times now so I’d have to say Utd really wouldn’t I

Do you have a soft spot for SAFC? Are they your 'second team'?

Oh yeah, definitely. When the club starting using ‘Beginning of the Twist’ in the pre-match music, we were all buzzing and that was a really proud moment. Like I say, I did grow up going to a lot of matches at Roker Park and SoL. The Poznan thing at the end of the 2012 season didn’t feel great (me and my dad were in the ground for that) but football is full of stuff like that. You couldn’t have scripted the way that season would’ve ended, really…

Do you dislike Newcastle United?

I think all state-owned clubs are bad for football and I think any independent regulator will be shutting the door after the horse has bolted now, to be honest. I’m glad the derby is back, and I’ll be hoping the Red and White Wizards do the business in both games, let’s just say that.

What have you made to Sunderland's start to the season?

They’ve started really well haven’t they? Lots of incomings, which can be risky sometimes, but the manager really seems to have a good grip on the team and knows what he’s doing. If they can stay in the league that’ll be the main achievement, but given the way they’ve started they’re already on their way to that. Obviously given Utd have started poorly, the game on Saturday feels a bit in the balance. Sunderland always have amazing away support so I think it’ll be a difficult game for Utd.

Is it true that you have a hand-written letter from Sir Alex Ferguson framed in your house?

Ha! Yes, well a certain editor of ALS got me that! A 30th birthday letter from the big man! It’s currently on the wall in the loft where I do my home recording etc. I’ve got a load of old Utd stuff up there (a shrine to good old days, you might say)…

What's gone wrong (and continues to go wrong) for Manchester United since Fergie left in 2013?

I think they’ve struggled to get up to date with how football is played and run behind the scenes. Fergie was such a huge figure, who had control over every aspect of the club with David Gill, when they both left there was just a huge vacuum that no manager has since been able to fill. I think the weight of expectation weighs too heavily for most players, which is why good players sign for the club and then seem to get worse. The manager always ends up being the fall guy, but I think it’s something much bigger than that. You saw Liverpool go through it for years and years, and it’s not an easy thing to recover from, seemingly.

What are your hopes and expectations for this season?

Well, I was hoping for top four at the start of the season but I’ve already had to reevaluate that. I think seeing the manager turn results around would be the best thing that could happen to us this season. I have no appetite for another manager. It’s just rinse and repeat and I like Amorim. I have faith that he can get it right if given time but I appreciate the results have been so bad that he might not get the chance… Top eight would probably be realistic at this point in time, unless things get much better (or much worse)…

Who is United's best player currently?

Bruno Fernandes, of course. Although Amad definitely give him a run for his money last season...

How do you think this game will go?

Usually in these games Utd start brightly then fade so it depends if they score early or not. If they do, then I can see them winning them game 2-1 or something. If not, then it could go the other way and Sunderland could nick it. You never really know what you’re going to get and every game I’m hoping it’ll be the one where things start to change for the better. That’s life as a football fan though, isn’t it?

The Futureheads have a new album out with a Xmas theme and play some December shows in the metropolis of Sunderland and smaller cities like London and Glasgow too, to promote it. Ticket link here