FENIX TROPHY FINALE, STADIO ROMEO NERI, RIMINI

FENIX TROPHY FINAL 8 WEEKEND:

GRAND FINAL - PRAGUE RAPTORS 0-2 FC UNITED of MANCHESTER

BRONZE MEDAL MATCH -AS LODIGIANI CALCIO 1-1 BRERA FC*

5th/6th PLAY-OFF - HFC FALKE 2-2 AKS ZŁY*

7th/8th PLAY-OFF - CD CUENCA MESTALLISTES 2-3 AFC DWS

* won on penalties 

ATTENDANCE: c500 

After heading to Milan for a group stage game in April, this weekend I was back in Italy as the inaugural Fenix Trophy reached it's grand finale.

The 'Final 8' took place at the Stadio Romeo Neri, the home of Rimini FC, and the format saw the two groups of teams play the other that finished in the respective position, concluding with group winners Prague Raptors and FC United of Manchester playing each other for the honour of lifting the trophy. Tickets were a very reasonable €10 for all four games and included a souvenir ticket and programme.

Host club Rimini FC are currently a Serie D side and have played at stadium since it's inauguration in 1930. The ground is named after Italian gymnast Romeo Neri, the first citizen of Rimini to participate in the Olympic Games in both 1928 (Amsterdam) and 1932 (Los Angeles). The ground has a capacity of around 9,500 but today only one side was in use and, thank goodness, it was the covered side as shelter from the sun was much needed.

Rimini were hosting the tournament by way of a tourist opportunity, using the opportunity to bring in fans from around Europe to this famous seaside resort. They certainly put on a good show.

I made my way to the Adriatic Coast on the Friday and, after my flight was delayed for around two hours, I arrived into Bologna very late in the evening. I didn't see the first game of the tournament on the Friday night, the all Italian affair between AS Lodigiani and Brera. That game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the team from Milan winning on penalties.

After my delayed arrival, meaning I didn't check in my hotel until 3am, I overslept on the Saturday morning so by the time I had gone for my walk along the beach and to grab a spot of lunch, I never arrived at the ground until the second half of the 7th place play-off off match. 

The team from Valencia, CD Cuenca Mestallistes, were winning 2-1 upon my arrival but at full time it was AFC DWS of Amsterdam who had turned it around and won the game 3-2.

The 5th place play-off pitted Hamburg side HFC Falke against AKS Zły from Warsaw. The sides played out a 2-2 draw before, in a shocking turn up for the books, the Germans lost on penalties. That's right a German team lost on penalties!

The main event between FC United and Prague Raptors kicked off slightly late, as yet another flight from Manchester was delayed, but luckily all the fans were inside the stadium to witness the Red Rebels become the only British team to lift European silverware this season.

First half goals courtesy of Ali Waddecar and Joe Duckworth ensured the Fenix Trophy would be heading to Broadhurst Park. The game was played at a pedestrian pace but that was understandable in the 28⁰c heat in Rimini and once United went 2-0 up there was no danger of them surrendering that advantage.

The atmosphere of whole day, and indeed tournament overall, was very convivial, as supporters mixed together in the stand, certainly living up to the Fenix Trophy's motto of "making friends not millionaires". I'm sure the beer from a local brewery that was on sale at the ground helped tremendously!

I would estimate there were between 500 and 600 fans in attendance, of which about 80% were United and around 15% were Falke. Hopefully the interest generated by the tournament will result in it's return next season. I'm sure the FC United, and their fans, would love the opportunity to defend their title.

Michael Potts lifts the Fenix Trophy after his final appearance for FC United. 

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FC UNITED of MANCHESTER (Broadhurst Park)

FA CUP 3rd QUALIFYING ROUND, FC UNITED of MANCHESTER 1-1 BUXTON, ATTENDANCE: 2,357

The second part of my weekend FA Cup double led to me to the Moston area of Manchester, where FCUM's brand new ground, Broadhurst Park, is located.

The story of the club set up in reaction to Malcolm Glazer taking over Manchester United is well documented (click here) so I won't bore you with the details but a decade after the club was set up, and after groundsharing at Bury's Gigg Lane, the red rebels finally have a place to call home.

Broadhurst Park is the first new ground to be built and funded by a supporter owned football club. I have to say I was hugely impressed. The ground cost £6.5m and funding came from a variety of sources, with FC United fans themselves raising £2 million from a Community Share Scheme and a further £1 million from other fundraising. The supporters truly putting their money where their mouths are.

The opening match was a friendly between FC United and Benfica on 29 May 2015. In the first ever competitive game at the ground though, in August 2015, Stockport County beat United 2-1. At the moment the 4,400 capacity ground is effectively two-sided, with the Lightbowne Road end and the North Stand flat standing (these parts of the ground will be developed in the future when funds allow).

The Main Stand has a mix of standing and seating whilst the large St Mary's Road terrace behind the goal was once the Dane Bank terrace at both of Northwich Victoria's old grounds, which FC United bought (with the blessing of the Northwich Supporters) when the Victoria Stadium was demolished in 2013.

The ground is easily reached by bus from Piccadilly and, as luck would have, the 81 bus to Moston Lane stops right outside the Marble Arch pub on Rochdale Road. It would have been incredibly rude not to pop in for a couple of halves!




A fellow groundhopper visited Broadhurst Park a few weeks ago and remarked that it was the closest he had come to a German football experience in England. After my visit I got exactly what he meant.

The entrance fee was £9, which is amongst the cheapest in the division, the beer was £2.60 a pint and there was bottle bar underneath the terrace, meaning there was time for a pint of Holt's at the interval, and there was a vast array of food on sale, but being a traditionalist I stuck to my pie, peas and gravy, despite the temptations of proper sausages and chilli.

Then there is the fans. I find the majority good natured and the banter/chanting is amusing. The banners are superb with lots of references to some of my favourite bands. The Megastall (a pun on 'big' United's Megastore) even has a fantastic champions t-shirt in the style of the New Order 'Substance' album cover. 

The aforementioned champions t-shirt refers to the Northern Premier League, which FC United won last season to reach the promised land of the Conference, sorry, National League North (this does beg the question that if they were ultimately to go up, what will happen regards the shifting of games for television?)

Today though was all about the FA Cup and the road to Wembley. FC United's best performance came in 2010 when, after beating Rochdale in the first round proper, the lost to Brighton & Hove Albion in the second round, after a replay

United were hosting Buxton, who my mate informed me are a bit of a bogey side for the reds, especially at home.

After FC United had dominated the first half they got sucker punched right on the stroke of half time when Warren Burrell gave Buxton the lead.

Despite the pressure being ramped up further in the second half, the Buxton defence held firm. With 11 minutes remaining Tom Greaves prodded the ball home to draw the reds level. It appeared that would be the point in which United went on to win.

When Buxton’s Glenn Belezika was shown a second yellow card for a foul and then almost immediately went down to nine men when Alistair Taylor limped off, after Buxton had used all their substitutes, United piled forward but still could not force a winner and Buxton managed to hold on for a lucrative, and I would say deserved, replay.


I stayed behind after the game and headed to the clubhouse at the top of the main stand where there was 'Broadhurst Park' real ale on sale (produced by Red Willow Brewery, it was top stuff) before catching the bus back to Piccadilly in order to get my train home. A most enjoyable way to spend a Sunday.

Supporters of HFC Falke had made the trip over
for today's game. Falke, based in Hamburg,
are another fans owned club

with thanks to Jim for the guided tour and information