• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Manchester Football

A website about football in Manchester

You are here: Home / North West / FC United entertain Benfica in opening game at Broadhurst Park

FC United entertain Benfica in opening game at Broadhurst Park

May 29, 2015 by Tony Bugby

FC UNITED 0, SL BENFICA  B 1

It was a night of celebration for FC United as the non-league team officially opened their new £6.5million Broadhurst Park ground with a visit of Portuguese giants Benfica.

Ten years after the formation of the Rebels, formed by Manchester United fans disillusioned with the Glazer family regime at Old Trafford, the club finally found a home in the city.

After a nomadic existence at places like Bury, Stalybridge and Ashton, it was a case of the club coming home to Moston to a 5,000 capacity stadium.

And it is very much a fan-owned club as the 4,217 members all have a say in the running of the club. It is their club with supporters raising £2.8m towards the new ground.

The opening of the new ground was perfectly timed as it coincided with the club’s fourth promotion in its short history as a crowd of 4,232 gathered for the momentous occasion.

They have risen from the first division of the North West Counties League to Vanarama Conference North, only two promotions from a place in the Football League which is their ultimate goal.

And it was also fitting that Benfica, another fan-owned club, should provide the opposition for the opening match. They also were the opponents Manchester United overcame in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley.

But the Portuguese side failed to read the script as they won 1-0 through a late goal from Diogo Goncalves.

Benfica came within inches of taking an early lead when defender Vitalii Lystcov headed against the crossbar from a corner.

Tom Greaves ought to have scored FC United’s first goal at their new home when Tom Greaves burst clean through and rounded keeper Miguel Santos only to delay his shot as Lystcov made a vital block.

The second half saw Callum Byrne forced a good save from substitute keeper Thierry Graca while for Benfica replacement Hildeberto Pereira fired into the side netting when clean through while Goncalves saw his goalbound effort headed off the line by Scott Cheetham.

And it was the dangerous Goncalves who broke the deadlock with nine minutes left with a low shot past former Manchester United keeper Nick Culkin who had just replaced David Carnell.

Filed Under: North West Tagged With: Benfica, Broadhurst Park, FC United

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Altrincham
  • Ashton United
  • Curzon Ashton
  • Europe
  • FA Cup
  • Hyde United
  • International
  • League Cup
  • Manchester City
  • Manchester City Women
  • Manchester United
  • Manchester United Women
  • Match Report
  • Melbourne City FC
  • Mossley
  • New York City FC
  • Non League
  • North West
  • Oldham Athletic
  • Premier League
  • Salford City
  • Stockport County
  • Stretford Paddock
  • UEFA Champions League
  • Uncategorized

Manchester Football

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

RSS Manchesterfootball Youtube

  • Pep's Man City snubbed by Julia Roberts who went to see Man Utd instead
    manchesterfootball
  • Man City vs RB Leipzig Lightshow and booing of Champions League anthem Tuesday March 14 2023 4K
    manchesterfootball
  • When Julia Roberts came to Manchester she went to see United! - Pep on Erling Haaland's 5 goals
    manchesterfootball

RSS BBC Football News

  • Man Utd takeover latest: Sheikh Jassim also submits second bid after Sir Jim Ratcliffe March 25, 2023
    Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim joins Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in submitting a second bid to buy Manchester United.
  • Everton: Premier League refers club to independent commission over alleged breach of financial rules March 24, 2023
    Everton have been referred to an independent commission by the Premier League over an alleged breach of its profitability and sustainability rules.
  • Mykhailo Mudryk: Chelsea must be patient with Ukraine striker, says Andriy Shevchenko March 24, 2023
    Chelsea must be patient with winger Mykhailo Mudryk and see how he performs over the long term, says former Blues striker Andriy Shevchenko.
  • Police speak to Premier League player about a further alleged sexual offence March 24, 2023
    A Premier League footballer facing two rape allegations has been interviewed by police about a further alleged sexual offence involving a third woman.

Search Manchester Football

Copyright © 2023 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in