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FC UNITED GALA DINNER - Friday 19th May

FC UNITED GALA DINNER - Friday 19th MayFC United are hosting its third Gala Dinner at the Midland Hotel in Manchester on Friday 19th May 2017 in support of the Club’s Development Fund - With guest speakers Tommy Docherty, Gordon McQueen, Sammy McIlroy - Compered by Mick Ferry and Terry Christian with Poet Tony Walsh and DJ Dave Haslam - Tickets are selling fast so please buy your tickets at the earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.



GALA DINNER – Friday 19th May 2017

FC United will be hosting its third Gala Dinner at the Midland Hotel in Manchester on Friday 19th May 2017 (6.30pm – 1am) in support of the club’s Development Fund.

As of 24th April, over 30 tables have now been sold for the event. A limited number of tables still remain, so if you are intending to attend the Gala Dinner, please buy your tickets at the earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

Billed as “a wholly Mancunian fundraiser??? the event will feature talented local performers from the worlds of comedy, music, television, radio and poetry and three main speakers who all wore the red shirt of Manchester United with distinction. Hosts for the evening will be the comedian and actor Mick Ferry and broadcaster and writer Terry Christian. Both are no strangers to FC with Mick having compered our second Gala Dinner in 2012 and Terry visited Broadhurst Park last October to speak at a recent Course You Can Malcolm event.

We’re also privileged to welcome local performance poet Tony Walsh (aka Longfella) and the legendary Hacienda DJ Dave Haslam will be spinning some discs.
The event will be a formal do* and will include a three course meal.



**UPDATE – 24th April 2017**

Due to circumstances beyond our control, Dwight Yorke, who had originally agreed to speak at the event, is no longer able to do so. In his place we are delighted to welcome former United Manager Tommy Docherty as one of our guest speakers alongside former United players Sammy McIlroy and Gordon McQueen.



Tommy Docherty commonly known as "The Doc" was manager of Manchester United between 1972 and 1977. The Doc joined United as Manager in December 1972 and his reputation immediately endeared him to the United faithful. Taking over an ageing squad he managed to avoid relegation from the First Division in 1972–73, however, the 1973–74 season saw United continue to struggle and they were eventually relegated.

In the following season, with thrilling and attacking football, United returned to the top flight as Second Division champions. In 1975–76 United finished in third place in the First Division and also reached the 1976 FA Cup Final losing to 1–0 to Southampton.

Docherty led United to the FA Cup final again in 1977, this time as underdogs against Liverpool. United won 2–1, denying Liverpool the second trophy of a possible treble of League, FA Cup and European Cup.


Joining Tommy Docherty at our Gala Dinner are former United players Sammy McIlroy and Gordon McQueen.

Sammy McIlroy was Matt Busby’s last signing as manager of United, and played under the Doc throughout the seventies, making over three hundred appearances for the Reds between 1971 and 1982 including an FA Cup winners medal in 1977. And centre back Gordon McQueen was also an FA Cup winner with United in 1983 having joined the club from Leeds in 1978, famously declaring that “99% of players want to play for Manchester United and the rest are liars???.

The two previous FC United Gala Dinners raised a combined total of £40k and we’re anticipating that this event will be a similar success. More than two hundred people attended the first Gala Dinner in March 2011 at the Museum of Science and Industry which was hosted by the comedian Justin Moorhouse with ex-United players Martin Buchan and Wilf McGuiness speaking. The second one took place in September 2012 at the newly opened National Football Museum in town and was also hosted by Mick Ferry.

Prices for a table of ten people are £1,300 inclusive of VAT with individual tickets available at £150 including VAT.

Tickets can be bought via the FCUMShop (see links below) or by contacting Ruth Slater by email at ruthslater@fc-utd.co.uk or by telephone at 0161 769 2005

BuySingle Tickets


BuyTable of 10


*The dress code for the night is lounge suits


This event is an important fundraiser and part of a range of different events and initiatives that are helping to generate the funds to develop our home at Broadhurst Park, a ground that in less than a couple of seasons has already witnessed, in true United fashion and in the spirit of ’79 and ‘99, its fair share of dramatic comebacks and thrilling late goals. So get yourself to that hotel or football ground and enjoy these nights out.



First Posted ~ 16:45 Mon 24 Apr 2017
News ID ~ 7423
Last Updated ~ 13:57 Thu 2 Jun 2022