Why do the Irish flock to Man Utd?

[Catfish]

I am just curious. It seems that Man Utd are England's club and wanted to know why tons of Irishmen in Ireland and the USA love UTD????

Is it the same in Northern Ireland? Or are the different Irishmen like different clubs?

I'm part Irish and English...the Irish that came here were original Orangemen from the North and also catholics....very confusing...never know if I'm Scots-Irish, English or Irish.....ARGH!!!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

[Lancashire Lad]

One of my best friends is from Belfast. He is protestant and refers to himself as scotch-Irish. Orangemen are protestant.

United have had a lot of players both from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland. For example Republic - Kevin Moran, McGrath, Keane, O'Shea
Northern Ireland - George Best, Norman Whiteside.

[Father Ted]

Tradition. Going back through the years, Manchester United has had a lot of Irish players (off the top of my head):

Liam Whelan
Johnny Giles
Shay Brennan
Gerry Daley
Frank Stapleton
Kevin Moran
Paul McGrath
Tony Dunne
Noel Cantwell
Jackie Carey
Ashley Grimes
Liam O'Brien
Frank O'Farrell
Paddy Roche
John O'Shea
Roy Keane
Denis Irwin

and for Northern Ireland:
George Best
Norman Whiteside
Sammy Nelson
Sammy McIlroy
Keith Gillespie
Jackie Blancheflower
Roy Carroll

[OPArsenal]

As a fan of the Irish Nats, I like how you put Keane-o at the bottom of the list. Nice touch. Or maybe you were just not thinking of him until then. I dunno.

Rein mais le Quad!

OPArsenal

[patrickm]

for many reasons i am sure, but the fact that united are a non london/southern club must have something to do with it. london being the political center of britain, etc.

[Desigol]

Originally posted by Father Ted
Tradition. Going back through the years, Manchester United has had a lot of Irish players (off the top of my head):

Liam Whelan
Johnny Giles
Shay Brennan
Gerry Daley
Frank Stapleton
Kevin Moran
Paul McGrath
Tony Dunne
Noel Cantwell
Jackie Carey
Ashley Grimes
Liam O'Brien
Frank O'Farrell
Paddy Roche
John O'Shea
Roy Keane
Denis Irwin

and for Northern Ireland:
George Best
Norman Whiteside
Sammy Nelson
Sammy McIlroy
Keith Gillespie
Jackie Blancheflower
Roy Carroll

David Healy and Colin Murdock were also products of the United youth system before going to Preston.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally posted by patrickm
for many reasons i am sure, but the fact that united are a non london/southern club must have something to do with it. london being the political center of britain, etc.

I am not sure thats the case. London clubs have had a lot of Irish players. London also has a large immigrant community.

The Lancashire has and still is a gateway to England from Ireland. I am not sure on the numbers but there are a lot people who have some Irish blood. Success and famous Irish players help.

[Father Ted]

Originally posted by OPArsenal
As a fan of the Irish Nats, I like how you put Keane-o at the bottom of the list. Nice touch. Or maybe you were just not thinking of him until then. I dunno.

Rein mais le Quad!

OPArsenal

No particular reason really...but my opinion of Keane as a person went down after he bailed out on his country not once but twice, making up lies, being inconsistant and skirting the issues in the process.

[benine]

Originally posted by Father Ted
No particular reason really...but my opinion of Keane as a person went down after he bailed out on his country not once but twice, making up lies, being inconsistant and skirting the issues in the process.


Traits only excusable if of Parisian decent, eh? ;)