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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fans' City taunt banner to return at Old Trafford | Fans' City taunt banner to return at Old Trafford |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Manchester City's long-suffering fans waited 35 years to get the monkey off their back. | Manchester City's long-suffering fans waited 35 years to get the monkey off their back. |
| But, just when they thought it was all over, it's revealed that United's infamous "ticker banner" is to taunt them one final time. | |
| Having mocked City's lack of silverware for more than a decade, the "35 years" banner disappeared following City's FA Cup win - much to the delight of Blues fans. | Having mocked City's lack of silverware for more than a decade, the "35 years" banner disappeared following City's FA Cup win - much to the delight of Blues fans. |
| But Stretford End Flags, the independent supporters' group behind the banner, have said United fans will have the last laugh when it returns for the final game of the season. | But Stretford End Flags, the independent supporters' group behind the banner, have said United fans will have the last laugh when it returns for the final game of the season. |
| Spokesman Andrew Kilduff said: "The banner's going back up in some form or another for the Blackpool game. | Spokesman Andrew Kilduff said: "The banner's going back up in some form or another for the Blackpool game. |
| "What goes up is open to interpretation - it's going to be the same banner but it will just have something else on it," he said secretively. | "What goes up is open to interpretation - it's going to be the same banner but it will just have something else on it," he said secretively. |
| "We've had suggestions to turn it to 43 which is how long since City last won the league. | "We've had suggestions to turn it to 43 which is how long since City last won the league. |
| "But if we do that it would just give City the motivation to win it again - and it would look a bit petty really." | "But if we do that it would just give City the motivation to win it again - and it would look a bit petty really." |
| 'Screaming supporters' | |
| Focus on the banner has grown since Manchester City's sale in 2008 to billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour and its move into the higher echelons of the Premier League. | Focus on the banner has grown since Manchester City's sale in 2008 to billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour and its move into the higher echelons of the Premier League. |
| Their manager Roberto Mancini was aware of its significance, urging his players to "take off this banner" in the build-up to the Wembley final. | Their manager Roberto Mancini was aware of its significance, urging his players to "take off this banner" in the build-up to the Wembley final. |
| At the final whistle, exultant City players even unfurled their own ticker banner on the Wembley pitch, reset to "00". | At the final whistle, exultant City players even unfurled their own ticker banner on the Wembley pitch, reset to "00". |
| "It clearly struck a nerve," said Mr Kilduff, 35, from Runcorn. | "It clearly struck a nerve," said Mr Kilduff, 35, from Runcorn. |
| "There were City fans outside Wembley screaming into the TV cameras, calling for it to come down. | "There were City fans outside Wembley screaming into the TV cameras, calling for it to come down. |
| "To me if you're in the FA Cup Final, you've won the cup. It's not about taking a banner down at a rival football ground." | "To me if you're in the FA Cup Final, you've won the cup. It's not about taking a banner down at a rival football ground." |
| But, after a decade of winding up their Manchester rivals, are United fans disappointed the joke's over? | But, after a decade of winding up their Manchester rivals, are United fans disappointed the joke's over? |
| "To be honest, it didn't bother us because my focus was on Manchester United winning the 19th title," said Mr Kilduff. | "To be honest, it didn't bother us because my focus was on Manchester United winning the 19th title," said Mr Kilduff. |
| "That's more important than anything because the rivalry with Liverpool [over the number of titles] was always bigger than that." | "That's more important than anything because the rivalry with Liverpool [over the number of titles] was always bigger than that." |
| Museum piece | Museum piece |
| According to Mr Kilduff, the banner was conceived in the early 1990s by Manchester United's away fans who wanted to taunt City fans over their lack of success. | According to Mr Kilduff, the banner was conceived in the early 1990s by Manchester United's away fans who wanted to taunt City fans over their lack of success. |
| In 2000, a United fan had the first ticker banner made up which he displayed on the Stretford End before turning his back on the club in 2005 following the Glazer takeover - and taking his banner with him. | In 2000, a United fan had the first ticker banner made up which he displayed on the Stretford End before turning his back on the club in 2005 following the Glazer takeover - and taking his banner with him. |
| Soon after, Stretford End Flags was formed to create eye-catching banners and crowd mosaic displays at Old Trafford. | Soon after, Stretford End Flags was formed to create eye-catching banners and crowd mosaic displays at Old Trafford. |
| "We were inundated with fans' requests asking if it could go back up," he said. "So we actually got it remade and it's been up there ever since." | "We were inundated with fans' requests asking if it could go back up," he said. "So we actually got it remade and it's been up there ever since." |
| A mock-up of the banner was even taken to the City of Manchester stadium on 28 February this year - the 35th anniversary of City's League Cup win in 1976. | A mock-up of the banner was even taken to the City of Manchester stadium on 28 February this year - the 35th anniversary of City's League Cup win in 1976. |
| According to Mr Kilduff, the banner may now have a future in the new National Football Museum, due to open in Manchester in 2012. | According to Mr Kilduff, the banner may now have a future in the new National Football Museum, due to open in Manchester in 2012. |
| "We've been in touch with them about using it in a display about football rivalry which is probably the right place for it now," he said. | "We've been in touch with them about using it in a display about football rivalry which is probably the right place for it now," he said. |
| "It's a tiny banner which is about a tenth of the size of banners we put up on the Stretford End. | "It's a tiny banner which is about a tenth of the size of banners we put up on the Stretford End. |
| "We've got huge banners of Ryan Giggs, George Best, Sir Matt Busby. And we're looking for ideas for a new banner to mark the 19th title. | "We've got huge banners of Ryan Giggs, George Best, Sir Matt Busby. And we're looking for ideas for a new banner to mark the 19th title. |
| "To be honest, that's what it's all about - the history and tradition of Manchester United. | "To be honest, that's what it's all about - the history and tradition of Manchester United. |
| "Now the ticker's gone, we can focus on that." | "Now the ticker's gone, we can focus on that." |