When you’re single and seeking romance, one thing you’ll need to prepare for is meeting an enthusiastic fan. After all, football is the world’s top spectator sport. Manchester United have just won the 2024 FA Cup Final, beating arch-rivals (and favourites, Premier League champions, Manchester City) 2-1. In the UK, 9.1 million viewers tuned in to the captivating game on BBC1, making it the most-watched match of the season. So, if you’re on the lookout for a prospective partner, statistically, you might well bump into a Man U supporter! The question is, what changes would you have to make once you start dating them?
Finding a ‘Red’
First things first. Before we take a closer look into this issue, where are the best places to get to know potential dates? Just like any other singles, football-obsessed fans can be found anywhere. But increasing numbers of them are going online to connect. Just as trips to Old Trafford can be an important aspect of a United supporter’s weekend, Saturday night often becomes date night. What better way to look for local one night stands than checking out a website dedicated to arranging these? A romantic liaison can be arranged as quickly and efficiently as if you were checking out the squad for Manchester United's next match! With profiles to browse through, singles can get chatting to a diverse range of people without even having to leave home.
Demonstrate you’re a red at heart!
An important building block to any relationship is discovering common ground. When you’re getting to know someone better, your initial conversations should focus on this exciting aspect. Find out all about each other’s likes and interests. Here’s a terrific tip for creating this impression. Casually enter into the chat, ‘Who’s your favourite number 7? How do you think Mason Mount compares to the legends who’ve worn this iconic shirt? How does he rate against Eric Cantona? George Best? Cristiano Ronaldo? Bryan Robson?’ These are all heroes to United fans. Pop onto YouTube to catch them in action. There's a famous clip of David Beckham scoring against Wimbledon – from the halfway line! He was wearing number 10 at that time, but when Cantona left, manager, Sir Alex Ferguson honoured his star young player by giving him the number 7. What better way to capture a red devil’s heart than showing you’ve brushed up on his team’s background?
Building chemistry
Once you do meet someone who causes your heart to skip a beat, you’ll find it easy to develop a rapport. Whether you text each other, chat over the phone, or perhaps indulge in a spot of video-chatting, the more you talk about Man U, the greater your bond will grow. Even if you're not actually that keen on football, you'll most likely be amazed at how quickly you can get into this sport. What's not to like? When Old Trafford is at capacity for big matches against the club's rivals – City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal – 74,310 spectators can be crammed inside. Imagine that atmosphere. On the pitch, manager Erik ten Hag will be urging Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Ratchford, Bruno Fernandes, and Harry Maguire, onwards to three points. Refreshments will be on hand for halftime, with a selection of fine drinks and snacks available to keep fans satisfied – especially those who're also on a hot date. If you can't get a ticket for the game (and these can sometimes be like gold dust) then there are numerous sports bars where you can relish the excitement on large screens. Enjoying the match in these settings is often just as enthralling as the live experience. Again, while watching the Reds in action, you can choose from a wide selection of beers, wines, cocktails, or soft drinks if you prefer; washing down tasty pub grub.
The do’s and don’t’s of dating a Man U fan
Finally, a note of caution. Your dating experience will be vastly improved if you pay attention to some straightforward rules! If you're a 'neutral' when it comes to football, just join in the partisan fun when your partner is shouting for his team. Never accidentally cheer a goal by an opponent, especially if United are playing Man City or Liverpool. But it might be worth trying to suggest alternatives to football when it comes to leisure pursuits. Instead of being glued to Match of the Day on Saturday night to watch re-runs of the day's action, how about leaving tempting dinner menus lying around? Your partner might well be up for a visit to a restaurant. Maybe followed by a night, in front of Netflix? Variety will spice up any relationship. But if he insists his movie choice is Busby, United, or The Class of '92, just go with the flow! |
