For those who don't know, the VFC (vocal fans campaign) is run by top red, Gez (some of you may have seen him leading the singing outside the Munich memorial earlier this season), and is conerned with getting all the singers into the stretty and the non-singers relocated elsewhere. Gary Neville is the club patron, top man 
Interview with Gary Neville for the VFC 23 April 2002.
Back in November, Gary made his famous message to the fans to "Sing when we're winning, sing louder when we are drawing and sing your loudest if we are losing". In response the VFC wrote to invite Gary to be the VFC President. He accepted and a series of conversations and messages to Neville Neville finally resulted in Gary's offer to do a live interview at the Carrington training ground. The efficient and very personable Diana Law made the arrangements.
Plan 2 was an interview on Tuesday morning after Plan 1 was scuppered as Gary had to go for a scan on a knock received at Chelsea. Tuesday was knocked slightly off track by a pile up on the M60 that delayed Gary. Diana directed me to the pressroom, which was set up for a TV interview with Sir Alex, so I could get coffee and left me to peruse the papers. They have all of them, though the Daily Mail was notably absent.
Carrington is discretely set down a long single -track lane, following the signs for the riding centre. The lane is edged with robust concrete blocks but has passing places to allow 2-way traffic. Access is controlled by SPS security at the bottom of the lane and again as you enter the gates but fans can gain access on Saturday mornings to watch the U19s or U17s play.
The scan had shown no cause for concern so the interview started on a bright note, using the questions posed by VFC members as the basis for the interview.
Gary is what a supporter would want him to be and everything a footballer is not supposed to be. He is clearly a red through and through who wants to be in a team that plays the way he wanted United to be when he watched from K stand. Despite the popular image of players he is unassuming and eloquent. He watched United when we didn’t win anything and his heroes were, as you would imagine, Robbo and Norman because they "gave it everything every match. There wasn't enough of that in the team at that time and 'you need it that attitude to win."
Gary cites the 94 team as one that embodied that necessary fighting spirit, a team full of leaders, Schmeichel, Bruce, Pallister, Ince, Robbo, Hughes, Cantona, Keane and the rest. He sees that team as a vital inspiration to the academy players like him were just about to break into the team. He likes the stability of United over recent years where the core of the team remains and is enhanced by additions rather than completely rebuilt.
The team concerns about change of manager were overstated though he is delighted that Fergie has stayed. Quote "he knows about all team, the players, the club .. he knows everything about everything and we are learning from him all the time.'
Delight in other's talents comes across very strongly and when the conversation moved onto Mikael Silvestre he clearly delights in the man's talent and feels he will be "the best left back in Europe." We strayed onto the negative aspect of fan reactions and he mentioned a number of incidents he didn’t want to be quoted on but where most supporters would wholly endorse his view. He stated the basic truth that 'it does no-one any good to be booed. A sentiment that would be endorsed and supported in Stretty2 especially in sight and sound of 'Moses'.
On atmosphere Gary has noticed the improvement in the last 2 seasons, especially this one, led by the new Stretty2. The team is appreciative of how the supporters have supported the team during disappointing results. Gary particularly mentioned the West Ham match especially since it followed the defeat by Chelsea.
On away grounds there is always special interest when United are in town but the most impressive crowds are Sunderland and Newcastle where the noise as the teams emerge from the tunnel is especially impressive. Abroad, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are clear winners, with the noise, flags flares and the tension in the air despite them being open air stadia with 30-40,000 fans.
One extra match element Gary likes are individual flags and banners and the crowd card pictures used in Europe, so Big Lilly will be appreciated on Wednesday.
Gary thought the atmosphere at the Deportivo match was particularly brilliant and said it was particularly nice for the players to give the supporters a big match spectacle, once they knew it was won.
Though players don’t always particularly notice the crowd as they are focussed on the job in hand it obviously does have its effect and he had noticed with relish that Chelsea were berating their own. Midday kick offs are seen as a major benefit for away matches as the crowd are "still a little bit in bed" but for home matches the team love evening kick offs as they bring the best atmosphere.
Special mention went to the Stretty2 banners organised by Charlie Bannerman and the United away support got deserved praise as being consistently "top-notch" ,and Gary recognises that there is a core of 'Rome to Mandalays who are always there wherever United play.
The away crowd brought the mention of a favourite song and the Larry White song at Leicester got a laugh. It has been explained to Laurent and he has become Larry White in the dressing room.
The internet is not a part of Gary's life so he hasn't looked at any of the web-sites. The team members do browse through the fanzines but Gary was diplomatic in not picking a favourite, "they all have their funny moments."
We had covered most points when Gary had to head off for training but there was still time for me to present him with a VFC badge and take a photo. "Can I keep it", of course!
Gary Neville is a red. A 'K' stander. ….. Playing and supporting the United way.
Interview with Gary Neville for the VFC 23 April 2002.
Back in November, Gary made his famous message to the fans to "Sing when we're winning, sing louder when we are drawing and sing your loudest if we are losing". In response the VFC wrote to invite Gary to be the VFC President. He accepted and a series of conversations and messages to Neville Neville finally resulted in Gary's offer to do a live interview at the Carrington training ground. The efficient and very personable Diana Law made the arrangements.
Plan 2 was an interview on Tuesday morning after Plan 1 was scuppered as Gary had to go for a scan on a knock received at Chelsea. Tuesday was knocked slightly off track by a pile up on the M60 that delayed Gary. Diana directed me to the pressroom, which was set up for a TV interview with Sir Alex, so I could get coffee and left me to peruse the papers. They have all of them, though the Daily Mail was notably absent.
Carrington is discretely set down a long single -track lane, following the signs for the riding centre. The lane is edged with robust concrete blocks but has passing places to allow 2-way traffic. Access is controlled by SPS security at the bottom of the lane and again as you enter the gates but fans can gain access on Saturday mornings to watch the U19s or U17s play.
The scan had shown no cause for concern so the interview started on a bright note, using the questions posed by VFC members as the basis for the interview.
Gary is what a supporter would want him to be and everything a footballer is not supposed to be. He is clearly a red through and through who wants to be in a team that plays the way he wanted United to be when he watched from K stand. Despite the popular image of players he is unassuming and eloquent. He watched United when we didn’t win anything and his heroes were, as you would imagine, Robbo and Norman because they "gave it everything every match. There wasn't enough of that in the team at that time and 'you need it that attitude to win."
Gary cites the 94 team as one that embodied that necessary fighting spirit, a team full of leaders, Schmeichel, Bruce, Pallister, Ince, Robbo, Hughes, Cantona, Keane and the rest. He sees that team as a vital inspiration to the academy players like him were just about to break into the team. He likes the stability of United over recent years where the core of the team remains and is enhanced by additions rather than completely rebuilt.
The team concerns about change of manager were overstated though he is delighted that Fergie has stayed. Quote "he knows about all team, the players, the club .. he knows everything about everything and we are learning from him all the time.'
Delight in other's talents comes across very strongly and when the conversation moved onto Mikael Silvestre he clearly delights in the man's talent and feels he will be "the best left back in Europe." We strayed onto the negative aspect of fan reactions and he mentioned a number of incidents he didn’t want to be quoted on but where most supporters would wholly endorse his view. He stated the basic truth that 'it does no-one any good to be booed. A sentiment that would be endorsed and supported in Stretty2 especially in sight and sound of 'Moses'.
On atmosphere Gary has noticed the improvement in the last 2 seasons, especially this one, led by the new Stretty2. The team is appreciative of how the supporters have supported the team during disappointing results. Gary particularly mentioned the West Ham match especially since it followed the defeat by Chelsea.
On away grounds there is always special interest when United are in town but the most impressive crowds are Sunderland and Newcastle where the noise as the teams emerge from the tunnel is especially impressive. Abroad, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are clear winners, with the noise, flags flares and the tension in the air despite them being open air stadia with 30-40,000 fans.
One extra match element Gary likes are individual flags and banners and the crowd card pictures used in Europe, so Big Lilly will be appreciated on Wednesday.
Gary thought the atmosphere at the Deportivo match was particularly brilliant and said it was particularly nice for the players to give the supporters a big match spectacle, once they knew it was won.
Though players don’t always particularly notice the crowd as they are focussed on the job in hand it obviously does have its effect and he had noticed with relish that Chelsea were berating their own. Midday kick offs are seen as a major benefit for away matches as the crowd are "still a little bit in bed" but for home matches the team love evening kick offs as they bring the best atmosphere.
Special mention went to the Stretty2 banners organised by Charlie Bannerman and the United away support got deserved praise as being consistently "top-notch" ,and Gary recognises that there is a core of 'Rome to Mandalays who are always there wherever United play.
The away crowd brought the mention of a favourite song and the Larry White song at Leicester got a laugh. It has been explained to Laurent and he has become Larry White in the dressing room.
The internet is not a part of Gary's life so he hasn't looked at any of the web-sites. The team members do browse through the fanzines but Gary was diplomatic in not picking a favourite, "they all have their funny moments."
We had covered most points when Gary had to head off for training but there was still time for me to present him with a VFC badge and take a photo. "Can I keep it", of course!
Gary Neville is a red. A 'K' stander. ….. Playing and supporting the United way.