FCUM Radio is proud to announce the launching of a brand new arts and cultural show exclusive to this station.  The show is called Inside Manchester and will be on the air throughout the summer every day of the working week at 12.30 , 15.30 and 21.00, it will also feature as a Podcast.  

Each week you can join host Mugabi Turya, who will be lifting the lid on this fair city of ours with those people who make this place what it is.  In the first edition this week, its an Inside Manchester Zine Special, with particular focus on The Salford Zine Library, The Shrieking Violet publication, The Colouring Box, and Lottie Smith.  We’ll be hearing from all of these lovely people during this week’s show.

Inside Manchester is yet another huge stride forward for FCUM Radio and we’re very pleased to welcome Mugabi to the radio fold.

A little over 2 years ago, Ben and I started the process of putting together a schedule for FCUM Radio. The early days were filled with a day’s schedule which repeated through the working week. From there, we launched the full 7 day schedule that we all now know and love. But it is safe to say that without the early day heroes coming on board to participate in the station, it may well have died before getting off the ground. One of those heroes was Stuart James and his show was The Roost.

Stuart James was one of the first.

Remember the knife guy from the Magnificent Seven? He’s that cool but his name is easier to remember.

Stuart has hosted the Roost since the beginning of 2010, undertaking an ambitious raspy nasty blues show balanced with FC club news and has embraced the notion of home made radio. He’s been a vocal member of the FCUM Radio group which has always been appreciated, whether it be looking for sponsorship opportunities, plugging on Twitter or seeking bands for a FCUM Radio Proms night.

Without the Roost we ain’t got chickens. And without the chickens, we ain’t got eggs. As one of the hosts of the Shindig Breakfast Show I can assure listeners that we will be seeking out another egg provider and yes they will be free range. However, you should also understand that the eggs, in this situation, are metaphorical – as are the chickens for that matter.

Seriously though, I love music and through Stuart’s show I have heard so many more artists than I would have previously. He’s introduced me to a genre that I had never previously explored and all credit to him for that. His passion for FC and for FCUM Radio has had an impact on me and while I wish him the best I hope he comes back soon.

Tune in this Saturday night for the final episode of The Roost. Only on FCUM Radio – 8pm.

Thanks Stuart and good luck.

FC Live Special - Neil Thomason Memorial Cup Final

Sunday was a very busy day for FC United, and as a result, FCUM Radio as well.  Not only were the FC Live team busy over in Bradford covering the Play Off Final match, but FCUM Radio also had a team over at Moor Lane in Salford, to bring you coverage of the first of three cup finals for the FC United Youth side this season.

The match was the final of the Neil Thomason Memorial Cup, competed for by those teams in the top tier of the North West Youth Alliance League, and featured a feisty game of football between FC United of Manchester and Warrington Town.

FCUM Radio will be presenting an FC Live Special of this match, every day this week at 4pm.

The final This Club Is My Club for the season is now ready for your listening pleasure.

In this week’s show we review the big one, the play off final between FC United and Bradford Park Avenue, including an interview with Karl Marginson. We take a look at the issues surrounding the rearranging of this fixture with FC United General Manager Andy Walsh. And we also have a full review of the first of three cup finals for the FC United Youth Side, as they took on Warrington Town in the Neil Thomason Cup Final.

This Club Is My Club
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 
12.30 – 15.30 – 21.00 

Only at http://www.fcumradio.co.uk

Thanks

Clearly there have been a number of significant issues which have now clouded this weekend’s fixture thanks to this week’s events, from a total disregard of supporter’s interests by those in authority, to a breakdown of effective communication within the club itself.  All of which has meant that the football on the pitch has unfortunately been overtaken now by other factors.

Following the news on Wednesday that Saturday’s Play Off Final was to be rearranged to Sunday at short notice.  Discussions took place internally between the FC Live team as to how best to proceed with this change of kick off time, and whether or not this should, or indeed would, affect FCUM Radio’s coverage of the Play Off Final this weekend.

Following these discussions, it was decided amongst the match day team that FC Live will proceed to broadcast live from this Sunday’s Play Off Final, with those against attending the match on principle, being given the opportunity to give this particular fixture a miss.

Like with FCUM Radio’s coverage of Chorley in September 2011, we have taken the view that it is not for us to decide which games you do or do not listen to. Our purpose has always been to allow all supporters of this club the opportunity to stay across what is going on at the club they own, the most noticeable of which being, those events which take place on the pitch.

Clearly there are some amongst our support and listener base who will have a different opinion to that we have taken here as a collective of volunteers, but it is FCUM Radio’s view, that we must be here for all members of this club, and if you do not support our judgement on this particular matter, we urge you to simply not tune in, and board the 93 bus and head down to Salford City’s Moor Lane on Sunday afternoon and cheer on the Youth Team to cup glory instead.

FC Live will air on FCUM Radio on Sunday from 1pm.

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about the number 1000 and how we had reached that number of followers on twitter.

There’s a lot of numbers and stats in the radio game. We’re producing this year’s media pack currently to help get sponsorship on board for next season and you have to pick the right stats to help demonstrate our “value”. The number of website users, the number of followers, the ages of the people that listen, where these folk live, how much they like cheese and chocolate – all kinds of stats.

I’m always looking at the big one though: How many people are listening today?

On Saturday, at the playoff semi, we peaked with 762 live connections to the stream. So, on top of the 1000(ish) reds that traveled to Chorley, an additional 762 people or animals clicked the listen now button on the website and heard Swampy, Roy Soule, Statto Paul and Producer Ben preach the good gospel. But how many people is that? ‘Experts’ suggest that you can multiply the number of connections by up to 3 times, accounting for those listening on their own but also those listening with others – somewhere like Charles De Gaulle airport lounge perhaps. We half that multiplication to play safe, but we can comfortably say we had over two thousand actual human ears listening yesterday. That’s pretty cool.

Yes, not our highest listener number ever, which was for the playoff final last season away to Colwyn Bay, but let’s see what next weekend has in store.

I’m going to try to stop blogging about numbers soon. My statistician Dad and mathematician Mum are thrilled though to see what an impact they’ve had on my life.

The numbers are important, they sometimes make me want to put more effort in because they’re not increasing as quickly as I’d like and at other times I’m sending Ben texts while he’s on the air at Chorley letting him know how many people are listening to his pronunciation of the word ‘three’ in a wild attempt to put him off while he’s doing such an excellent job and being very impressive.

On a final note, I was thrilled to hear the playoff semi-final host a pre-match minutes applause for Ben Obiora who died so tragically last weekend. Under such shocking and horrible circumstances for his family, I hope it brought them some pride to know that the club which he spent so much time with would demonstrate such respect for him and his family in the most public place. A few of us on the station were lucky enough to meet Ben and his friends Josh and Fred when we interviewed them for a show. Ben was funny, interactive, passionate about music and football and demonstrated such maturity beyond his 16 years. Rest in peace.

Monday – Thursday at 12.30/ 15.30/ 21.00 

In This Club Is My Club this week, we review the mammoth play-off semi final match against Chorley from over the weekend, including interviews with Karl Marginson and Garry Flitcroft. We also have a proper exciting preview of this Saturday’s play-off final with Bradford Park Avenue.

All this and more on the FC United of Manchester news show.

Only at http://www.fcumradio.co.uk

How do I listen? 

You can listen to FCUM Radio by clicking on the following links:

i-Tunes: www.fcum.tv/listen.pls
or
Windows Media Player: www.fcum.tv/listen.asx

Firewall? Try this: www.fcumradio.co.uk/listenfw.asx

Flash Player: www.fcumradio.co.uk/FCUMRADIO-FLASH-PLAYER.html

Last season Chorley finished in 3^th place in the Northern Premier League Division 1 North. In the Play-offs they defeated Curzon Ashton 2-1 at home in the semi-final and in the final beat AFC Fylde 2-0 to win promotion.

The Magpies finished in 3^rd place with 79 points from 42 games this season. In their final game they defeated Bradford PA to leapfrog above them.

In the FA Cup Chorley lost 0-1 at home to AFC Fylde in a First Qualifying Round replay after a 1-1 draw at Kellamergh Park.

They also lost 0-1 at Marine in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.

The Magpies eliminated Salford City 2-1 in the Doodson Sport Cup before losing 2-3 at Victory Park to FC United in the Fourth Round.

Chorley have won 13, drawn 5, and lost 3 of their 21 Home League fixtures this season:

Wins:      6-0 Frickley Athletic  1-0 Buxton  2-0 FCUM  4-1 Worksop Town  2-1 Burscough  1-0 Rushall Olympic 1-0 Nantwich Town  2-0 North Ferriby United  1-0 Matlock Town  1-0 Mickleover Sports  5-1 Hednesford Town 3-2 Chasetown  3-1 Bradford PA

Draws:     0-0 Northwich Victoria  2-2 Ashton United  0-0 Stocksbridge PS  2-2 Whitby Town 2-2 Stafford Rangers

Defeats:   1-2 Marine  2-3 Kendal Town 0-2 Chester FC

Final League Standings

3^rd  Chorley                  P 42 W 24 D 7 L 11 F 76 A 48 Pts 79

3  places and 7 points in front of FCUM:

6^th  FC United              P 42 W 21 D 9 L 12  F 83 A 51 Pts 72

Chorley  League Scorers 2011-12  (76)

21– Steve Foster  10- Matt Walwyn  8 – Adam Roscoe  7 -  Ciaran Kilheeney 6-  Chris Denham   4- Dale Whitham    3 – Lee McEvilly  Andy Teague  2-  Andy Russell  Shelton Payne  Simon Whaley Tom Ince  1 – Matt Jansen     Tom Williams  Wayne Maden  Mark Ross

+ 2 own goals  Sam Denton (North Ferriby Utd)  Ben Turner (Frickley Athletic)

Chorley goalscorers in League v FCUM 2007-11: (3)

1- Stephen Burke  Lee McEvilly Andy Teague

FCUM goalscorers in League v Chorley 2007-11 (8)

5 – Rory Patterson  2 – Stuart Rudd  1 – Simon Carden

FCUM have won 4 of the previous 6 meetings with Chorley. FCUM have scored 83 league goals in 2011-12, which is second-highest after Chester FC (102).

Manager Garry Flitcroft was in charge of Leigh Genesis when they played FCUM twice in 2008/09, winning 4-2 at Gigg Lane in February 2009 when future FCUM striker Phil Marsh netted a hat-trick.

Winger Tom Ince played for Bamber Bridge against FCUM in 2 meetings during the 2007-08 season.

Assistant Manager  Matt Jansen scored for Blackburn Rovers together with Andy Cole when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the 2002 League Cup Final.

Striker Steve Foster played for Fleetwood Town in the FA Cup meeting with FCUM in September 2007. Foster is league leading scorer with 21 goals. Matt Wolfenden is second-top with 20 goals, all from open play which is the most in the league.

Striker Adam Roscoe was a team-mate of Wayne Rooney in the Everton Academy.

Former Manchester City junior Ciaran Kilheeney has scored 7 goals in 8 games for the Magpies since joining from Droylsden in March.

FCUM’s away league average attendance for 2011-12 is currently 1026.  A crowd of 3000 at Victory Park would raise the average to 1115.  Chorley biggest home attendance this season was 2213 against Chester FC on April 18^th. FCUM’s biggest away attendance was 3219 at Chester FC in August 2011.

On this day in 2007 FCUM defeated Formby 5-0 at Gigg Lane in front of 3847 with goals from Rory Patterson (3), Rhodri Giggs and a Chris Pauls own goal. On this date in 2011, 2785 saw FCUM win 2-0 at the Horsfall Stadium against Bradford Park Avenue in the play-off Semi-Final with goals from Matt Wolfenden and Jerome Wright.

At Victory Park, FC United have won 4 and lost 1 of their 5 previous visits. This includes wins against Daisy Hill (3-0) in February 2006 and  Atherton LR (7-0) in August 2006.

FCUM have yet to lose a game when Carlos Roca, Michael Norton and Stephen Johnson have all started.

FC United have already beaten all three play-off rival clubs this season.

Statto Paul

Last season Northwich finished in 12^th place with 63 points from 42 games, 7 positions and 13 points behind FCUM.

This season however, Vics have secured 2^nd place with 83 points from 41 games. This despite being deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player against Kendal Town in September.

They have won 13 drawn 4 and lost 3 of their 20 Away League fixtures to date:

Wins:     3-2 Buxton  2-0 Marine  2-0 Mickleover Sports  4-3 Stocksbridge PS  2-1 Bradford PA  3-1 Burscough  2-0 Matlock Town   3-0 Rushall Olympic  3-0 Ashton Utd  3-2 North Ferriby Utd  1-0 Worksop Town  2-0 Hednesford Town  1-0 Chasetown

Draws:    0-0 Chorley  0-0 Frickley Athletic  1-1 Stafford Rangers  1-1 Chester FC

Defeats:   2-3 Nantwich Town  1-4 Kendal Town  1-2 Whitby Town

In the FA Cup First Qualifying Round they won 2-0 at Trafford, and in the next round lost 1-2 at home to Nantwich Town.

Northwich defeated AFC Fylde (home 4-2), Buxton (home 3-0), Ilkeston Town (1-1 home 5-1 away)  and Fleetwood Town

(home 3-1), Staines Town (home 1-0) and Hampton & Richmond Borough (home 4-1) in the FA Trophy before losing to Newport County 2-3 at Moss Rose, Macclesfield in the Quarter-Finals.

In the Doodson Sport Cup Vics beat Marine 4-0 at home and Newcastle Town 3-2 away before going out 4-5 at home to Rushall Olympic in the Quarter-Finals.

Currently

2^nd  Northwich Vics P 41 W 36 D 8 L  7  F 72 A 39 Pts 83

4  places and 14 points ahead of  FCUM:

6^th   FC United          P 41 W 20 D 9 L 12  F 79 A 50 Pts 69

Northwich League Scorers 2011-12 (72 goals)

10 – Wayne Riley Michael Clarke  6 – Kyle Armstrong  5- Chris Budrys Ryan Wade  Jordan Johnson  Michael Roddy  Tom Field

4 – Steven Abbott   Ian Kearney  3- Nathan Woolfe  2 –Tom Smythe  1 – Dominic Collins  Lewis Short  Ian Kearney   Paul Ennis  David Fitzpatrick  Sean Kinsella  Tony Evans

+ 1 own goal Nathan Peat (North Ferriby United)

FCUM goalscorers in League v Northwich 2010-11 (2)

2 – Mike Norton

Northwich goalscorers in League v FCUM 2010-11 (3)

1 – Andy Fowler  Ian Kearney  Chris Budrys

James Spencer and Carlos Roca could be playing against one of their former clubs.

Midfielder Michael Roddy played in the Guiseley team beaten 2-1 at Gigg Lane in January 2009.

Right Back Graeme Law was a team mate of Richard Battersby at Stalybridge Celtic and both played against FCUM in the FA Cup tie at Bower Fold in October 2009.

Midfielder Wayne Riley scored the third goal when the Trickies defeated FCUM in the FA Cup 4^th Qualifying Round in 2009 and scored the winner when Northwich beat Charlton Athletic 1-0 in the First Round Proper. Ben Deegan came on as a substitute and saved a penalty taken by Riley at Gigg Lane in April 2011.

Striker Tony Evans scored a hat-trick for Skelmersdale United against FCUM at the Ashley Stadium in October 2007.

Michael Norton’s next appearance will be his 100^th for FCUM.

FCUM would need an attendance of 3620 to average 2000 for home league games in 2011-12