My brother and I had planned an incredible trip to Europe, with the main purpose being a concert in Tilburg, Netherlands.
As is often the case for travellers from Western Canada, flying into London was by far the cheapest option. Since we were already crossing the Atlantic, we decided to make the most of it and spend some time exploring the UK before continuing on to mainland Europe.
Naturally, football became a major part of the itinerary.
We already had a few football-related stops planned. As a lifelong Liverpool supporter, visiting Anfield was non-negotiable. I’ll share stories from our visit to Wembley to watch Spurs, and our unexpected pilgrimage to Grimsby Town inspired entirely by a movie, in future articles.
The one challenge we faced was timing.
The Premier League wasn’t playing on the weekend of September 2nd and 3rd.
No problem, we thought.
Surely there would be something nearby.
We started digging through the fixture lists.
Championship? Nothing practical.
League One? No luck.
League Two? Still nothing.
National League? Getting warmer.
Then we found something far more interesting.
A supporter-owned football club founded by Manchester United fans who opposed the Glazer takeover.
Even better, they offered a hospitality package that wouldn’t require a second mortgage.
For just £37, we could enjoy a stadium tour, a three-course meal, reserved seating, and a full matchday experience.
It sounded almost too good to be true.
A few days later, after an expensive transportation mistake and one very nervous journey across Northern England, we found ourselves heading to Broadhurst Park, home of FC United of Manchester.
A Slight Transportation Miscalculation
We started our day in Liverpool, having booked a tour of the mighty Anfield.
I was completely lost in the magic of finally making a pilgrimage to the home of my favourite club, Liverpool FC.
My support for Liverpool can be traced back to my uncle, who was such a massive Michael Owen fan that he named his son Owen.
The Anfield tour was everything I had hoped for and more.
Unfortunately, there was one problem.
Our match that afternoon wasn’t in Liverpool.
It was in Manchester.
As it turns out, Liverpool and Manchester are not the same city.
A fact that seems painfully obvious now.
We had assumed we could simply finish the tour, hop on a train, and casually make our way across.
Not quite.
The trains weren’t particularly frequent at that time of day, tickets were expensive, and Broadhurst Park isn’t exactly located in the centre of Manchester either.
We finished our Anfield tour around noon.
We needed to be at Broadhurst Park by 1:30 PM to enjoy our hospitality package before the 3:00 PM kickoff.
Trains weren’t practical.
The bus wasn’t looking promising.
Cycling 50 miles as two relatively unfit Canadian backpackers wasn’t high on the list either.
That left one option.
Uber.
For the low, low price of approximately £90.
Football tourism is not always glamorous.
Welcome to Broadhurst Park
We arrived at Broadhurst Park on a beautiful September afternoon.
The first thing that struck me was the setting.
There were trees, open spaces, and a real sense of community surrounding the ground.
It didn’t feel like arriving at a major sporting event.
It felt like arriving at a neighbourhood gathering that just happened to involve football.
As we entered, we were greeted almost immediately by a member of staff.
They must have recognized our sweaty, backpack-laden appearance from previous email conversations.
Two Canadians who had travelled thousands of miles to attend an FC United match probably stood out a little.
Regardless, we were welcomed like old friends.
We were given the option of heading straight to lunch or taking a stadium tour first.
The choice was easy.
Tour first.
Food later.
We stored our backpacks and joined our host for a tour of the stadium.
We visited the dressing rooms while the teams were warming up.
We walked through the tunnel.
We explored areas of the stadium that most supporters never get to see.
Most importantly, we learned about the history and philosophy behind the club.
A Club Built by Supporters
FC United of Manchester was founded in 2005 by supporters who opposed the Glazer family’s takeover of Manchester United.
Rather than accept a future they didn’t believe in, they started their own club.
Today, FC United remains 100% supporter-owned.
Supporters can become members, own a share in the club, and vote on important decisions.
It’s one of the purest examples of community football you’ll find anywhere in England.
At the time of our visit, membership cost just £25.
For that price, supporters received a share in the club and a vote in its future.
It was impossible not to admire the passion and commitment behind the project.
Hospitality Done Right
After the tour, we headed upstairs to the hospitality suite.
And this is where things became truly memorable.
Our table consisted of two casually dressed Canadian backpackers who had been travelling across Europe for weeks.
The table beside us?
Members of the visiting Leamington board of directors.
Fully suited.
Proper football executives.
The contrast couldn’t have been greater.
Thankfully, the FC United staff couldn’t have cared less.
If anything, they seemed proud that supporters had travelled such a long distance to attend their match.
We were treated like royalty.
Our hosts made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived until the moment we left.
The three-course meal was excellent.
The service was fantastic.
And throughout the afternoon, there was a genuine sense that everyone involved simply loved being there.
The Match
After lunch, we headed out to our reserved seats.
Then came one final surprise.
An injured FC United player joined us in the stands and spent much of the first half chatting with supporters.
For nearly an hour, we got to learn about the club, the players, and life behind the scenes from someone living it every day.
Try finding that experience in the Premier League.
The match itself was entertaining from start to finish.
FC United created several good opportunities and looked the more dangerous side for long stretches.
Unfortunately for the home supporters, Leamington struck twice in the second half to take control of the match.
A late FC United goal reignited hope.
Then, with almost the last kick of the game, came one final opportunity to equalize.
The chance was missed.
The visitors held on.
The home supporters left disappointed.
But proud.
More Than Just a Match
What stands out most from this day isn’t the scoreline.
It’s the people.
It’s the staff who welcomed us.
It’s the supporters who shared stories.
It’s the player who sat and chatted with strangers.
It’s the volunteers who clearly cared deeply about the club.
Years later, we’ve even stayed in touch with some of the people we met there, who still occasionally share updates on how the club, youth teams, and women’s teams are progressing.
That’s not something I expected when I booked a £37 hospitality package.
Final Thoughts
Lower-league football often gets dismissed by visitors chasing Premier League stadiums and famous clubs.
I think that’s a mistake.
The football may not always be as polished.
The stadiums may not be as glamorous.
But the atmosphere, passion, and sense of community can rival anything you’ll find at the highest levels of the game.
For £37, we received:
- A stadium tour
- A three-course meal
- Reserved seating
- Time with club staff
- Conversations with supporters
- A chat with a current player
- An unforgettable matchday experience
To this day, it’s one of the best values I’ve ever found in football.
If you’re planning a football trip to England, don’t overlook the lower leagues.
You might just find your favourite football experience in a place you’ve never heard of.
For us, that place was Broadhurst Park.
The Matchday Passport 
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