Manchester 62 F.C.
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| Full name | Manchester 62 Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Red Devils of Gibraltar | |||
| Founded | 1962 | |||
| Ground | Victoria Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 5,000 | |||
| Chairman | Michael Anton Monsour | |||
| Manager | Jamie McDonough | |||
| League | Gibraltar Football League | |||
| 2023–24 | 6th | |||
| Website | www | |||
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Manchester 62 F.C.[1] is a football club based in Gibraltar. The club currently competes in the Gibraltar Football League.
History
[edit]The club was founded as Manchester United F.C. in 1962,[2] named in honour of the English club Manchester United by a group of supporters, after the manager Matt Busby gave them permission to use the name.[3] They play in the Gibraltar Football League's First Division.[4] United play their home games in the Victoria Stadium.[5] In 2013, UEFA gave the Gibraltar Football League one place each in the qualifying rounds of both the Europa League and the Champions League, meaning that, for the first time, the two clubs could potentially meet in the same competition.[6]
In June 2022, after years playing as a members-owned amateur club, Manchester 62 was sold to Pittsburgh City United founder Michael Anton Monsour.[7] As part of the takeover, the club announced plans to follow the lead of Pittsburgh City United by mandating protective headgear for its players, subject to approval from the Gibraltar Football Association.[8]
As part of the takeover, the club filmed a documentary and announced plans in March 2023 to submit a report to UEFA regarding the impact of protective headgear on head injuries.[9]
On 19 February 2023, the club announced that 21-year-old YouTuber Theo Ogden would assume the role of technical director, making Ogden the youngest person to take up the role at a professional European club, however, Ogden has since left the role.[10][11] This was followed by the appointment of Anthony Limbrick as manager in June 2023.[12] However, the club suffered huge setbacks with investors pulling funding mid-season, leaving the club in a precarious position with multiple players leaving after the club failed to pay them. The club's future was secured in May 2024 with a $20 million cash injection from angel investor Takashi Cheng, through his private equity firm Monstranamus.[13]
Manchester 62 FC fans are known for their unique tradition of singing "Gibraltar, Rock and Roll," a modified version of Chuck Berry's "Rock and Roll Music," during home games. The song has become the unofficial anthem of the club, and it is played before every match at Victoria Stadium.
Club names
[edit]- 1962–2000 : Manchester United (Gibraltar) Football Club.
- 2000–2002 : Manchester United Eurobet Football Club.[14]
- 2002–2008 : Manchester United (Gibraltar) Football Club.
- 2009–2013 : Manchester United Digibet Football Club.[15]
- 2013– : Manchester 62 Football Club.
Sponsors
[edit]From 2013 to 2022, the club was sponsored by CEPSA Gibraltar. Upon the takeover by Monsour, the club partnered with Gibraltar Alzheimer's and Dementia Society (GADS).[16] As of 2024, the club's kits are supplied by Joma. In 2023, the club partnered with Unequal Technologies to provide protective headgear for players.[17] The club's shirt sponsors since 2023 are the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]As of 14 September 2024. [18]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club staff
[edit]| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Club Management | |
| Head Coach |  Jamie McDonough
|
| Assistant Coach |  Luis McCoy
|
| Coach | Aaron Ignacio
|
| Goalkeeper Coach |  José Requena
|
| Physio | Javier Garcia
|
| Board | |
| Chairman |  Michael Anton Monsour
|
| Director | John Charles Camilleri Clive Lopez
|
| Technical Director | Philip Hermida
|
| Team Delegate | Randal Aldorino
|
Honours
[edit]- Champions: 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1995, 1999
- Champions: 1974
- Rock Cup: (4)
- Winners: 1977, 1980, 1997, 2003
- Pepe Reyes Cup: (2)
- Winners: 2003, 2006
- GFA Challenge Trophy
- Winners: 2021–22
References
[edit]- ^ "Manchester 62 FC | Member associations".
- ^ "Gibraltar given Champions League spot". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Club History – Manchester 62 FC". man62fc.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014.
- ^ Gibraltar 2010/11 RSSF.com
- ^ GIBRALTAR – Fussballtempel.net Archived 11 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gibraltar awarded Champions League qualifying spot – BBC
- ^ ‘Greatest honour of my life’ says Monsour as he announces takeover of Man 62 Gibraltar Chronicle. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ Manchester 62 F.C. could become first European team to wear Full90 headgear aimed at reducing risk of head injuries GBC News. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ Sounding Off on Soccer: From Pittsburgh to Gibraltar, Michael Monsour remains a man on a mission Pittsburgh Soccer Now. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "I Became The Youngest Football Director in Europe". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ "why i had to leave". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Former TNS boss Anthony Limbrick handed Gibraltar role after Shrewsbury Town interest Shropshire Star. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ Angel Investor Saves Gibraltar Football Club Manchester 62 with $20m Investment Gibraltar Chronicle. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Gibraltar 2001/02 – RSSSF.com
- ^ Mens – Gibraltar Football Association Archived 2 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Special edition training shirt in partnership with GADS Manchester 1962 FC. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ Manchester 62 FC Partners with Unequal Technologies (Video) Unequal Technologies. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "First Team Squad". Retrieved 11 October 2020.
