Being a Manchester United fan, it goes without saying that I was over the moon when it managed to win its 19th EPL title, surpassing the 18 won by the other great of English football, Liverpool.
The manner in which United won it, a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers previous weekend (making it mathematically impossible for 2nd placed Chelsea to surpass Man U), at the Rovers home ground, was perhaps a little less than emphatic but the importance of making history probably played heavy in the minds of the players and there was no room for errors.
But United re-emphasized their superiority and their mark as worthy champions last night, with a 4-2 win over Blackpool, sending the newly promoted team back to the Championship league next season. There was much joy and celebration at Old Trafford (the Manchester United ground) but amidst all the revelry the players and manager were cognizant that there was one more battle ahead – Barcelona, in the Champions League Final at Wembley this weekend.
Anyway, Time Magazine paid tribute to Manchester United and its manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, with an article, “More Than Manchester”
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2072571-1,00.html
This article not only reminded me but reinforced in me, the reasons why I support this club and why I have remained faithful to it for so many years, even through the 80’s when they were not doing very well and always watching from a far and grudgingly admiring the success enjoyed by the Liverpool team of that time.
Its a lesson in branding and why it is so powerful. It about having a compelling story which carries some basic values that resonate with people. The 1958 Munich air disaster which killed 8 young, talented Manchester United players and the story of how the club re-built itself from the ashes, is such an inspirational story. Its about giving youth a chance to be part of that legacy, to be soldiers who will do anything and everything to defend those values. Its about grit, determination, not giving up no matter what the odds are. Its about working hard and never letting your God-given talent stroke your ego to the extent that you overlook the team.
These are values that speak to many people and me included. These values make the magnet that keeps the millions of fans glued to their TV sets to watch all their games, pay in excess of 100 pounds for a ticket to watch them play at Old Trafford and spend several hundred dollars more buying all sorts of merchandise (T-shirts, jerseys, mugs, stationery, etc, etc). That’s the power of branding!!
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