Supporter-owned football club and newly-promoted FC United of Manchester have secured a three-year deal which will allow their fans to access free Wi-Fi at their new £6.3m ground Broadhurst Park.
The club, which this season claimed promotion out of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier, has partnered with Bury-based data and telecommunications specialist Pennine Telecom to ensure fans can enjoy better access to social media and the internet when visiting the 5,000 capacity facility.
Pennine is currently installing wireless access points and specialist software at the ground as it bids to have the broadband service ready in time for the prestigious friendly against Portuguese giants Benfica on May 29, 2015.
FC United general manager Andy Walsh said: “Good communications are vital for a supporter-owned club like ours and we wanted to give our fans, and the club’s owners, the opportunity to participate in real time on social media when they come to matches.
“Our Facebook page already has over 734,000 likes and we have 55,000 Twitter followers, so social media is a really effective way for our supporters to engage with each other and the club.”
Founded in 2005 and owned by more than 4,000 fans, FC United has swiftly climbed through football’s league pyramid, with many admiring the club’s supporter owned model.
Amongst them is Andrew Roberts, managing director of Pennine Telecom, who said his company has welcomed the opportunity to support a community-oriented club.
He said: “I’ve long-admired FC United’s commitment to working within and supporting the local community, a commitment which we at Pennine Telecom share.
“From the early days when Bury’s Gigg Lane was the club’s home ground we’ve watched on admiringly as they held on to their ideals whilst progressing through the leagues.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be able to support FC United at Broadhurst Park and through them the wider community in Moston.”
FC United, who ended a seven-year stint in the Northern Premier after winning the championship, will begin their 2015/16 campaign in the Conference North and just two promotions away from the football league.
