Manchester United are not used to being the butt of a joke, but after their dour 0-0 FA Cup draw against Cambridge United, Cheltenham Town fans have jumped at the chance to poke fun.
Robins supporters, led by lifelong fan Murry Toms, raised £650 to erect a billboard stating their side is better than the twenty-time league champions.
Cheltenham fans pay £650 to fund a billboard proclaiming their team as better than #MUFC. Painfully cringeworthy. pic.twitter.com/RLRGxB98FT
— Nik Postinger (@nikpostinger) January 30, 2015
The outlandish claim is based on the 2-1 victory Paul Buckle’s men achieved against Cambridge in October’s League Two clash.
Toms initiated the fund-raising campaign on Thursday and reached the intended target in a just 11 hours, with the sign set to take pride of place in Cheltenham town centre.
However the claim rings slightly hollow with Town sat 17th in the fourth tier, only three points out of the relegation zone, while Louis van Gaal’s men have lost just one game in their last ten outings.
The Red Devils are no strangers to billboard controversy, with neighbours City riling up fans with their ‘Welcome to Manchester’ sign after Carlos Tevez switched allegiance in 2009.
TAUNTING: City put this up when Carlos Tevez crossed the city divide (© Manchester City)
There was also the infamous ‘Chosen One’ banner placed in the Stretford End at the start of David Moyes’ reign, before it was subsequently removed as results deteriorated.
CHOSEN ONE: United fans would live to regret this Old Trafford banner (Courtesy of AtilaTheHun)
Certain United fans even went so far as to organise a fly-over during one match, contradicting this sign with their own: ‘Wrong One – Moyes Out’.
Cheltenham fan Toms’ stunt is also intended to bolster the image of the club and boost attendances at Whaddon Road, where they drew an average turnout of just 2,980 in 2014.
United suffer no such problems, drawing an average gate of 75,207 in the 2013/14.
They have the chance to put the dispute to bed when Cambridge United visit Old Trafford for the fourth round replay on Tuesday.
Image courtesy of the FA, via YouTube.
