United We Stand (fanzine)
United We Stand is a Manchester United fanzine which first appeared on the streets of Manchester in the autumn of 1989. It was started by 15-year-old fan Andy Mitten, great-nephew of the former Manchester United winger Charlie Mitten. The first issue sold 100 copies, but it developed to become one of the best selling football fanzines in Great Britain.
The fanzine is produced ten times a year during the football season. It features interviews with players or Manchester United supporting personalities and counts The Daily Telegraph journalist Jim White as a monthly columnist. Mitten is perhaps better known as a football journalist and author, although he still edits the publication and writes in each issue.
United We Stand opposed the takeover of Manchester United in 2005 by American businessman Malcolm Glazer.
A variety of opinions are afforded space in the publication, although it has always supported the sentiments of IMUSA and MUST. United We Stand often works with the two other Manchester United fanzine Red Issue and Red News to support these groups.
Content
The fanzine's content and tone is markedly different to Red Issue and Red News. Topics covered include football, music, fashion and other forms of popular culture. Editorial policy is generally less critical of the club than the other major United fanzines, but UWS represents a broad cross-section of views on issues affecting the club, team and supporters.
The fanzine is complemented by a web site, UWSonline, which was hosted by the Rivals network until the network's closure in July 2009. Launched in 2000, the web site's forum is a virtual meeting place for many contributors to the fanzine.
UWSonline regulars meet regularly at the Stoat & Helmet public house on Swan Street, Manchester.
As at Nov 2013, United We Stand costs £2.50 per copy in shops, and £2 when sold outside Old Trafford. It contains approximately 44 pages.
External links
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