United in help: Tigers get support from Old Trafford

HYDE United have received a helping hand as volunteers literally paint the town red – from Manchester United.

A dedicated band of people has turned up repeatedly at Ewen Fields to renovate the stadium.

And after the ground turned blue with Manchester City’s involvement, the club’s traditional colours are being brought back.

They have also had a donation of seats for the main stand from Old Trafford, which has gone down very well indeed.

When it comes to repainting the metalwork on the terraces and even the rooves, eventually, there was only one choice of colour.

Martin Coyne, the junior chairman and board member who is helping co-ordinate the team of people, with between 12 and 15 turning up, said: “Manchester United were doing some renovation work at Old Trafford.

“They got in touch and offered us the seats, which we took with both hands. They donated them to the club.

“All we had to do was pick them up and a group of lads fitted them.

“The directors’ seats have been re-upholstered by a local company who we can’t be any more thankful to.

“It looks amazing.

“And I definitely like the red. It’s back to our roots and gives it a warmer feeling.”

And on the volunteers giving up their time, he added: “All you have to do is look around, there’s at least a dozen at weekends and in midweek.

“The club means the world to the community, from people that have been coming for years and years to the junior section, which was set up three years ago.

“Now there’s more than 300 and they’re training again. It was a good picture just seeing the kids with smiles on their faces.

“And during lockdown, there’s been things like holding virtual games, which went down very well – just little things like that help keep things afloat.

“What’s been done is testament to everyone and if anything, this is a positive to have come out of the situation.

“The press box and directors’ boxes were taken down and rebuilt. All the frontage was redone, sheds and metalwork on the stands have also been turned from blue to red.

“And eventually, we’ll do the rooves. It’s not going to be easy but with the dedication of all the people who come, it’s going to happen.

“It took us little to no time to get where we are and hopefully by the time we start playing again, we’ll have gone around the whole stadium.

“But I’m not surprised by how many people have come down – Hyde United is a big club and there are a lot of people that support us.”

While off the field, the ground is being transformed, manager Dave McGurk is building his squad for the forthcoming Northern Premier League season.

The latest arrival is former Stalybridge Celtic man Theo Bailey-Jones.

The 25-year-old, who was most recently at Stafford Rangers, told the club: “I’m excited to get going, I know they play good football.”

McGurk added: ‘’Theo is someone who if we can get fully fit and back firing can become a very good signing for us.

“We scouted Stafford before we’ve played them and on each occasions he was their best player.”