Gary Neville is planning a multi-million pound ‘thank you’ to the United fans. The lifelong Red, who made more than 600 first-team appearances during his 17-year Old Trafford career, called it quits in February.
Juventus come to Manchester for the 36-year-old right-back’s testimonial match at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
And part of the proceeds from the benefit evening will be pumped into a project to build a United Supporters Club on Sir Matt Busby Way, adjacent to the Bridgewater Canal in the shadow of the stadium
The club will house 1,500 Reds on match days and there will be hotel accommodation as part of the unique building.
It is an independent project conceived by Neville (right) but has the approval of the club.
“I am a fan. I have always been a fan. I wanted to do something for the fans,” Neville told M.E.N. Sport.
“I have said that publicly for the last 15 years.
“You can choose many a good charity or project. I just thought it was something I know would give me satisfaction and fulfil what I believe to be a thank you, so the fans can go and enjoy knowing it is there for them to use. That was important for me.
“I’ve had it in my mind for about 15 years that if I ever got to the point where I played for the club and had earned a testimonial, I wanted to do something for the fans as part of that.
“This project already has outline planning permission, we need to get detailed planning permission now and we’ll be working very closely with Trafford Council.
“We aim to start on site early next year and complete it for the start of the 2013/14 season. The idea behind it is we can create a venue for Manchester United fans to go and socialise.
“I’m excited about it. There’s a little bit of trepidation – it’s a difficult project, a big project, but something I want to make sure happens.
“There are a few hoops to jump through as always with things like this, but hopefully we’ll get there. There have been a number of players who have looked at the testimonial
proceeds and I’m going to do three projects. This is one of them.
“I’m going to do something for the Manchester United supporters’ club in Malta because they’re very close to my heart and there will be some sustainable projects announced in the next couple of days as well.
“I wanted to try and make them all community and fan based because these are the people who have been most special in my life. I wanted to try and create something they could enjoy. There isn’t an official building for the fans to go and enjoy. Obviously they love coming to Old Trafford on matchdays, but outside of matchdays this will provide them with the ability to go and enjoy their own supporters’ club.”
