I had 7 years, maybe 8 when I started following United. Now imagine this, in a post war destroyed country, where colored TVs are rarity, some kid heard about King of the football on TV and it happens he was playing for United. Talking about Cantona. That was back in 1998. On rare occasions United was on TV, only in Champions league, so thats maybe 3-4 games per YEAR) and since I cant remember it that well, my mom used to tell me how I was shaking and sweating and being cold when I was watching. She even considered not allowing me to watch United games, but I think that would kill me.
I remember furiously checking teletext for results and news because I did not have the internet till 2010. Now imagine that. But before those days I would regularly sneak out to local bet shops because they had satellite TV and it was possible to watch United there. They had like 10-15 big TVs and if you're annoying enough, workers would switch to your game.
Oh, the Internet. It made me so happy that I could watch any United game anytime I want. And the best of all, I could watch it live on stream, in real time. No more teletext or bet shops for me. And I realized I was not alone. I knew big United was back then, just didn't know how big of a reach it has. It was mindblowing and humbling at the same time. From 2010 till Mourinho was appointed (and I think I even wrote here I would stop watching games after his meltdowns) I havent missed one game. Thats what, 7-8 years? And thats with me staying awake for tour games in godknowswhereland.
Even thought it hurts me on many different levels to watch United like this, I still regularly skip going to work/ditch friends just to watch United. And I tell myself I shouldn't skip/ditch, and I do it again and again.
I had some **** moments in my life, we all did. United was one of the things that kept me sane. I still dream going to Old Trafford, and with each day I'm closer and closer to that goal. So f*ck it, for me, United is more than a club and its going to be that way till the end.
