Duncan Quinton first went to watch a Manchester United match during 1983/84 season when he was 9 years old, and has devoted to his life the Red Devils ever since.
During the 80s, United weren’t the force that they would become in the 90s or that they had been back in the 60s, and they would loose that early December match in 1983 0-1 against a thriving Everton. Regardless of the result, It was ‘electric’ atmosphere and togetherness of his fellow United supporters, coined with Matt Busby’s legacy that had Quinton hooked.
40 years on, United fans can look back on a period in which they dominated English football, and led by Sir Alex Ferguson were able to enjoy European Cup success once again.
Duncan Quinton
“The mystique has gone. Multinational branding and homogeneous stadiums dilute the experience of today. I miss the rawness of the 90s.”
Speaking with Lower Block, Quinton talks about what Manchester United means to him, how football fan culture has changed and shares his memories and photographs from United’s away run to their glorious 1999 Champions League victory.
Lower Block: Where are you from, where do you live now?
Duncan Quinton: My family hale from the Rossendale Valley, about 15 miles north of Manchester and I now live in Ilkley, about 20 miles north of Leeds.
LB: How long have you supported Manchester United?
DQ: I went to my first game versus Everton in the 1983/84 season when I was 9 years old, so 40 years now.
LB: What does the club mean to you?
DQ: The club mean two things for me: Firstly, the supporters. When I started going, we didn’t win much but the atmosphere and crowds were electric and the names (of well known supporters) off the pitch were as big as those on it… And secondly, the story of one man’s vision (Sir Matt Busby) to create a youth system to venture and later conquer Europe, despite the tragedy that unfurled in its pursuit is the stuff of Hollywood
Bayern Munich 2 -2 Manchester United, Olympiastadion, Munich. 30 September 1998.
Duncan Quinton
“You’d often walk into a bar or onto a train overseas and see the same faces. They’d give you ‘the nod’. Acceptance into the unwritten inner circle for being there.”
LB: What was it like following United away in Europe in the 90s? How does it differ to today and what do you miss about it?
DQ: Following United away in the 90s was an adventure and totally new experience. This was before smart phones, the internet and cheap flights and so it was a venture into new territories and experiences. Football took us to Istanbul, Lodz and Turin and we had little idea about the atmosphere, cities or players until we observed them with our own eyes. So how it compares? The mystique has gone and the multinational branding and homogeneous stadiums dilute the experience of today. I miss the rawness of the 90s.
LB: Back then, what was the travelling fan culture like? It must have been great visiting so many European cities – with likeminded friends and fans..?
DQ: The travelling experience was more of an adventure back then as there were many unknowns such as where the ground was, which train to catch or even where we’d sleep.
Three other key points also come to mind:
Firstly, in the weeks building up to the game people would ask for example “what are you doing for Barca?”. Talking was the only form of knowledge and communication.
Secondly, European away travel was less advertised and you’d often walk into a bar or onto a train overseas and see the same faces. They’d give you ‘the nod’. Acceptance into the unwritten inner circle for being there.
Third. This wasn’t long after the European ban, so police treated you with suspicion or violence and locals came to hunt the (English) lions of the jungle. You had to be wary.
Barcelona 3 -3 Manchester United, Camp Nou. 25 November 1998.
LB: Looking back at these photographs now, what sort of emotions or memories do they stir up?
DQ: Looking back at the photos now I noticed things I’d never seen – The Bayern players down on the pitch in the final or Peter Schmeichel kicking the ball from the goal in the 3-3 vs Barca away. The key memories are of going to the big games and being there, rather than the victories.
LB: Apart from the final against Bayern – do you have a favourite moment?
DQ: My key memory is walking into the San Siro versus inter. We came in by the corner flag and it was like a giant spaceship – Blinding lights, steep stands and a bear pit atmosphere.
QF – Inter Milan 1 -1 Manchester United, San Siro. 17 March 1999.
Duncan Quinton
“This wasn’t long after the European ban, so police treated you with suspicion or violence and locals came to hunt the lions of the jungle. You had to be wary.”
Duncan Quinton
“Walking into the San Siro versus inter. It was like a giant spaceship – Blinding lights, steep armada and a bear pit atmosphere.”
Champions League Final. Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich. Camp Nou, Barcelona. 26 May 1999.
LB: What can you remember from that final in 99?
DQ: My main memory of the final was the whistle blowing and the reaction of my mate Aubrey, who’d been to most games with me. A kick boxing giant letting out a huge howl as he burst into tears and fell onto his knees.
LB: How did you celebrate?
DQ: Immediately after the match, the police cancelled our coaches to the airport so we walked mikes with thousands of others for a missed flight. A new one was charted for the morning and we got back to Manchester to find no one appeared to have worked that day as Deansgate was packed with fans. We met friends, sunk beers and I climbed a lamppost near atlas bar to watch the trophy parade close hand.
The day after the night before. Deansgate, Manchester.
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