Fan-tastic Forbes

“The Angry Manchester United Fan at The Courtyard” Facebook page has picked up over 200 ‘likes’ since its conception on May 1st. Dozens of York students have been showing their appreciation for one man’s overspilling passion and anger while watching football at the Courtyard.

The ‘angry fan’ is Andrew Forbes, a fourth year Computer Science student and season ticket-holder at United’s home, Old Trafford. When he is unable to attend a game in person he watches it at the Courtyard, famously sipping a pint of Coke while energetically expressing his passionate love for his team.

The page was created by first year History and Politics student, Sam Shepherd, who commented that he “first noted Andrew’s reactions in the Autumn term and thought ‘this guy is brilliant, his mannerisms are wonderfully enthralling’.”

He continued, “I formed the page with the intention of expressing my appreciation of Andrew’s passion for his club, and to allow others to do so as well.”
Forbes told Vision: “It was a big surprise when I first saw [the page]. I certainly didn’t expect that so many people would notice how I support United. It’s more important than anything else in my life.”

The page itself has more ‘likes’ than the York Tories, with fans who have seen Forbes at Old Trafford and those who frequent his local pub in his hometown of Bristol, as well as students from York, more of whom join the page every match.

Facebook tributes describe him as “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment today” and “better entertainment than the football”. A number of fans have uploaded photos and videos of Forbes to the page.

Facebook followers eagerly share their tales of football-loving Forbes, posting various amusing descriptions of his antics.

York student Oliver Hill wrote that “[the] last time I saw him was when Liverpool beat them 3-0. At one point he threw his own mobile phone on to the floor.”

John Normansell, a fellow attendee of Old Trafford, described how Forbes “actually warms up when both teams are, and rants or instructs all game” – Forbes simply added: “the police love me!” Forbes’s growing appeal resides in his tendency, as Alan Mockford remarks, to “go nuts”.

Forbes’ passion is not restricted to match day either. He admits that he follows a number of United players on Twitter and avoids the national press as they “stray from the truth and portray footballers in a bad light.”

While some choose to invest their emotions in another person or in a particular way of life, Forbes continues to publicly demonstrate his total commitment to Manchester United and as a result has now earned a fanbase of his own.