Manchester 62 F.C.

Summary

Manchester 62 F.C.[1] is a football club based in Gibraltar. The club currently competes in the Gibraltar Football League.

Manchester 62
Full nameManchester 1962 Football Club
Nickname(s)Manchester 62,
The Red Devils of Gibraltar
Founded1962; 62 years ago (1962)
GroundVictoria Stadium,
Winston Churchill Avenue, Gibraltar
Capacity5,000
ChairmanMichael Anton Monsour
ManagerJamie McDonough
LeagueGibraltar Football League
2022–23Challenge Group: 2nd
Overall: 8th
WebsiteClub website
United play their home games in the Victoria Stadium

History edit

The club was founded as Manchester United F.C. in 1962,[2] named in honour of the English club Manchester United by a group of supporters, after the manager Matt Busby gave them permission to use the name.[3] They play in the Gibraltar Football League's First Division.[4] United play their home games in the Victoria Stadium.[5] In 2013, UEFA gave the Gibraltar Football League one place each in the qualifying rounds of both the Europa League and the Champions League, meaning that, for the first time, the two clubs could potentially meet in the same competition.[6]

In June 2022, after years playing as a members-owned amateur club, Manchester 62 was sold to Pittsburgh City United founder Michael Anton Monsour.[7] As part of the takeover, the club announced plans to follow the lead of Pittsburgh City United by mandating protective headgear for its players, subject to approval from the Gibraltar Football Association.[8]

As part of the takeover, the club filmed a documentary and announced plans in March 2023 to submit a report to UEFA regarding the impact of protective headgear on head injuries.[9]

On 19 February 2023, the club announced that 21-year-old YouTuber Theo Ogden would assume the role of technical director, making Ogden the youngest person to take up the role at a professional European club, however, Ogden has since left the role.[10][11] This was followed by the appointment of Anthony Limbrick as manager in June 2023.[12]

Club names edit

  • 1962–2000 : Manchester United (Gibraltar) Football Club.
  • 2000–2002 : Manchester United Eurobet Football Club.[13]
  • 2002–2008 : Manchester United (Gibraltar) Football Club.
  • 2009–2013 : Manchester United Digibet Football Club.[14]
  • 2013– : Manchester 62 Football Club.

Sponsors edit

From 2013 to 2022, the club was sponsored by CEPSA Gibraltar. Upon the takeover by Monsour, the club partnered with Gibraltar Alzheimer's and Dementia Society (GADS).[15] As of 2022, the club's kits are supplied by Macron. In 2023, the club partnered with Unequal Technologies to provide protective headgear for players.[16]

Players edit

Current squad edit

As of 22 June 2023.[17]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 FW   GHA Emmanuel Ocran
4 DF   GIB Jamie Bosio
6 DF   ENG Mark Edzes
7 FW   ESP Samu Benítez
8 DF   GIB Jayron Negron
9 DF   GIB Jayden Villa
10 MF   ENG Ahmed Salam
13 GK   ESP Fernando Canto
15 DF   GIB Daniel Sanchez
19 FW   ENG Stevie Kamba
20 MF   SCO Lucas Reed
21 DF   BRA Renan Bernardes
22 DF   GIB Ethan Santos (captain)
23 FW   CUB Aldair Ruiz
24 DF   ARG Federico Villar
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 MF   GIB Carl De Torres
29 MF   GIB Stefan Viagas
30 FW   GIB Angelo Parody
31 MF   GIB Kevan Gonzalez
34 FW   GIB Michael Caetano
36 FW   ENG Henry Mott
37 DF   GIB James Chiles-Cowell
47 MF   GIB Daniel Smith
66 DF   ENG Matt Clenahan (vice-captain)
74 MF   GIB Kieron Garcia
75 FW   NED Jonathan van der Pol
77 MF   GIB Mohamed Badr
88 MF   ENG Frankie Perry
89 GK   ENG Ben Maidens

Intermediate League squad edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
5 DF   GIB Peter Sardeña
26 DF   GIB Rhys Fortunato
28 DF   GIB Evan Lopez
36 DF   GIB Ethan Tavares
39 MF   GIB Kaine Grech
50 FW   GIB Javier Martinez
64 DF   ESP Javier Marfil
No. Pos. Nation Player
69 MF   GIB Aiden Mansfield
75 MF   GIB Brandon Desoiza
78 MF   GIB Rhys Etherington
90 MF   GIB Leighton Olivares
97 GK   GIB Thomas Recagno
98 MF   GIB Jaylan J'Bair
MF   GIB Sam Sheriff

Club staff edit

Position Name
Club Management
Head Coach   Jamie McDonough
Assistant Coach
U23 Coach
  Craig Cowell
U23 Assistant Coach   Col Griffiths
Physical Trainer   Aaron Perales
Physio   Javier Garcia
Board
Chairman   Michael Anton Monsour
Director   John Charles Camilleri
  Clive Lopez
Team Delegate   Randal Aldorino
Head of Youth   Allen Bula

Honours edit

Gibraltar Premier Division: (7)
  • Champions: 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1995, 1999
Gibraltar Second Division: (1)
  • Champions: 1974
Rock Cup: (4)
  • Winners: 1977, 1980, 1997, 2003
Pepe Reyes Cup: (2)
  • Winners: 2003, 2006
GFA Challenge Trophy

References edit

  1. ^ "Manchester 62 FC | Member associations".
  2. ^ "Gibraltar given Champions League spot". BBC Sport.
  3. ^ "Club History – Manchester 62 FC". man62fc.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014.
  4. ^ Gibraltar 2010/11 RSSF.com
  5. ^ GIBRALTAR – Fussballtempel.net Archived 11 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Gibraltar awarded Champions League qualifying spot – BBC
  7. ^ ‘Greatest honour of my life’ says Monsour as he announces takeover of Man 62 Gibraltar Chronicle. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  8. ^ Manchester 62 F.C. could become first European team to wear Full90 headgear aimed at reducing risk of head injuries GBC News. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  9. ^ Sounding Off on Soccer: From Pittsburgh to Gibraltar, Michael Monsour remains a man on a mission Pittsburgh Soccer Now. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  10. ^ "I Became The Youngest Football Director in Europe". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  11. ^ "why i had to leave". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  12. ^ Former TNS boss Anthony Limbrick handed Gibraltar role after Shrewsbury Town interest Shropshire Star. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  13. ^ Gibraltar 2001/02 – RSSSF.com
  14. ^ Mens – Gibraltar Football Association Archived 2 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Special edition training shirt in partnership with GADS Manchester 1962 FC. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  16. ^ Manchester 62 FC Partners with Unequal Technologies (Video) Unequal Technologies. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  17. ^ "First Team Squad". Retrieved 11 October 2020.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Manchester 62 F.C. on Twitter