Fanzine culture has always been a big part of the Manchester United matchday experience, with sellers for United We Stand, Red News and other publications being heard flogging the latest issue as you walk into Old Trafford. But one fan thought: 'if this is a big part of the men's game, why can't it be part of the women's too?'.
Andy Slater gave up his season ticket in 2017 after 21 years of following United from the terraces of Old Trafford, but since then has fallen in love with the women's game and follows the United Women's team both home and away. In 2021, Andy decided to take it a step further.
"There’s a lot of demand for content in the women’s game but a lot of it is Youtube and that’s fine but it can be a little bit sensationalist and get a bit kneejerk," Andy told Manchester Evening News. "I thought I loved the fanzine for United Men, is there room for one for United Women. I had a look at printing costs and I asked the Supporters Club if they knew anybody that would be interested.
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"And when it became realistic that’s when it really kicked in to think ‘We probably could do this.’ Then I started pushing a few months before May last year. It had been ‘I wish there was one' and it developed into ‘Why not me?’"
And so the Barmy Article was born, United Women's first-ever fanzine. Andy stands outside Leigh Sport's Village every matchday selling issues and chatting with fans.
Andy is now five issues in, though he refers to the first as a 'demo'. He has had interviews with the likes of former United women's manager Casey Stoney and also former players, but where else does he look for contributions and ideas?
"If I see people talking on Twitter about United women and they’re tweeting something that I think has substances to it and looks like it could be expanded on, I will reach out and say ‘Would you like to expand on these thoughts and write for the fanzine?'," he explains. "But I think probably how I felt the first time I ever wrote for Red News, where I first felt like it was going to be a formal process and I think that’s what I think puts some people off.
"However it's is literally a case of, if you’ve got something constructive to say and you can say it without swearing, because it’s a different environment and different audience in the Women’s game, then I don’t care if I agree with it or not as long as it’s constructive I’ll include it."
And last month, there was a moment of pride for the Barmy Article. Andy was able to sell it outside Old Trafford as United Women took on Everton at the stadium for the first time in front of fans.
"I wasn’t due to have one out in March, normally it would have gone November, February and then May. But when they announced the Old Trafford game, I moved February to January so I could have a two-month gap and have one specifically for the Old Trafford game.
"The cover design reflects that; it was designed specifically to be sold at that game first. It’s only the second time I’ve been back to Old Trafford since I gave up my season ticket five years ago and yeah obviously the first time seeing the women there.
"It was emotional in that sense anyway but to be going with my fanzine and trying to sell it and reaching new people; people who’ve never been to Leigh Sport’s Village and asking what it is and showing an interest. So there was a real sense of pride and I keep a record of all the games that I sell it at, obviously Leigh Sports Village a few times, I’ve sold it at a few away games but it does feel great to have Old Trafford on that list now and be able to look back and remember it."
If you want to read the Barmy Article, check out it out here or look out for Andy Slater outside Leigh Sports Village before a match.
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