With a portion of Manchester United’s pre-season taking place in Australia, the event of the 22/23 away kit unveiling in Melbourne’s iconic Federation Square was a special day for a fan halfway across the world.
As a fan residing across the world in Melbourne, Australia, supporting Manchester United comes with its challenges. Whether it's deciding to stay awake for that extra two hours before a United game at three in the morning or having a quick nap, the main question I have always asked myself was: What makes me so connected to a football club on the other side of the world?
From watching each game week to academy games which would leave me exhausted, the prospect of missing out on the team I love has never pondered my mind.
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With the news of a kit unveiling taking place in Melbourne's most iconic venue Federation Square at 4:30pm on Saturday 16th of July, I knew that as a Manchester United supporter I had to see this first hand.
On Saturday at 2:30pm, I gathered with fellow United supporters and headed out to see the Red Devils for myself. When arriving at Federation Square, the whole city of Melbourne had been painted red – the shock of such support took me away showing just how much the historic club of Manchester United truly made individuals feel.
The iconic venue had been packed out to what I witnessed as the largest crowd Federation Square had seen.
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The unveiling began with a comedic stage set by Manchester United with all objects hanging upside down in a comedic representation of Australia being “The Land Down Under.”
Shortly after the stage had been set with a packed-out venue, three iconic Manchester United ambassadors appeared in Bryan Robson, Andy Cole, and former kit man Albert Morgan.
All ambassadors reflected on their time at Manchester United and detailed their expectations for Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United ahead of the upcoming campaign.
The insight shared from Manchester United icons had been everything that I had yet to experience. From watching interviews and highlights online on Andy Cole and Bryan Robson from their time at Manchester United, I had been left in awe hearing about their stories live in the flesh.
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Shortly after Manchester United’s icons had spoken, it was finally time to bring out players with Luke Shaw, Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay taking to the stage to unveil the 22/23 Manchester United away kit.
After a warm welcome for the Manchester United stars, the unveiling took place where the stunning white away kit was been displayed.
As a Manchester United fan usually preferring to purchase the retro kits, there was something special about this particular one.
Seeing the new kit unveiled in my home city of Melbourne brought me and many others in attendance the sentimental value that we all desired for the team we support halfway across the world.
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Being able to finally see my team play football was all but a dream come true for a young Manchester United fan who has only been given the privilege to watch the Red Devils on a TV screen.
From listening to icons of Manchester United to seeing the stars of today, the Manchester United kit unveiling will always be a night to remember. The pre-season tour of the Reds down under has answered the question pondered on my mind for years.
What makes me so connected to a football club on the other side of the world?
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What makes me feel so connected to Manchester United is simply the emotions this wonderful club brings out of you.
Seeing the global support and the massive cheers even across the world shows you just how big and special a club like Manchester United truly is.
Although chances to see Manchester United are limited, the pure joy that a kit unveiling had brought to myself and many Manchester United fans at Federation Square will always make this event so special to me.
When deciding which kit to purchase this season, the streak of myself purchasing retro kits will have to be broken, as the 22/23 Manchester United away kit will always hold sentimental value for a lifetime.
Topics: Manchester United, Australia, Scott Mctominay, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Erik Ten Hag
Gerard Bands