...till death, and beyond!

"I feel close to the rebelliousness and vigour of the youth here. Perhaps time will separate us, but nobody can deny that here, behind the windows of Manchester, there is an insane love of football, of celebration and of music." - Eric "The King" Cantona

As an 11 year old, playing a demo version of the famous FIFA 2003 on my PC, little did I presage that it would give way to a passion, a faith, a religion, an association that would have hitherto remained unforeseen and least expected. The video game allowed only 2 teams to be selected as the one which you would control – Manchester United and Arsenal. Human nature played its part: I always used to select Manchester United because “it was on the left of the screen” and Arsenal “on the right”, our natural tendency being to look at things that come first, left to right (which later led me to know the fact that United were the home side, and Arsenal the visiting one). That introduced me to the team, which I thought only existed within the realms of video gaming and “inside” CDs and computers.

As an 11 year old, who had just begun playing football, let alone understanding it (apart from the rules ofcourse, for I knew them, courtesy: FIFA 2003), I was quite naturally taken to watching football on TV. Then suddenly, one day, I saw something which I thought I never would – the actual players from the team of Manchester United. They were there, all of them – Scholes, Nistelrooy, Beckham, Keane, Giggs, Neville – all of them, playing right in front of me. I expected it to be a video game, but they were there, the players, live and living, with the same jersey, playing under the same name of the team that I would begin following from that very instant to perhaps eternity.

As an 11 year old, seeing Manchester United playing the same sport as I did, excited me enough to follow the team’s progress. I gradually began understanding the game. That led to an all new love for the sport and for United, their playing style being a catalyst for the deep interest that I took.

My journey had begun. To watch United play was strictly not to be missed. It had become a habit to celebrate every goal that United scored, mourn every loss that United suffered and gloriously live every victory that United achieved. That season, 2002-03, United were crowned Champions of England. I was happy, much like when India wins any cricket series. The newspapers then played their part in explaining how great a team United were, their greatness coming from the number of trophies that they had won. I still remember reading a small news item in a side-strip: “Leeds win, Man Utd win title.” And this endeared me more to the team – a champion team. I suppose you would feel that I jumped on the bandwagon, that I was just another wannabe fan, a glory hunter, a Muppet who supports the team because I chose the team while playing a video game. But it was all a lucky coincidence really.

That was not all. That wasn't the only reason. There was more to come. I came across the history of Manchester United. It was fascinating, endearing and great to be proud of. I became everything that – fascinated, endeared and proud, though I wasn’t associated with United when most of the history was carved out. But there was something more – the Mancunian pride, the fierce and intense rivalry with clubs like City, Liverpool and Leeds, the loyalty of the fanatics atop the Stretford End shouting and cheering the team, the determination, loyalty and passion of the players – that filled me with a sense of belonging to that very pride, that very rivalry, that very loyalty, that very Manchester United that was and that had become. Manchester United had become a passion, a faith, a religion, an association that would have hitherto remained unforeseen and least expected when I first played the video game as an 11 year old dearer than most things I loved. The players, the Red Devils, had become Gods and everything associated with United had become associated with me. United was my team, it was my love for them and it was my die-hard fanaticism for the club. I identified myself with the Mancunian pride and loyalty and with Manchester United.

Even to this day, I am filled with overwhelming pride when I happen to think about being a United fan, about being a part of a massive family of people around the world, who are similarly obsessed with United as I am, that never ceases to practice the religion that is Manchester United. You could imagine the degree of passion and love for the club when you see Mancunians holding the club in higher esteem than their own country! Such is their loyalty that it even exceeds their patriotism! The support that they provided Ronaldo with after the World Cup stands as an epitome to their loyalty. It's magical how United impart an unique unity between its fans. They are one of the best, without a doubt.

Even to this day, the erupting Stretford End, the emphatic and passionate celebrations of Beckham, Neville, Keano, Rooney - all true Devils, the kissing of United’s crest, the Theatre of Dreams, the magical beauty of feeling love for the team as one’s own family never fail to well up my eyes. It's probably easier to support a successful a team as United and be called a United fan but in future, no matter how many trophies United win or how bad or well they play, United and the players will have a special place in my heart forever, because I am a Red, and I don't and would never wish to change my colour even if United's new trophy cabinets house nothing. After 4 years since they last won the Premiere League, they did it last season. I hope there’s more of that to come.

Even to this day, I wonder, what if I had selected Arsenal while playing the video game. Would I have been a Gooner and not a Devil? The answer that I find eventually is negative, and it remains so.

I know I would follow United till death, and beyond!