It is fair to say the Red Issue fanzine split opinion among Manchester United fans. Many loved the acerbic way it zeroed in on matters affecting United fans for over 20 years. John-Paul O'Neill was a long-time contributor and eventually editor of Red Issue.
It is fair to say the Red Issue fanzine split opinion among Manchester United fans.
Many loved the acerbic way it zeroed in on matters affecting United fans for over 20 years. No-one was spared, both inside the club and out.
Others felt it was needlessly critical and, at times, went too far in its attacks.
John-Paul O'Neill was a long-time contributor and eventually editor of Red Issue. He was also a key figure in the founding of rebel club FC United.
I sat down with O'Neill recently to discuss his recently released book 'Those Were The Days' which charts United and their fans through the first half of the 1990s.
"It was brutal," he said of Red Issue's approach. "The idea was you'd never abuse the team in the ground. If you wanted to spout off, you do it in the magazine.
"Fergie [Sir Alex Ferguson] didn't like it. There were various interviews at the time when he said he didn't like fanzines. But Red Issue was sold in the United souvenir shop for a very short time until they looked at it and saw what was in it.
"Of course, it was a different time but I think people have just gone soft generally since then.
"In certain aspects, you could argue that is a good thing, but without that comedy and that sort of brutality at times, you're losing a big portion of everyday life, aren't you?"
Come back throughout Thursday to read the full interview.
Category: General Sports
