Tony Riley, a 76-year-old Manchester United fan, has been forced to give up the seat his family has held since 1949 to make way for hospitality guests paying up to £425 per match. Riley, whose father-in-law Laurie Cassidy played for United under Sir Matt Busby, described feeling 'helpless and hopeless' after the club informed him his seat in the Sir Bobby Charlton stand would be reallocated to VIPs from next season.
Riley is among 1,100 supporters affected by the cash-boosting plans overseen by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The prime seats near the dugout will be replaced by hospitality packages offering a three-course meal at Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat restaurant for £315, or a premium experience with champagne and padded seats for £425. By contrast, the cheapest adult season ticket costs £646.
Riley's seat, which bears his name, has been in the family since United returned to Old Trafford after the Second World War. His father-in-law, Laurie Cassidy, played for the club in the late 1940s and later worked for United, mentoring young players including David Beckham. Riley still attends nearly every home game despite a 180-mile round trip from Sutton Coldfield.
He criticised the growing corporate influence at the club, likening it to American football. 'They spend more time taking selfies than anything else. They’re not hardcore supporters,' he said of the hospitality fans. His daughter, Catherine Riley, accused the club of an 'absolute failure to understand, let alone value, the fans that turn out whatever the weather'.
The Manchester United Supporters Trust (Must) opposed the compulsory moves, calling them 'especially galling'. A spokesperson expressed concern that families could be split up and that the 1,200 VIP tickets would lengthen the waiting list for season tickets. Riley's final Premier League match in his current seat will be on 17 May against Nottingham Forest.
