(Manchester United News)
Denis Irwin has described the passion of Manchester United fans in China as “mind-boggling” ahead of the club’s next UNITED:LIVE fan party in Beijing.
Irwin is joining fellow Reds legend Dwight Yorke and thousands of supporters for a ‘Football Festival’ in the Chinese capital on 26 April, which will build up to a live broadcast of United’s game against Everton.
And based on his visit to China as a player with the Treble-winning squad of 1999, when United played in front of 80,000 fans in Shanghai, Irwin is expecting a memorable day for everyone involved this month.
“I’ve only been to China as a player once and it was after we’d won the Treble,” Irwin recalled. "We went on a pre-season tour which took in two games in Australia and then went up to Shanghai in China, before heading down to Hong Kong.
“It was very successful. Anything after winning the Treble was always going to be memorable but it was really good. It was great to experience China and it’s mind-boggling we’ve got that much support – to have 80,000 people turn up for a pre-season friendly.
“I also know from talking to Robbo and Coley, who have been to China a few times, that there is great support there. Hopefully, lots of fans will come along this month.”
Irwin has already attended one UNITED:LIVE event this season, in Indonesia at the end of January, when thousands of fans watched the Reds beat Leicester 3-1 at Old Trafford.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it,” he said. “We won the game, which made it even better. It was great to see so many fans and they were so passionate.”
Irwin admits he’s still taken aback by the commitment and knowledge of fans from the other side of the world, who regularly get up in the middle of the night to watch the Reds, and says events like UNITED:LIVE are the club’s way of thanking them.
“It never ceases to amaze me how much they know about present-day footballers but old fogeys like me, too!” Irwin said. “It’s quite amazing with the amount of stuff they collect; there are old jerseys mixed in with the new ones.
“It’s unbelievable and it’s only when you go to that part of the world that you recognise how passionate they are in South-East Asia – China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam. It’s great to go across and meet up with the fans and hear their experiences.
“It's nigh-on impossible for most of them to get across to Old Trafford, so to bring a little bit of the matchday experience over to them is fantastic and they get a feel for it from that.
“They see the present-day stars on TV and watched us in years gone by but, to go across to meet up and talk to them, and give our opinions, makes it more realistic.”
After his long, decorated career as a player, Irwin is now firmly established as one of the legends who represent the club around the world. And he’s enjoying every minute.
“It’s great to be involved in it,” he said. “We’re lucky to be able to travel the world and meet up with fans and partners. They are all delighted to be part of Manchester United.”
