Manchester United hero Norman Whiteside has decided not to renew his season ticket at Old Trafford after facing a number of issues. The 60-year-old joined United as a teenager in 1978 before breaking into the first team, where he scored 67 goals in 274 appearances and left to join Everton in 1989.
The decision from Whiteside and his wife, Dee, to give up their season tickets comes a year after they were forced to move their seats at Old Trafford to make way for executive seating. Dee Whiteside voiced her frustration on X by saying: "So, I’ve waited for a while to write this. It is with unbelievable sadness, that after more than 28 years of having season tickets at Old Trafford, @NormanWhiteside and I are not renewing next year. Having been forcibly relocated last season, ‘red carded’ for not attending enough games, unable to give my ‘paid for’ seat to my children… enough is enough.
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“And to cap it all, we’ve seen it all, we’ve won the lot, we’re Man United and we’re never gonna stop… except for so many seasons now, my match-going loyalty to my club has ended so sadly. I’ll still be at games, I’m MUFC until I die, and I’ve seen worse times than now, but I’m not sure I’ve seen players less interested in pulling on our shirt for very many years. Times must change."
Whiteside and his wife are platinum season ticket holders, meaning they have held their tickets at Old Trafford for over 25 years, but they feel now is the time to walk away from United. It was reported in February 2024 that United had decided to relocate season ticket holders in block S122 at Old Trafford, which affected the Whitesides.
A United spokesperson said at the time: “We have the greatest respect for Norman as a legend of the club, and understand the disappointment caused to him and other season ticket-holders by seat relocations.
"There are various reasons why this happens, including, next season, the moving of matchday hospitality seats into consolidated blocks to address fan concerns about them being dispersed around the stadium.
"Other changes next season include the removal of hospitality seating from the Stretford End and installation of further rail seating in the North-West Quadrant, bringing benefits to many fans but also causing some disruption.
"No additional hospitality seats are being created at the expense of season ticket-holders — in fact hospitality seating will reduce by more than 500 next season. We are committed to working with all season ticket-holders affected by relocations, including Norman, to find them the best possible alternative seats elsewhere in the ground.”
Whiteside became the youngest player to score in both FA Cup and League Cup finals during his time in Manchester. The Northern Irishman also shattered Pele's record by becoming the youngest player to play in a World Cup, representing his country at the age of 17 years and 40 days.
Unfortunately, injury forced Whiteside to retire at just 26. But he remains a beloved figure among United fans, especially for his match-winning goal against Everton in the 1985 FA Cup final.