On the road with Salford City FC supporters
We travelled down to Crawley with hardy Salford City fans as their side chased promotion on the final day of the season.
Imagine getting up at the crack of dawn to make a round trip of nearly 400 miles and 12 hours to watch the team agonisingly miss out on promotion on the final day. The money spent and miles crossed by train, bus or car to stand in the driving rain in Crawley as jubilant opposition fans twist the knife, run onto the pitch in a sea of red smoke and revel in the joy that was so nearly yours. For the hardy Salford City supporters who hit the road on the final day of the League Two season, that agony was a price worth paying for the memories made along the way…
It is 6:40 on an overcast Saturday in May and hundreds of brightly coloured, fancy-dress-wearing Salford City supporters line the pavement outside the Peninsula Stadium waiting for a fleet of coaches to whisk them down south for the biggest game in the club’s 86-year history.
A bunch of carrots huddled together to fend off the early morning wind were delighted to be ushered into the warmth of one of the first arriving vehicles by a register-waving captain-hook-style pirate. Their joy only grew as bacon and sausage barms were passed down the aisle, while fans waiting for the remaining buses looked through the window with envy.
Soon enough, though, those shivering supporters dressed in sombreros with caricature Mexican moustaches, people in 70s disco jumpsuits and Dr Seuss characters had clambered onto the coach and picked their choice of red or brown sauce on their sandwich as the bus rolled out of leafy Kersal and hit the motorway.
They say time flies when you’re having fun, or semi-comatose after the early start. In a flash, it was 9am and all five coaches had arrived at Cannock Services, off the M6 in the Midlands. Any question that those sleepy Salford fans would be too knackered to fly their colours, sing their songs or dance as they crossed paths with Southampton supporters heading north was swiftly put to bed as the pitstop became one big costume party.
With Scooby-Doo, Princess Peach and a balding vicar letting loose as Madonna’s ‘Into the Groove’ blared from a speaker, supporters Toni Thomson, Angela and 89-year-old Brenda said they had been to almost every game over the past decade and explained the tradition behind wearing fancy dress for the final game of the season.
But why? “Passion,” Toni said with a smile. “There’s a real family feel to following Salford on days like these. There’s a good mix of ages, young and old, on the away trips, and everyone looks after each other.”
Their commitment to Salford City stretches beyond that of the average diehard fan: all three are part of a group of committed volunteers who keep these special trips running.
“It can be a bit chaotic organising travel, trying to book friends together under different names can be a bit of an admin nightmare, but it makes for a good day. It’s all worth it in the end if you get a last-minute winner.”
Angela highlighted that, since the “non-league days, ”Salford City supporters have maintained the tradition of dressing up as fruit, animals and stars of stage and screen for their last away day of the campaign. “It’s special,” she said, adding: “It’s incredibly fun, especially on a day like this.”
During the 2024/25 season, Salford City’s average away following of 242 made them the fourth worst-supported club in League Two. While that figure should not be scoffed at, given the number of successful and historic teams concentrated in the North West, the Ammies’ attendances are creeping up and club bosses say the city is falling in love with its football team.
By reducing tickets for key fixtures and, importantly, winning games, improving gate numbers have given Salford manager Karl Robinson reason to believe a “new generation of fans” has been created and will pass on their affection for the club to their children over the coming years.
His side travelled to Crawley knowing victory, combined with Cambridge dropping points, would secure promotion to League One for the first time in the club’s history. “The worst possible outcome would be Cambridge dropping points and us not winning,” laughed Toni. Inevitably, that was exactly how the bitterly cruel promotion showdown panned out.
But before abject refereeing decisions, poor finishing and heroics from Aussie goalkeeper Jacob Chapman meant Salford’s automatic promotion hopes would die a death in a 0-0 draw with final-day relegation survivors Crawley Town, Ammies fans were leaving Cannock services upbeat, continuing their pilgrimage down past London.
After three hours rolling through the countryside on a sweltering coach, soundtracked by Britpop classics and Salford folk singer Ewan MacColl’s Dirty Old Town, supporters descended on a Wetherspoons in Crawley shortly after 1pm.
Lee Smith, the pint-drinking, Mexican shawl-wearing Salford supporter of 10 years, explained that he met the group of friends he’d travelled down with while watching the club.
“We stand in the same place every week and these guys, you sort of stood there and you start chatting over time,” he said, standing in the shade from the bright afternoon sun.
“We love coming on these trips for the community, socialisation, camaraderie and the beer.”
Across the other side of the forecourt, teeming with Salford fans singing about the online dating habits of star striker Daniel Udoh, Matt Smith (namesake to the former goalscoring Salford captain of yesteryear) and father and son Peter and Oscar Groves are having a well-earned drink after a long journey.
Matt highlighted that there was a bumper away following with promotion on the line. “Normally, when there’s maybe 100 people, you recognise everyone,” he said. “It’s always more fun at the away games than the home ones.
“The first time I went to watch Salford was in 1996, when there were only a few men and a dog. Since the Class of 92 came in, I have seen them rise through the leagues, which has been great.”
Peter has been attending games with his son for four years. “It’s a lovely time out, dedicated time we get to spend together,” he said. “It’s a right good laugh; we have fallen in love with it and now look forward to every Saturday.”
The bar inside the Wetherspoons is rammed with optimistic Salford and Crawley fans. A lively group on chairs begin to chant, “Dan Udoh’s on Tinder… messaging your sister” to the tune of Earth, Wind & Fire’s 70’s hit ‘September.’
If the Salford hotshot is indeed looking for love, he could call on the expertise of Ammies supporter, volunteer, and Old Dead Tree fanzine writer Kev Wright, who met his long-time wife Jo at Moor Lane.
Dressed as pirates, the pair explained that Kev, then a steward at the club, went to an end-of-season where he won a slap-up meal for two and invited Jo, an Ammies fan of 35 years, to come along – and the rest is history.
Ahead of the “biggest day in the club’s existence,” Kev reflected on the “mind-boggling progress” promotion to English Football’s third tier would represent in a short space of time.
“I think it would be a very fitting achievement in the city’s 100th year for Salford to earn promotion; it would be the icing on the cake,” Kev said. “We need to do our job and if we end up in the play-offs, we can still earn promotion that way.”
Jo said the football club has become “almost unrecognisable” from when she was first taken to the ground by her mother and stepdad, who were heavily involved before ex-United quintet Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt took over Salford in 2014, sparking the rise into the football league.
It is unbelievable for us who’ve seen the ground when there were 50 supporters and a dog. My stepdad was the treasurer, and my mum worked doing the food. And I did the sandwiches for the football team and the referees. Life got in the way, and I took a bit of time away before coming back, but we have been here since and hopefully this season we will earn promotion.
Unfortunately, the Salford fans who made the long journey south watched on despairingly as The Ammies dominated but were held to a 0-0 draw as the rain poured down on the Broadfield Stadium.
Despite hitting the bar twice, having an appeal for a penalty controversially turned down and pressing until the seven minutes of added time were up, Karl Robinson’s men failed to exorcise the ghosts of the 0-0 draw that saw them miss out on a play-off finish in a similar fashion a year before.
However, this time around, a fourth-place finish means Salford have the chance to earn promotion in style at Wembley through the play-offs.
On Sunday, luck turned in their favour as Adebola Oluwo scored a controversial headed goal as Salford City battled to a 2-1 win at Grimsby Town in the League Two play-off semi-final first leg, which head coach Robinson conceded was likely offside.
Tonight, as The Ammies welcome the Mariners back to the Peninsula Stadium for a season-defining second leg, the hordes of fans wearing red and white who braved the journey to Crawley may have their faith repaid.
Would succumbing to another gut-wrenching loss make those fans wonder if it’s all worth it? Maybe, but not for long.
“It’s not about whichever way the game goes. It’s about the people you meet and the experiences you have watching Salford,” said Jo.
Top news of the week
Salford Council apologises as adult social care service rated ‘inadequate’
Salford Mayor Paul Dennett apologised to residents and admitted services have “not been fit for purpose” after a watchdog criticised Salford City Council over its “inadequate” adult social care provision.
The Care Quality Commission gave Salford City Council the lowest possible rating in a newly published report, which follows an inspection in November 2025. Read more here.
Salford man jailed for child sex offences against 13-year-old girl
A man from Salford has been jailed for five years after admitting multiple child sex offences against a 13-year-old girl.
Dean Clarke, of Cannon Hussey Court in Inslington Way, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual communication with a child in March.
The 25-year-old was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, 14 May.
The mother of the victim said in court that Clarke’s abuse has caused her daughter to become “withdrawn” and has hampered her education. Read more here.
Salford MP calls for Starmer to resign after Labour local election losses
A Salford MP called for Sir Keir Starmer to “set out a timetable” for a new Prime Minister to be elected following the Labour Party’s disastrous local election results in the city and across the country.
Earlier this week, Rebecca Long-Bailey joined a growing list of 80 Labour MPs to call for Starmer to step down after his speech on Monday failed to convince critics that he remains the best person to lead the country forward. Read more here.
Salford commuters urged to “plan ahead” as tram lines close for £150m upgrades
Salford commuters have been urged to plan their journeys ahead as key tram routes are set to close for essential upgrade work.
Several tram services will not operate at the end of May as the next stage of £150m worth of improvement works takes shape across Greater Manchester. Read more here.
Olympic medallist to cut ribbon at new Aldi store in Salford
A Team GB Olympic medallist is set to attend the opening of a new Aldi supermarket in Salford.
Lewis Richardson was Britain’s only boxing medallist at the 2024 Paris 2024 Olympic Games, winning bronze in the 71kg category.
The gloves will be off for the 28-year-old Olympic boxer when he swaps the ring for ribbon-cutting duties at the new Aldi store on Trafford Road in Ordsall, which opens its doors to Salford shoppers for the first time on 28 May. Read more here.
Eccles college celebrates birth of rare goat twins
Excited students and teachers at a college in Eccles are celebrating the arrival of two “rare” goat kids at their state-of-the-art animal centre.
Eccles Sixth Form College Animal Park welcomed two English-type goats on Friday, 1 May, which has been hailed as a step towards the conservation of one of Britain’s rarest native livestock breeds.
The twins, a male named Bandit and a female named Belle, were born at the College’s animal park in Salford and are expected to be registered as part of the endangered English goat breed in the coming months, baaahrilliant news! Read more here.
What’s on in Salford
By River Frayling
🎭 The Lowry Theatre has an action-packed ahead which kicks off as wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin brings his tour ‘My Life Behind the Lens’ on Monday 18 May.
🕺 Meanwhile, at the Salford Quays-based theatre, Strictly: The Professionals will take centre stage from Tuesday 19 to Wednesday 20 May with a packed performance as dance lovers descend on the city. Find out more here.
🪩 The White Hotel will open its doors to electronic music lovers on Saturday, 16 May, hosting a lineup featuring dark ambient duo Demdike Stare, k means & Rosa, Jon K & Elle Andrews, and Annabel Fraser. This is an 18+ only event. Tickets are available here.
🎸 The Eagle Inn will be hosting a ten-year anniversary tribute performance for Texan songwriter Guy Clark on Sunday, 17 May. Live music from Matt Hill and Dimestore Dirtbags will accompany readings about the songwriter’s work. Evening performances at The Eagle Inn will also include Concrete Swan Dive on Monday 18, Dusty Pop: Lily Haylett on Wednesday 20 and many more. More information can be found here.
📖 Historic Salford pub The Kings Arms is inviting audiences to its Verbose spoken word night on Monday, 18, in collaboration with Bad Betty Press. Headlining acts include author Ashley Hickson-Lovence, writer and performer Hannah Silva, international slam champion Keither Jarrett, award-winning poet Jack Wild Hall, and Mancunian poet Carson Wolfe. Tickets and more information can be found here.
Photo of the week
This week’s featured photo is from 1946, showing Ellen Wilkinson, Minister of Education, speaking in Salford’s Peel Hall.
Ellen Wilkinson was MP for Middlesbrough East from 1924 to 1931 and Jarrow from 1935 to 1947. She was an active spokesperson for women’s rights and advocated for equal pay throughout her political career. She served as Minister of Education from July 1945; this photo was taken the year before her death in February 1947.
Known as ‘Red Ellen’ and the ‘Fiery Particle’ during her time in politics for her passionate Socialist views and red hair, Wilkinson gained respect from the public through her determination and strong will. By 1945, she was the only woman in Clement Attlee’s Labour Government. As Minister of Education, she oversaw the de-Nazification of German education and personally rescued Jewish children at the Saar border, pre-empting an attack by Nazi troops. During her time in parliament, Ellen Wilkinson fought for widows’ rights, birth control and implemented a new education system. By her death in 1947, she had provided free milk and meals for children in deprivation across the UK, created 400,000 classroom spaces, and provided grants to 37,000 ex-servicemen and women to train as teachers.
Despite her many political achievements and contributions to the UK’s education system to this day, she was barely recognised for her efforts. Although her education services were commemorated by Manchester University naming their Humanities building after her, she remains underrepresented for her life-changing work in social justice, workers’ rights and education reform.
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