Man United and Premier League fans have been taken for granted for too long - we need to come together

An unwavering commitment to follow their team around the country persists despite highly-inconvenient fixture scheduling. On Tuesday, the Premier League announced the televised matches through to the end of January, which included Manchester United playing in Fulham at 7pm on Sunday, January 26.

As the last scheduled direct train to Manchester leaves Euston at 9.24 pm, fans are unable to get back using the most convenient transport. For United supporters, this is just a continuation of horrific away fixture scheduling.

Since the end of March, they have played at 8pm at Brentford, 8.15pm at Chelsea, 5.30pm at Bournemouth, 8pm at Crystal Palace, 12.30pm at Brighton and 12.30pm at Southampton.

I went to the game at Selhurst Park, which was played at 8pm on a bank holiday Monday in May. Travel was highly restrictive and although United partnered with Adidas to provide free coaches for fans, I was travelling from university in the Midlands. We were forced to drive, and the traffic was a nightmare – it took more than four hours.

Despite fan complaints following that game, United’s first two domestic away games this season were 12.30 kick-offs on the south coast against Brighton and Southampton. I guess United fans should count themselves lucky they were not forced to make the 500-mile round trip on a Thursday night as they were two years ago.

Scheduling away games for midweek evenings drastically increases the cost for football fans. The combination of the ticket, travel, potential accommodation, food, drink, and time off from work make it an immense commitment. But this issue will continue indefinitely due to broadcasters’ desire to televise United, especially their away games.

Last season, the only United away match in the league which was not broadcast to a UK audience was on the final day at Brighton. As Premier League away allocations typically do not exceed 3,000, TV coverage is the only way for most people to watch the biggest club in England, but it should not come at the expense of match-going fans.

Recently the league has become more southern-based and it has become more challenging for broadcasters to give northern sides desirable away kick-off times. But as the late great Jock Stein said: “Football without the fans is nothing.”

Fans must unite to demand better treatment from broadcasters. It is not something we do often enough in England because of the fierce partisanship between supporters. But deep frustration with television scheduling is a shared issue that will only be addressed through unity.

A noticeable fixture change confirmed on Tuesday was Bournemouth’s 700-mile round trip to Newcastle being rescheduled to a 12.30 kick-off on Saturday, January 18. Similar examples can be seen whenever fixtures are rearranged, but fans continue to travel and support their team. And the atmosphere created by sold-out away ends is an essential part of the Premier League product which broadcasters pay so much for.

Much more must be done to look after away fans.