Football fans want as much engagement with their clubs as possible, but sometimes, the best way to do that is to engage with each other. That used to mean pints in the pub before or after a game, but with social media, we can now engage with other fans and even the clubs themselves 24/7.
Youtube channels are arguably the best way to do this, and there is an enormous amount of Manchester United themed content on the platform. Some of the best of it comes from fans who have accidentally turned into professional Youtubers with channels that post several times a day.
I’m not talking about mainstream stuff like the club’s own channel, Sky Sports, or The Athletic. I’m not even talking about Rio Ferdinand’s channel, Rio Presents, which is great, but not hard to find, given that he’s a club legend.
I’m talking about fan run Youtube channels that have grown to become full-time businesses for the people who started them. Channels that offer the fans engaging and articulate content, stories, and breaking news reactions backed by real sources, and opinions formed by people who know what they are talking about.
The people behind these channels all have different personalities, so they won’t all suit everyone, but once you find the channel that clicks for you, it’s possible to be part of a community that you really look forward to interacting with each day.
Stephen Howson – 300k Subscribers
Stephen Howson, or Ste as most people refer to him, is every Manchester United fan rolled into one. He’s honest, he’s blunt, he’s opinionated (in the best way), and he hates the Glazers with a passion. The guy is ex-forces, and he has that energy about him.
Ste is a lifelong fan, and he knows an awful lot about the game of football, too. He even founded and manages a fan owned club called Stretford Paddock FC, and is a key member of the team behind another Youtube channel, also called The Stretford Paddock, which I will talk about shortly.
His own channel though, is just for his own opinions and analysis. He doesn’t interview people, he doesn’t have co-presenters, he just talks directly to his audience. He also live streams and engages with viewers by responding to their comments. He doesn’t pander to his viewers though. Make a comment he disagrees with and you are likely to be called an “absolute sausage” or something else equally amusing yet mildly insulting.
Ste gets wound up quite easily, which is very entertaining, but he is also a funny guy when he’s not losing his temper. He has a way with words which always makes you laugh.
He’s well known for his 5 Thing We Learned videos after each game, player ratings, and he does his own scout reports on youth talent and potential signings too, as well as covering all the latest news. His videos are usually between 10 and 20 minutes long, so they’re great while you’re making your tea or getting ready in the morning.
The Stretford Paddock – 820k Subscribers
The Stretford Paddock started life as Full Time Devils in 2013, so it was one of the first channels of its kind. By 2018 the channel had lost momentum so it was taken over by the Stretford Paddock guys and brought back to life. However, the Stretford Paddock guys had their own channel, which they changed to be all about the football club, Stretford Paddock FC. So the backstory here is a bit confusing.
Anyway, the channel usually takes a panel format, with several presenters discussing things with each other as well as the viewers. They will do individual shows too, but the bulk of their content is panel based. They work from a studio and on location.
It has a much more grounded feel than the other channels on this page, taking the topics they discuss seriously. Although that doesn’t mean it’s never funny. It is. It’s just that the presenters are knowledgeable and have deep, meaningful discussions about club identity, club politics, tactics, analysis, and news, but humour comes out of that.
You will usually find Joe and Jay leading things, either together or with others, but Stephen Howson, Andy Tate, Adam McKola and others often join. The guys get access to some great guests too, such as Laurie Whitwell and Rio Ferdinand, and their club sources often pass them interesting insider info.
Video length ranges from 10 minutes to about an hour, with discussion videos being at the longer end.
The United Stand – Mark Goldbridge – 2.2 Million Subscribers
It’s fair to say that The United Stand is the more clickbaity of the Youtube channels on this list.
Mark Goldbridge is the man who started the channel, but he employs a few other presenters such as Beth Tucker in order to provide more rolling content. That said, it’s Goldbridge that most people know of.
He’s clearly a bright guy – he used to be a detective – and knows a lot about how football works off the pitch, but many people think he ‘performs’ when on camera. He has a slightly heightened character that is Alan Partridge-esque, and probably plays up the emotions a bit when presenting his show. He’s very funny, bordering on annoying sometimes, yet you want to watch him.
He is known for his catchphrase “Champers”, when things go well for United, and is often seen making funny noises or humming before a live stream starts. Again, many people feel this is staged for comic effect. His comments, rants, and analogies during watch-alongs are legendary:
The channel is very reactive. It’s live several times a day discussing the latest headlines or tweets from United journalists such as David Ornstein, Laurie Whitwell, and Fabrizio Romano, and interacting with viewers directly. They also do interviews with players when they get access, such as after a match, and watch-alongs with Mark.
It’s the biggest fan run Manchester United Youtube channel on the internet, and they even secured the rights to show some Bundesliga matches in 2025, which is a first for a Youtube channel.
Mark may be a figure of fun in some ways, but he’s often right to give him his dues, and no one can say his channel is not entertaining.