Back in the mid 90's, my aunt dated and then married a guy from Marseille, France. Given that he had an accent, and I was 9 or 10 years old I thought he was the coolest guy ever. My aunt would babysit me and I'd go to their house, he'd always be watching soccer. Truthfully, I don't remember if watched United or not but I do know he wore an Eric Cantona kit around the house. He was a huge fan and when I'd play he'd yell "CANTONAAAA!!" every time I touched the ball. My aunt and uncle actually had a terrible divorce and I haven't seen him in 15 years or so but that always stuck with me. When we got our first computer and connected online, Manchester United was one of the first things I searched for. I actually never saw the Champions League final against Bayern in 99 until months after it happened.
In high school it was a little tougher to keep track of whats going on, but being from an immigrant town in Rhode Island with most of the people coming from Portugal, I had it better than most. I actually have a group of friends who I started to play Fifa with around 2001 so that helped me keep track of players. We still play FIFA once a week, the same 5 guys. In the early and mid 2000's I remember games being on ESPN2 but maybe one a week? Luckily since United were always good, they were on frequently. I graduated high school in 2003. Fox Soccer (or Fox Sports) shortly gained the rights to the Premier League after that and I had a TV at the gas station I used to work at. That changed everything. Not only were 70-80% of all United's games on TV, but the rest of the league too! I was hooked. I took in every game I could. If United weren't on TV that week, I'd torrent the game and download it overnight.
This, IMO, is still the best Premier League into ever. I actually still listen to the techno remix from time to time:
From the mid 2000's on I haven't missed a United match. I may have to record and watch later, but I've seen every one. Over that time, Wayne Rooney became my favorite athlete. People don't remember because things have changed so much, but when he was younger Rooney was thought to be on the same talent level as Ronaldo and Messi. He was different though. Instead of incredible dribbling, he'd get by you with determination and sometimes brute strength. I loved it. He played like I wanted to. At one point in his young career he had an equal number of goals and cards.
My fandom was the perfect mix of being young an impressionable to then growing up and being able to watch the swashbuckling style of those Sir Alex Ferguson teams.
Another thing that's helped, though less so now, is the preseason tours that United came on to America. It isn't like this anymore but part of the reason they used to like coming here was the anonymity that America provided them with. A few examples. One tour they came on, they asked for pictures of you in your United kits. They said fans would be chosen at random but those that were would have their faces and names put on the screen at Gillette stadium. I believe my girlfriend and I were the only two people to submit pictures because we were on the screens the whole game.
Another time, I read a very small blurb on United's website that said a soccer store was having a Q and A with United players, and that I should contact the store for more details. When I did, the store told me that the deal was $100 and you get a new jersey, access to the Q and A at the store, and then a ticket to a private training session. So I go, and there are maybe 50 people there for the Q and A with Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher, and Michael Carrick. Then after that they put us on busses to the training session, where every single player of the team came around and signed autographs for everyone. At the training, they interviewed us on what we thought of the tour, etc... and my interview was chosen to be on the front page of manutd.com
Lastly, when my wife and I went to Old Trafford a few year's back we struck up a conversation with long time stadium announcer Alan Keegan (who also does the voice for FIFA). I don't know how we got on the subject or why we hit it off so well but we've stayed in touch over the years. Last time United came on tour under LVG we met the team in Chicago with Alan. My wife and I were able to go to the hotel lounge with him and he introduced us to a lot of the staff from the club. It was a bit surreal. As we're walking out, Sir Alex walks in. I've met a lot of people and have never gotten star struck...until then. I froze. My wife is begging me to go over and say hi to him. I can't do it. As we're arguing about it he walks out. Lost opportunity.
So not only has the club provided me with a lot of entertainment and good feelings over the years, but they've also given me some very cool experiences.