MANCHESTER UNITED PLC - THE CARING CLUB

Last updated : 28 August 2005 By Ed

From The M.E.N.

George Hamilton and son Eddie will be moved from the seats they have used for more than 40 years for European matches.

Their seats are among 200 the club is handing over to sponsors of the Champions League.

George, 78, who saw United's first-ever European game, received a letter telling them they would have to move from the South Stand because the club were "required to offer a number of Category A tickets to UEFA sponsors".

George and Eddie, 47, who has cerebral palsy, have a parking space close to the stand.

Second World War veteran George said: "The seats hold so many memories for me and Eddie. I've been taking him all his life and when he was a boy I used to carry him to games because his cerebral palsy was so bad he couldn't walk. Now, when Fergie goes by he always gives us a wave.

"We feel let down. Me and Eddie have never heard of anything like this before."

The pair, who pay a total of £1,023 for their season tickets, will still be able to watch Premiership and cup games from their seats.

But George says they enjoy European matches the most.

He said: "I don't know what to make of losing the seats because our favourite times of all are when we've won the European Cup or the Champions League, and the worst times have been when we've crashed out of it."

A Manchester United spokesman told the M.E.N. the new seats for the 200 fans might not be as good.

He said: "Fans like the Hamiltons who follow the club for a long time and grow up supporting the club are exceptionally important to us and it's unfortunate we have had to inconvenience them."