Cullen recalls early United memories

Having following United ever since he was a young boy, the Bradford-born Red has watched the club over land and sea, and has even passed down the tradition to his son over recent years.

From Wembley to the Nou Camp, Cullen has certainly 'seen it all' over the last few years, but will always treasure his first time watching United back in the late 1990s.

"My first memory as a kid was probably my first game," began Joe, when speaking exclusively to Inside United, the official club magazine.

"It was against Rapid Vienna in the Champions League and I believe it was 1995/1996-ish. We had Fenerbahce and Juventus in our group as well. That was my first game and I think we won 2-0.

"[Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer and [David] Beckham scored. So that was my first memory. We didn't get to many being a working-class family and Manchester being an hour away from Wigan.

"We didn't get to many games as kid but I have tried to make up for it as I got older.''

It was that love for United that carried on through, culminating in trips abroad to follow his beloved Reds when he was old enough to do so.

Pictured in the away section during our 2-0 Emirates FA Cup fifth-round triumph over Chelsea back in 2019, Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba both found the net as Joe jumped for joy in the lower section of the Shed End.

Happy to have shared the experience with his son, Cullen admits his phone wouldn't stop after he was spotted via BBC's cameras.

''It was actually my lad's first-ever away game," added Joe.

"I was in the away end and obviously, playing darts, you sort of know where the cameras are at times and I remember the camera just being there as I believe [Ander] Herrera just scored.

"I think [Paul] Pogba scored that night and I saw the camera. The next thing I knew it was half-time and I just remember my phone pinging like mad of all these pictures going round!''

Having never progressed past the fourth round of the PDC World Championships, the 34-year-old will be bidding to post a career-best over the festive period, with all of his work across the calendar year leading up to this very tournament.

Big-hitters Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith are all in action, with Cullen feeling ready and raring to go.

"I'm all sorted for it now, everything in the year leads to this one and I think the timing of this tournament this year is a lot better," added Joe.

"With the seeds coming in during the second round, I have 10 days off over Christmas, which is nice, so hopefully that gives me a little bit more time family-wise."

Joe's full interview will be available via February's edition of Inside United. The exclusive club magazine is available at the Megastore, at Old Trafford on matchdays, or you can buy it online or subscribe via manutd.com/magazine.