The Heartbeat of United: Jason Leach
Jason Leach has done everything but “bang one in at the Stretford End” during nearly 20 years as a Manchester United employee.
He describes himself as a club historian, an MC and a matchday host, among other things, while his job title currently reads ‘Venue reception and operations’.
But job titles don’t really do Jason justice, to put it mildly. He’s the first person guests will meet when they enter Old Trafford’s main reception at East Stand (you’ve probably unwittingly seen photos of him escorting high-profile personnel across the forecourt).
And once you’ve encountered Jason, you don’t forget it.
A more accurate job title might go something like: ‘United apostle.’ This is a man on a mission to share his ardour for the Reds with every single person he meets.
That he is the first face non-believers encounter when they visit Old Trafford is no accident.
“I make sure that when people come in, they know they’re coming to the greatest club in the world,” begins Leach, when United Review pops in for a chat a few days after the Wolves game.
“I believe that, and we can’t shy away from it. So when people walk in the front door, that’s what they’re going to get.”
What they get is energy, enthusiasm and passion. By the bucketload. And a reminder that Manchester United is, ultimately, carried by its fans – whether inside or outside of the club. By those who truly and deeply care about our well-being as a sporting and community institution. Reds like Jason embody that.
“This is my seventh role at the club now,” he marvels. “And I love it. Because you can come in and you can make a difference to the club. Every day. And I know that applies to other people around the club. Unsung heroes who, every time they are in, do something that makes someone go: ‘Wow, Manchester United.’ That’s the Busby thing; that’s what Matt always wanted. We have to be different, we have to creative, we have to be the best.”
Prior to joining, Leach worked on a football show at radio station Century FM, where he befriended ex-Red Mickey Thomas. One day, the pair were driving to Old Trafford for a broadcast, when Jason whispered: “Mickey, I’d kill to work at United.”
Ten minutes (and a phone call) later, an interview at the club museum had been arranged.
“They asked me a load of questions about United, all eras. I just went boom, boom, boom. I started the week after, initially as a tour guide.”
The years since have taken him into sales, to looking after executive suites, and, for the last 14 years, to matchday hospitality, where he hosts post-match Q&A sessions with United legends like Wes Brown and Denis Irwin. The club has sent him all over the world, too – confident that his zeal for the United faith can inspire others across the globe.
“I’ve been very lucky, [going to] India, the USA, Europe, South Africa. It’s endless! I went to India for five days with Wes and we saw 9,000 fans in Bangalore. We set up a little United hub, took some stuff from the museum with us, built an astro pitch, and then had a game screening. It was like this crescendo of United magic. To see these people... not many will get to Old Trafford, but we took a little bit of Manchester over to them. To represent the club and know that you’ve made a difference on the other side of the planet, that is really special.”
On every matchday, Jason is here making sure as many people in M16 feel special. For a night game, he’ll routinely start on reception at 8am and then leave after midnight, following a hospitality shift.
“I am a fan when the whistle goes, but then there will be moments in the game where I think: ‘Remember that; that’s a talking point.’ That helps to make the post-match Q&A informative.”
It’s been quite the journey, for a young Salford lad who grew up idolising George Best and Lou Macari, and putting together school projects on local hero Eddie Colman.
Now, Jason considers Macari and many other former Reds as personal friends, while he spends his days spreading the United gospel to fellow colleagues, fans and special guests alike.
“I’m so lucky,” he smiles. “If my mates in Salford said to me 20 years ago: ‘You’re going to get a job talking about United all day, every day’... it’s crazy. Where does my energy come from? It’s United, isn’t it? What’s not to love? And if you love something, you throw your heart and soul into it.”
The Heartbeat of United is a new series in our official matchday programme, United Review. This piece was first published in the Nottingham Forest edition.