Revealed: 2024's Ian Stirling Fan Award winner

Now in its second year, the Fan Award honours supporter commitment that goes above and beyond for our club, the community, and United supporters. This award was introduced in memory of the late Ian Stirling, who sadly passed away last year, in recognition of his contributions as Fan Representative on the Fans’ Forum, Fans’ Advisory Board and ISLO for Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (M.U.S.T).

We received hundreds of fan nominations from supporters across the world, and this year’s winner is Joe Glanville, a lifelong United supporter and core member of the Malta Supporters’ Club, United’s longest-running supporters’ club, which was set up 66 years ago.

Not only has Joe committed his life to United, he has cultivated an extraordinary community of fans across Malta and beyond, donates much of his time and memorabilia to preserving United’s heritage and works tirelessly to honour the memory of the Busby Babes, exemplified by the Munich anniversary exhibition hosted in Malta this February.

Joe said: “To know that I have been awarded the Ian Stirling Fan Award is a great honour. The late Ian Stirling was a great friend of mine and I always appreciated the great work he performed for the benefit of Manchester United fans. To put me in that category is unbelievable.

“I would like to thank both MUSC (Malta) for the nomination and the Board responsible for selecting me and for their appreciation for my work towards our great football club, Manchester United. This could not have been possible without the help of past and present Committees of our Supporters' Club who always worked tirelessly to see our local Supporters’ Club reach a standard which nobody ever imagined. This is amazing!”

Malta Supporters Club nominated Joseph for the award and secretary Joseph Tedesco said:

“Football is nothing without fans. Joe Glanville has held a unique relationship with Man United since the early 60s and is well known by practically all the longstanding personalities attached to this football institution. He could write volumes about his story; he has served as President of the Supporters’ Club for many years and is still supporting the present Committee. During his lifetime he has helped so many people from Malta and beyond to get close to Manchester United, led fundraising initiatives to help local charities through his unique collection of memorabilia and is highly respected by thousands of fans from all over the world, some of whom call him Sir Joe.”

Rick McGagh, Director of Fan Engagement, said:

“Joe Glanville has done an incredible job for his fellow United fans and community in Malta and is very deserving of this prestigious award. He has worked tirelessly over several decades to grow our fanbase in Malta and keep the memory of the Busby Babes alive and it was an honour to see his work first hand when we attended the opening of their Munich exhibition in February. I know Ian would be delighted that someone he knew so well would receive this award, and everyone at Manchester United thanks Joe for all he has done and congratulates him on this achievement. We look forward to presenting the award to Joe at a game this season.”

Find your local Supporters' Club here.