The man who created the ultimate Man Utd Cave

Fergus McAteer has gone the extra mile – or two hundred. When he settles down to watch his heroes he’s surrounded by a horde of Reds trinketry, paraphernalia and collectibles that could make the Old Trafford Museum raise an eyebrow.

“I am a lifelong collector of Manchester United memorabilia and always had the idea of creating a United room in my home,” explains Fergus in the June 2019 edition of Inside United magazine. “So when we built a new house I had this attic designed into the plans. It’s called Fergie’s Bar and it’s where I watch all United’s games when I’m not at Old Trafford.”

Casting an eye over the images, which you can see in the gallery above, you can see there’s an array of Reds-related riches, plus all mod cons, to be found in Fergie’s Bar. Drinks are of course sorted via the specially built-in bar, and there’s pre-and-post-match entertainment by way of a pool table (Reds cloth, of course), United table football, darts board and games corner. No wonder it’s a popular place. 

“Fergie’s Bar is a huve of activity on matchdays, with family and friends arriving to watch the matches. I religiously watch the games with my sons Charlie (13), Johnny (10 and daughter Mia (7). They also attend games with me at Old Trafford and are fanatical Reds.”

You can explore the photos in detail the see the range of memorabilia that Fergie’s Bar boasts, but one of the favourite collections of Fergus himself is a set of programmes from every cup final United have ever played, starting with the 1909 FA Cup victory over Bristol City. 

“I have every United DVD and video ever made and all the season reviews are part of the collection,” he adds. “I also have a collection of personally signed and framed shirts from winning goalscorers in FA Cup finals, including Norman Whiteside in 1985, Eric Cantona in 1996 through to Jesse Lingard in the 2016 final.”

Fergus is a regular at Old Trafford, travelling from his home in Donegal in north-west Ireland, and it was at the Theatre of Dreams where he lived out a fantasy of his own. 

“I played at Old Trafford in 2015 in a charity game. I fulfilled a lifelong ambition that day when I walked out as captain to the Champions League music, with my son Johnny as a mascot. I have my United jersey, captain’s armband, shorts, socks and boots in a glass case, never ever washed, still in the condition that I walked off the pitch at Old Trafford with the green grass of the hallowed turf still on my shorts.”

Fergus, we’re impressed. And inspired. We’re off to clear out our attics…

Reading this in our app? If not, you might miss some exclusive features not found on ManUtd.com. Download the Official App here.