By John Edwards
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Full page: The advert for a train from London for the Manchester Derby
It is a long-running joke that has singularly failed to raise so much as a smile within Old Trafford, but Manchester United may have left themselves open to more mockery after allowing a travel company's latest initiative an airing in Saturday's matchday programme.
For years, United have been the butt of jibes about drawing support from the south and having more followers in London than Manchester.
It has worn increasingly thin, but there is unlikely to be any let-up after Thomas Cook took out a full-page advert in the United Review offering special train rates for the forthcoming Manchester derby – from Euston Station.
Billed as United's 'Official Travel Partner', the holiday giants are so confident about the number of 'Cockney Reds' planning to attend the April 8 showdown at Old Trafford, they have laid on a special charter train to get them there.
Return travel from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly is 45 standard and 75 first class, and such is the response anticipated by Thomas Cook, they stipulated in the page 18 promotion: 'Manchester United supporters only.'
It should prove a popular alternative. With 75,000 inside Old Trafford, the roads can be murder on match days, particularly the M6 and M1.
London lot: How many of these supporters inside Old Trafford are from Manchester?
But with the team storming towards their 20th title, the supporters might not be too concerned wherever they're from.
United beat Reading 1-0 on Saturday night at Old Trafford thanks to Wayne Rooney's goal.
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