Manchester United's David Moyes walks through Sydney Airport. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
MANCHESTER United have made a relatively sedate entrance into Australia after a mix-up saw fans make a last-minute dash to Sydney airport in a bid to greet the English football club.
Jerseys were signed, hands were shook and some flags brandished but the entrance was a far quieter affair than the rowdy scenes the team would be accustomed to during their games.
"From what I (first) heard they weren't going to be coming through the front," Chairman of the Manchester United Supporters Club Mark O'Connor said. "They were supposed to be going out the back entrance."
"We only just learned they would be coming through the front not long ago."
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand has his photo taken with fans David and Fifita Nagaue and their baby Dominic Van Persie (named after Man U's Robin Van Persie ) at Sydney International Airport. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
Mr O'Connor said he and his wife made a "mad scramble" during the drive from his business in Oatley trying to phone as many club supporters as possible.
"So many people were frustrated and angry," he said. "They said 'I can't believe you're telling me this now' but I had to tell then I've just found out myself."
At the international arrivals terminal around three dozen fans decked out in the team's red jerseys and brandishing Man U flags were outnumbered by the team and entourage as players filed quietly onto waiting buses.
Manchester United's Dwight Yorke poses for photographs at Sydney Airport. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
Marquee players stopped and shook hands with fans and cracked the occasional smile as the team's chants were belted out but the overall attitude was businesslike and low-key.
Fan Fadel Issa says he came to the airport the second he found out the team would meet fans.
"I've been a fan as long as I can remember," he said. "They were the first team I watched."
"I love the team and characters. Rio is such a character. They don't have many players like him left in the game."
Many of the fans, like Kevin Dias and Con Sgouros, both 29, have been following the team their whole lives.
"I've been following them since I was three because of the way they play," Mr Sgouros said. "Until that final whistle they believe."
"That's what it takes."
The Manchester United team still flies together on one plane, despite suffering the tragedy of losing eight players in a plane crash in Munich in 1958.
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