Manchester United players including Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay have shared their thoughts on the music played at Old Trafford as part of a Stone Roses-inspired collaboration with Adidas which revisits Gary Neville’s influence at Old Trafford.
In a video produced by the club, Neville recalls how he asked for ‘This is the One’, the penultimate track from the Manchester band’s self-titled 1989 debut album, to be played when the teams ran out during his five years as club captain from 2005.
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The uplifting song, which was never released as a single, is still used as the team’s walk-out music.
“I wanted a new song,” says Neville, reflecting on his succession of Roy Keane as United skipper.
“It just sounds grand – and I think Old Trafford is splendour. The bond between Man United and ‘This is the One’ cannot be broken.
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“We were listening to Rocky. I love Rocky, don’t get me wrong – but he’s from Philadelphia. We have to have something here that’s authentic.”
Stone Roses singer Ian Brown, bassist Mani and guitarist John Squires are all United fans, with midfielder Scott McTominay crediting part of a lyric in the song, “immerse me in your splendour”, with “pretty much summing up perfectly” the way he feels about entering the pitch for home games.
Striker Rashford also features in the clips but confesses he is not always able to fully appreciate the anthem on his way to the halfway line.
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“When we’re walking out, you struggle to actually hear the music,” says the England international.
“The atmosphere and the fans are just so loud. It’s just that feeling of home and that sense of pride.”
Squire, who has just released an album and sold out a tour with noted Manchester City fan Liam Gallagher, has helped create a jersey paying homage to United and The Stone Roses as part of a new collection between the club and United’s official kit supplier.
The fashion line is described as a “fusion of football, fashion and music” by United, who also enlisted the likes of winger Alejandro Garnacho and former defender Wes Brown for the promotional material.
