A MAD Manchester United fan who attended the treble-winning parade in 1999, aged just one, has collected 700 signatures, including Sir Bobby Charlton’s, for the club to stage a victory celebration he can remember.
Star striker Ryan McLoughin, 9, who was too young to understand the original open-topped bus tour, wants council bosses to change their mind about the ban brought in after the trouble caused by Rangers’ fans during the UEFA Cup final.
The powerful centre forward, who scored 15 goals in 12 games for the Alderley Edge Nomads this season, collected signatures from fans at the Law, Best and Charlton statue unveiling, and at the Old Trafford Bruce Springsteen concert afterwards.
Wonderkid Ryan, named after Red’s legend Ryan Giggs, has even penned a letter, with his mum’s help, to Manchester City councillor Pat Carney pleading for town hall bosses to change their minds.
The youngster, of Clough Avenue, Lacey Green, who has received comparisons to Wayne Rooney, said: "My mum and dad took me to see the victory parade in 1999 and I was too young to understand. Can you tell me what has changed from 1999 to 2008?"
He writes that Stockport, Portsmouth and Hull have all had victory parades. "We are being punished for the minority of Scottish fans that were invited into Manchester to drink at their leisure on the streets."
Ryan has even appeared on Key 103 to give his campaign a springboard and met a host of United greats at the statue unveiling last week.
His dad, Wilmslow taxi driver John, 53, who regularly has Edwin van der Sar and Mikael Silvestre in his cab, said: "We got loads of signatures at the Springsteen concert from Liverpool and Chelsea fans. One Rangers’ fan even signed it and wrote ‘Very sorry’.
"I know that some of the players have gone to the Euros now but Ryan just wanted to do something for all Reds to celebrate straight after the final. He’s so dedicated to his football."
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council said: "We believe that the fans who went to Moscow and all the other supporters who weren’t able to be there deserve the opportunity to celebrate and share in the club’s triumph.
"That’s why Manchester City Council would positively encourage a victory parade as soon as practical and why we are happy to carry out our responsibilities in picking up our share of the organisation."
