Oasis: What do they mean to Manchester football fans? (2025)

Published

27 August 2024

It was the worst-kept secret around. On Tuesday morning, Liam and Noel Gallagher announced Oasis were reforming to play a series of dates across the UK and Ireland next year - 15 years after their split.

But what does the reunion mean for fans of their home city's two biggest football clubs?

Liam and Noel have famously found plenty to disagree about over the years, but one thing they have in common is their love for Manchester City.

The boys from Burnage were in their pomp during the mid-90s, playing to 250,000 people over two nights at Knebworth in 1996. Their swagger became synonymous with the whole city.

But their football team - and cross-city rivals United - were on very different trajectories at the time.

While Sir Alex Ferguson was building a dynasty at Old Trafford - delivering 13 Premier League trophies between 1993 and 2013 - City's fortunes were rather more mixed.

In 1998 - following the release of Oasis' third album, Be Here Now - the Blues were in the third tier of English football.

The band split in August 2009 - a year after City's takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

Fifteen years on, City have won the Champions League, eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and six League Cups. United, meanwhile, have not won the league since Ferguson retired in 2013.

There was, naturally, plenty of social media reaction to the Oasis announcement.

Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham posted a picture of the Gallaghers on his Instagram with the caption: "No words needed."

His fellow United great Gary Neville, who played alongside his sibling Phil for club and country, wrote on Instagram: "Manchester's second most famous brothers make a comeback!"

On X, former Liverpool player Stan Collymore said Oasis were "part of what reinvented British cool" in the 90s and the reunion evoked memories of when "Britain was at the centre of global sport, music and fashion at the SAME time".

Nigel Rothband - host of the Man City Show podcast:

"From a City point of view, it's a big deal - Wonderwall is played at the Etihad. Do Manchester United fans hate Oasis? I'm not sure if that's true. Do we hate The Stone Roses? I’m not sure it's that strong. But is there a natural connection between Oasis and City fans? Yes.

"Noel, in particular, is a proper fan. He has a real affinity with City fans and a real connection. You go to his concerts and he will have City memorabilia on stage."

Gaz Drinkwater - Manchester United reporter for BBC Radio Manchester:

"There's a bit of football banter, but one of the few things in this city that actually does feel potentially bigger than football is bands like Oasis and The Stone Roses. I don't think anyone will be too concerned about where their allegiances are by the time these gigs come around.

"City have gone through this massive change since Oasis broke up. Maybe things will be different for the younger fans, but I just think it's all about the music with Oasis.

"(What's the Story) Morning Glory? was released the year I was born. My dad was massively into them and got me into them. I think I actually walked into my barber's with a picture of Noel Gallagher at one point and said: 'Can you make it look like this?' I started learning guitar because of Oasis and set up a little band. We were absolutely useless, but that was all because of Oasis."

Oasis have inspired generations of Mancs to wear their hair, and their parkas, with a certain panache.

Reacting to the news of the reunion, self-confessed superfan Scarlett Thornton said: "I woke up and screamed. To hear their songs live would be mint."

Shaun Edmonson said he was "proper buzzing", and planned to try and get tickets for all four of the band's shows in Heaton Park.

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