There being someone in a Kerry jersey at Sunday's Old Trafford protest made sense if you knew a bit about the history of Manchester United.
The green and gold of the Kingdom is also the green and gold of Newton Heath, the original name of the English club.
The person in the Kerry jersey, and mask, was Timothy Carr, a Ballydonoghue man who's lived in Manchester for the last four years. He's also held an Old Trafford season ticket for that time.
"The green and gold protest was brought in back in 2010," Carr told Radio Kerry's Terrace Talk show.
"I was running out the door [on Sunday] and I said I'd better put on something that would make me stand out a bit.
"I didn't realise it would go this big. It's amazing the power of a Kerry jersey.
"The only problem is, it's an old Kerry jersey. If anyone wants to sponsor a new one for the next protest, I'd be more than obliged to take one."
Kerry jersey at Old Trafford protest
I Was Prepping for Munster final day
— Timothy Carr (@iluv79d) May 3, 2021
Carr, a member of the Manchester United Supporters Trust, was not one of those who made their way into Old Trafford ahead of the game against Liverpool. He remained outside among others protesting the club's ownership by the Glazers. The game was ultimately postponed due to the fans who invaded the pitch.
"I arrived there around 12:30," he said.
"I was milling around the stadium. It was a good atmosphere; a tense atmosphere in terms of people being anxious to see how it would go.
"There were generations of people there: Young kids, grandparents, mothers, fathers - people who have supported the club all their lives.
"There was no real trouble before the fans got into the stadium.
"I was a few rows back when the fans got into the stadium. The door was open in case there was a crush and they took the opportunity to go in. They were kids, idiots throwing flares.
"There were a few troublemakers because of alcohol and they were stopped in their tracks straight away by other fans.
"The people who stepped aside like myself were people of my own age, people with jobs and families. They knew the risk of going in there, that it could cost it your livelihood because it was trespassing."
Picture credit: Marco Crupi / Shutterstock.com and Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
See Also: 13 Of The Most Iconic 90s GAA Jerseys
