I am a relatively new fan as of at least a few years. The year Sir Alex Ferguson retired was the second year I have followed this club. I am not sure why I chose this club as I am from the states and wasn't exposed much to the sport while I was growing up. Right after I graduated grade 12 I went in the US Marine Corps. I joined infantry thinking it was my calling. I eventually ended up in Afghanistan in 2010. We took over from your guys ( the British) in Sangin, Afghanistan. We were told that the British lost a 1/3 of all of the casualties in that city alone. What happened to us was by far the worst experience of my life. I lost several friends and witnessed several horrible events right before my eyes. When I came back, I dealt with great depression as well as anxiety. I struggle to this day and 6 years has passed since I have been back. My closest friend while i was in the service, happened to be the one to get me into this wonderful and addicting sport. We watched most of the 2010 world cup together before our deployment to Afghanistan. When I came back, we started watching games, mostly la liga games since he has been a lifelong barcelona fan. I didn't know much about Manchester United and all of our glory when I decided to follow them. But something happened. I started waking up at 430 in the morning to watch them play. I started having a reason to make it to the end of the week to watch any ad all premier league games i could, but mostly to watch this club that I had attached myself to. At first, I was worried once I realized how bigthe club was and how much history it had, due to the fact that I didn't want to become some plastic fan from the states. But over the past couple years, that feeling has gone out the window. This team, this club, this life partner of mine has changed my life. Manchester United has been such a huge impact on my life and distraction from my PTSD and severe depression, as well as my dog, who's name is Rooney. This team has given me a second chance for happiness. I finally found a passion that has taken over so much of my life, while at the same time improving it as well. I have lurked on this sub for a few years and it's always a treat for me to read the new posts as well as the analyses of several members of our amazing community. I have never shed a tear in my life for a sports team until I followed United, because this club is more than just a team to me, it is a lifestyle. I will continue to follow this team until the end of my life. Of course I have been disappointed with the past couple seasons but I also missed the glory years of Sir Alex. I don't want to settle for just qualifying for Champions League. I don't want to settle for anything except the top of the League. What i will say though, is that this team has become a part of me. I will follow this team no matter what. I am so fucking pissed for a lot of what is happening to our Club, but that doesn't change the fact that I will ALWAYS support Manchester United. I have the same frustrations as many of you in this sub, but I just wanted to share how lucky I feel to be part of such a great community. This team means so much to me, even though I have never stepped foot in Old Trafford, let alone in your country. I just wanted all the local Manchester fans and fans across the wolrd, as their are many, that you have a fan on your side that believes this team has saved his life! I look foward to many years of glory in the future and no matter what happens, I will always stick by this team!!!!