Flags, Banners and Scarves

A stand shaped by supporters

Supporters have helped shape the look of the Stretford End through projects such as player-flag displays, crowdfunding for banners and a stand-wide artwork based on a United bar scarf. The Red Army led the flag initiative and the banner appeal, and says it designed the scarf artwork during lockdown.

These examples offer a glimpse of the work behind the fabric: designing images, making displays and finding the money to bring an idea to life. This guide explains what is documented, what remains unconfirmed and how supporters can enjoy or follow such projects.

From an idea to a display

A stand display can begin with a recognisable image, but its creation involves more than deciding what it should look like. Someone must develop the design, arrange production and pay for the materials. In the documented Stretford End player-flag initiative, fans took responsibility for all three.

Manchester United’s December 2025 Fans’ Forum minutes say The Red Army led the displays, which feature many first-team players. The flags were designed, produced and funded entirely by fans. That account gives a picture of the collective effort behind these particular displays, without establishing who made every other flag in the ground.

Fundraising is another route from an idea to something intended for the stand. The Red Army’s Reclaim The Stretford End crowdfunding project aimed to fund banners and reached its target on 12 March 2025. The result tells us the appeal met its goal; it does not provide a complete list of finished banners or their installation dates.

Questions supporters might have

Are the flags and banners the same project?

The sources describe distinct pieces of work. The Fans’ Forum minutes discuss the player-flag displays, while the Reclaim The Stretford End appeal set out to raise money for banners. Both involve The Red Army, but the available information does not establish that every flag or banner belongs to one single project.

It is worth looking for an organiser’s explanation when a particular display catches your eye. An image may be easy to recognise from a seat or on a broadcast, but its creator, funding and purpose cannot necessarily be worked out from its appearance alone.

What does the scarf artwork have to do with individual scarves?

The Red Army says it designed a United bar-scarf artwork that covered the entire Stretford End during lockdown. It used a familiar supporter item as the basis for an image on a much larger scale.

That is different from an individual choosing a scarf to wear or hold. The artwork is one documented example of scarf imagery in the stand, not a complete history of United scarf designs or the people who have worn them.

Can supporters bring their own display items?

This guide’s sources do not confirm the current rules for bringing or displaying individual flags, banners or scarves. Before travelling, check the current matchday guidance and any permissions that may apply to the item you have in mind.

A supporter-led display in the stand should not be taken as evidence that every item is permitted. Checking first also gives you a chance to think about how your plans might affect the view or comfort of people nearby.

What has changed, and what is planned?

The documented projects show supporter creativity taking different forms at different times. During lockdown, the bar-scarf artwork covered the stand. The banner appeal reached its target in March 2025, and the player-flag displays were recorded in the Fans’ Forum minutes that December. Those are markers in the available record, not a complete timeline of Stretford End traditions.

The Red Army also says it received permission to design and install artwork celebrating United fan culture outside the Stretford End. Permission is a meaningful step, but the available source does not confirm a completion date or describe a finished installation. Visitors should not assume that a particular piece will be in place.

How to enjoy and take part

At a match, take a moment to look at the stand as a whole as well as at individual pieces. A flag featuring a player, a banner and a scarf-inspired design can each work differently: one might draw your eye to a particular image, while another is intended to be seen across a larger space. Appreciating the design does not require knowing every detail, but learning who made a piece can add to the experience.

If a project interests you, look for information from its organisers about its aims and whether it is still accepting contributions. A successful past appeal is not proof that a current one is open. Read the details before giving money, and make your own decision about whether to support it.

You can also follow the conversation from home. When a display appears in a match broadcast or a photograph, consider what you can see and what you cannot: the image may show the finished work, but it will not necessarily explain the design, funding or permissions behind it.

For more on the people and practices around the club, browse Fan Culture. Find ideas for a visit in Old Trafford & Matchday, or explore the club’s past in Club History.