In Conversation: Stormzy Talks Manchester United : Interviews : Soccer Bible

We sit down with London grime star Stormzy at the launch of the 2016/17 adidas Manchester United away kit to talk growing up a Red and chilling with David Beckham.

Growing up in South London, what was it about Manchester United that grabbed you as a kid? 

"Do you know what yeah, people give me stick for it, but it was the whole being a seven or eight year old kid and there being this team who wore a red kit, had a massive stadium and would come out every week winning matches and winning titles. There was a certain spirit and energy about them that just gripped me, before I even knew what dedicating your life to a team meant. I just thought, ‘Yeah I like this team, I want to be a part of what’s happening here’. So yeah, I was gripped by the fever from a young age."

So being a Cockney Red, you must have got a lot of stick? 

"Yeah especially in school, school was the worst. You had the Arsenal supporters and the Chelsea supporters, so us United supporters used to get it in the neck all the time. I always remember thinking why the Liverpool supporters got a pass, but that was because they never won anything."

When was your first visit to Old Trafford? 

"Probably 2011, against Newcastle, so it was quite late. But you know what, I remember when we were younger, all my mates used to say, ‘Ahh but have you even been to Old Trafford?’, and for ages I was like, ‘Nah, I actually haven’t’, and that was because as a young kid from London, getting to Manchester for a game meant buying a match ticket, buying a train ticket, getting someone to come and chaperone you; all that sort of stuff. Manchester might as well have been another country!"

So growing up, what was a match day like for you? 

"United was one of those teams that everyone would watch, so we always used to get together whenever there was a game on. For me I always used to enjoy the Arsenal vs United games ― they were my favourite games because all my friends supported Arsenal. I remember there were four or five seasons back to back where they were just smashing each other up left, right and centre."

What were you like as a player growing up? 

"If I told you I was great I’d be lying, I wasn't that good. I played for the school team until about maybe year 10 or year 11. But growing up we always played scatty football in terms of on the estate, so football’s been the one thing since I was young that’s always brought my community together. There would be times in the estate when all it would take is for one young kid to walk past with a ball. We’d all be there chilling but as soon as we’d see the ball it would trigger something."

What was your stand out moment as a United fan growing up? 

"For me, my stand out moment was the Champions League final against Chelsea, because when we won it in ’99 I was six years old, I mean I didn’t even have a memory back then! So yeah, that was like my first European title that I watched live from beginning to end, so that was the biggest moment for me."

What’s it like being a Manchester United fan now when you compare it to the Fergie era? 

"It’s humbling because now it’s like, ‘Oh OK, this is how all you guys are used to feeling. Oh my days this is terrible!’ So yeah, to be fair I feel cool because we’ve had it for so long that a little slip won’t hurt. We’ll be back soon. You know what, you’ve got be with a team through the great times and the worst times."

It’s been another up and down season for United, but what’s been your stand out moment? 

"Probably getting to the FA Cup final, that would have to be the stand out moment. Then you’ve got Martial’s debut and Rashford, all of Rashford’s goals have been mad. Also seeing De Gea shine game in game out has been really refreshing, knowing that we’ve got this really solid guy between the posts to hold it down. I just wish we won last night [against West Ham]!"

Having joined up with adidas yourself, how did you feel when they signed with Manchester United? 

"Do you know what, when I first joined adidas I think the only real Premier League club they sponsored was Chelsea and I remember thinking, ‘Great, I’ll get a free Chelsea shirt’, and then when United joined I was like, ‘Oh my God, what perfect timing’."

What do you make of next season’s away kit? 

"Mad sick. I feel like we’re one of those teams whose kits are always quite traditional. In this new day and age a lot of the teams kind of move away from their routes and I feel like every year we kind of stick to that kind of classic look and feel of what they club is about. Even in terms of the style and the colours, do you know what I mean? So yeah, I never worry about our kits like a lot of other teams and fans have to!"

And finally, hanging out with David Beckham, how surreal is that? 

"Yeah, it’s so mental. I can’t even explain how surreal it is. It’s just so crazy, swapping shirts with David Beckham and just chilling. I was just like, 'What you doing after this?' He was like, 'Just going to get the kids' ― as you do! It’s mad and it’s a dream come true."

Photography: Curtis Jehsta