City fan coming to Manchester seeking your help

[aussie blake]

Hi everyone,

I'm a born and bred Australian who has been a City fan since I was about 11 (now 23), and I'm coming to Manchester for the first time to see a game in a month and a bit (home v Bolton Feb 9). Having only followed the team on TV and websites, and having never been to Manchester, I'm seeking whatever advice you can give me about how I can best enjoy and appreciate the City football exeprience. Basically what I'd like help with is ...

Where are the best spots to have a drink before and after the game?
What's the most enjoyable way to get to COMS (e.g. am I likely to bump into City fans singing on trains, buses, etc.?)
Is there anything you'd recommend seeing or doing in the ground before the game? Fanzines worth buying? Would it be worth doing the COMS tour on another day? etc.
Is there ever any trouble in or around the stadium, anything I need to avoid doing or anywhere to avoid going?
And as dumb as this sounds ... are there any secrets as far as staying warm at the game? I've never exeprienced a genuinely cold winter before!!

Words can't explain how excited I am to finally come to a game, seems like I've been waiting for this moment forever! Any advice would be very helpful and much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Bring yer long johns mate, it's a bit parky me old mucker - city centre before the game & get a cab/walk to COMS plenty of pubs wouldn't worry about mither esp. with Bolton no problem with them

 

[bluemoon27]

if your coming to the game from town just get on the matchday buses which are outside wetherspoons,then you could go in mary d`s where you will always get a good singalong in the back room but must warn you the place is very overcrowded and the beer is shite but i stick to the bottled lager or cider,its more expensive but its better than drinking piss water

 

[manchester blue]

Where you sit or drink depends on what you want to experience. You'll get plenty of answers saying South Stand and Mary D's. South Stnd is more vocal and Mary D's is a large brash pub which gets full of City fans before the game.

As for getting to CoMS where are you coming from? There is rarely any trouble so don't worry about that, even is there is it's not on a wide scale and it's as easy to walk away as it is to walk and get invoved.

Stadium tour is a must for you, You could do it on the day but I think, from memory, changing rooms are out of bounds on match days. As for keeping warm wear as many loose layers as you can, tuck your shirt in and wear boots not trainers! Mancini will bring the scarf back en vouge so a scarf and hat are a must.



Enjoy.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,
Where are the best spots to have a drink before and after the game?

Town is probably the best allthough for a City atmopshere you should go to either Mary D's, The Manchester or The Eastlands all on Grey Mare Lane across the road from the ground.

What's the most enjoyable way to get to COMS (e.g. am I likely to bump into City fans singing on trains, buses, etc.?)

I like the walk from town, it's a nice 20 min walk and i always love the view at the bottom of Ashton New Road when you can see the ground in the distance. It looks beautiful at night.

Is there anything you'd recommend seeing or doing in the ground before the game? Fanzines worth buying? Would it be worth doing the COMS tour on another day? etc.

Not really, the club shop is probably the only thing you could go and see, i'd do the tour and museum on a non matchday as some things such as dressing rooms are out of bounds on a matchday.

Is there ever any trouble in or around the stadium, anything I need to avoid doing or anywhere to avoid going?

Unless you personally go around causing trouble and unless we're playing the rags, you'll be safe as houses.

And as dumb as this sounds ... are there any secrets as far as staying warm at the game? I've never exeprienced a genuinely cold winter before!!

Just wrap up warm, plenty of layers, nice warm coat, hat, gloves ect and i always wear football socks in the winter, pull them right over my knees.

Words can't explain how excited I am to finally come to a game, seems like I've been waiting for this moment forever! Any advice would be very helpful and much appreciated. Thanks.

Enjoy it mate, where are you sitting?

 

[manchester blue]

If its a night game get there in plenty of time for lights out!

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3sThs2ypOI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3sThs2ypOI</a>

 

[aussie blake]

Thanks so much for the answers guys, really helpful. I don't know where I'm sitting yet, it's part of a football tour we're doing and they handle the tickets, we also go to games at Anfield, Emirates, the Bridge and *gulp* Old Trafford, the latter being the first stop, and my first European football experience. I think we're stayng at Ramada Piccadilly wherever the hell that is. And as far as what I want to experience, all about the atmosphere. I'll always take poor comfort, poor beer and a cracking atmosphere over good comfort, good beer and poor atmosphere.

Thanks again folks.

 

[manchester blue]

Piccadilly is slap bang in the city centre. Twenty five minute walk. The Waldorf is a nice pub to start in - will be City fans there - and a few more on the way. From what you say Mary D's is for you, opposite the ground, anyone will tell you where it is. Don't wait till everyone leaves though. You'll need to get in early to find seats etc and if the lights go out it;s a good thing to see.

 

[kismet]

cant disagree with the recommendations from the guys try and get in Mary D's and hope your in South Stand.......

Ramada Piccadilly is ideal as you are slap bang in the centre and 20 mins from the ground.........

make sure you get disinfected when you visit the theatre of shite...........or refuse to go........

e mail the club and explain your visit they may do someat......

Enjoy and it will be cold but nothing like today.......freezin....

 

[musters]

you can go to the village mate plenty of bruces for ya round there