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I Was There
- Thread starter anelka39
- Start date
I was there 13 May 4.50pm £230 a ticket
My version of Fever Pitch
As a veteran of away days I hope you will not find this too boring Stu
Was it worth going to Manchester with no ticket and unlikely to see the game but possibly the day’s atmosphere alone making it worthwhile ? This is my story.
My plan was to budget £300 for a ticket having rang the club and told that they were sold out, the club also warning me to be careful if buying off someone at the ground (i.e. touts) as there had been forgeries at the derby game.
Arriving in Manchester at 12 noon on Saturday 12 May I briefly went shopping and bought a Springsteen book and enjoyed a beefburger and chicken curry bap at Manchester market at Piccadilly Gardens. I then headed for the Etihad at 2pm carrying a make shift message I had printed out – “one ticket needed please” (This was to prove my saviour - see later). The ticket office confirmed that they were sold out (no surprise there) but also that the game would not be shown on the screen at “City Square” outside the stadium because of the Sky licence (also because a crowd of 10,000 plus would have been a safety problem when the fans left the stadium.) So I started to realise that the pub – probably Mary D’s, a run down working men’s type place next to the ground - was the only option.
Went on to Mary D’s that Saturday afternoon and chatted to 3 fans who invited me to sit with them, two from Scotland and one from Stretford, also looking for tickets. They were prepared to spend £300 and suggested other options e.g. offer a teenager money for his season card to facilitate entry to the stadium. They were thinking of doing this as they were more than one person so could demand their money back if the card was not valid to enter the ground – I did not fully understand this. Off the top of my head I thought of offering to buy one off a QPR fan. Their response was to watch the game in Mary D’s. By now I was resigned to not getting ticket.
I returned to the City Centre in good spirits – it was a sunny day and I was happy enough to be there and to see the game in the pub and to chat to some more blues. Bought another Springsteen book and spent the rest of the day exploring Manchester including the Curry Mile past the University of Manchester and past the Holy Name Church (the Catholic Church where, I later learnt, Roberto Mancini, the Manager, was to attend mass on the Sunday Morning.) If I had known that I would have attended too - as it was, I went to Manchester Cathedral for the 9am communion service. Returning through the University area, touts were seeking punters for a gig at the University. I asked about match ticket and was advised of a £400 to £500 asking price. I returned to the Hatters Backpackers Hostel to get a good nights sleep before the big day.
Woke early as usual and went for a Wetherspoons fry up, the pub being open at 8am. It was a very good breakfast after which I went to the Cathedral. Then, on the way back to the City Centre, out came my sign again. Spoke briefly to 2 QPR fans one of whom said he could get me a ticket for £100 in their end from his mate – one phone call later I was told that the ticket had gone. My hopes had been briefly raised then dashed (a sign of things to come) - a ticket for £100 would have been a bargain but in the Rangers end would have presented certain challenges. They suggested trying the station with my sign – but no luck there either.
So on to the ground.
On the way, two fans – a Geordie and a Scot (brothers in law) - asked me the way to the ground. I’m confused too now I said and they found this quite funny - the sister had bought them a hotel/ticket package from Thomas Cook – another good way of getting to see the game although expensive. Turned out one was a Bruce fan and the Sunderland concert on 21 June would be his 8th. I told him that I would be going to see Bruce on 22nd and we chatted about the Boss for a while.
On to the stadium, briefly being told by the touts that prices were £400 to £500 - no way ! Out came the sign and I drifted round the stadium to take in the atmostphere. Spent the next 45 mins standing outside the entrance to greet the players alighting from their coach, various celebrities, Arab types and Ricky Hatton. Went then to a sports centre on the campus where you had to queue to get in just for a beer. Gave up on that and decided to head for Mary D’s (later learnt that it was full by then and I would probably not have got in anyway) Showed the sign one more time and then it happened !. A wife and husband with two disabled people were taking in the scenes when the latter told me that the lad behind him was selling tickets. The lad advised that he worked for City in the car park and that his brother was coming out of the ground with 2 tickets. He was asking £250 for a ticket. This seemed a genuine case as I had been referred on to him by the husband who clearly did not know him but had seen him offering the tickets (briefly I wandered if they were all “in it together” and that I was being scammed but this was not the case.) I offered £150 first knowing there was no chance, then £200, then £220 “final offer”. He asked for £230. I agreed, giving £10 from my pocket as he asked me to walk with him to avoid CCTV ! I then gave the remaining £220. Mixture of guilt at paying this amount, worry if it was genuine and very minor euphoria. Had I done the right thing - the next few hours (and in deed days were to show that I DID).
Got in to the ground top tier. Chatted briefly to some fans telling them what I had paid more an attempt to expiate the guilt than boasting and then took my seat – on my left two Spanish students who had adopted City and on my right 3 empty seats – only one to be filled for the match ! – a young man from Abu Dhabi – not a member of the Royal Family he assured me - but had seen some 6-7 home games this season, flying in each time.
Everyone was tense with little singing etc. and anxiety certainly affected my enjoyment of the game. Missed City’s first goal going to bar/toilet but not concerned - it was a messy goal and we were on the way anyway. Then, despair, with City conceding first the equaliser and then going 2-1 down. I could not see any way back but consoled myself through texting friends that Bruce would heal the pain when I came back here on 22 June. Left my seat – not to leave the ground as some were, muttering words of pain and hurt - but to walk briefly up and down the food and drink concourse before alighting the stairs to an alternative entrance to the seats. Stood in the gangway with others (no sign of stewards) in a shocked state that City had still managed to cock it up. Then some consolation with a City equaliser but little joy - it was too late. Then AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
And chaos and hugs and screams and jumping about like the North Bank Days but above all disbelief and shock. Witnessed the pitch invasion – many were booing them – off off off !! but I could not blame them – the emotional release was justifiable. Anyway, they came off, the dias was erected and the trophy presented to the new EPL Champions.
Shared a taxi back to the City Centre with 2 Rangers fans and from the hostel to the station (and from the churches to the gaol-house – Bruce Sprinsgteen - Jungleland) I high fived every City fan I could.
My version of Fever Pitch
As a veteran of away days I hope you will not find this too boring Stu
Was it worth going to Manchester with no ticket and unlikely to see the game but possibly the day’s atmosphere alone making it worthwhile ? This is my story.
My plan was to budget £300 for a ticket having rang the club and told that they were sold out, the club also warning me to be careful if buying off someone at the ground (i.e. touts) as there had been forgeries at the derby game.
Arriving in Manchester at 12 noon on Saturday 12 May I briefly went shopping and bought a Springsteen book and enjoyed a beefburger and chicken curry bap at Manchester market at Piccadilly Gardens. I then headed for the Etihad at 2pm carrying a make shift message I had printed out – “one ticket needed please” (This was to prove my saviour - see later). The ticket office confirmed that they were sold out (no surprise there) but also that the game would not be shown on the screen at “City Square” outside the stadium because of the Sky licence (also because a crowd of 10,000 plus would have been a safety problem when the fans left the stadium.) So I started to realise that the pub – probably Mary D’s, a run down working men’s type place next to the ground - was the only option.
Went on to Mary D’s that Saturday afternoon and chatted to 3 fans who invited me to sit with them, two from Scotland and one from Stretford, also looking for tickets. They were prepared to spend £300 and suggested other options e.g. offer a teenager money for his season card to facilitate entry to the stadium. They were thinking of doing this as they were more than one person so could demand their money back if the card was not valid to enter the ground – I did not fully understand this. Off the top of my head I thought of offering to buy one off a QPR fan. Their response was to watch the game in Mary D’s. By now I was resigned to not getting ticket.
I returned to the City Centre in good spirits – it was a sunny day and I was happy enough to be there and to see the game in the pub and to chat to some more blues. Bought another Springsteen book and spent the rest of the day exploring Manchester including the Curry Mile past the University of Manchester and past the Holy Name Church (the Catholic Church where, I later learnt, Roberto Mancini, the Manager, was to attend mass on the Sunday Morning.) If I had known that I would have attended too - as it was, I went to Manchester Cathedral for the 9am communion service. Returning through the University area, touts were seeking punters for a gig at the University. I asked about match ticket and was advised of a £400 to £500 asking price. I returned to the Hatters Backpackers Hostel to get a good nights sleep before the big day.
Woke early as usual and went for a Wetherspoons fry up, the pub being open at 8am. It was a very good breakfast after which I went to the Cathedral. Then, on the way back to the City Centre, out came my sign again. Spoke briefly to 2 QPR fans one of whom said he could get me a ticket for £100 in their end from his mate – one phone call later I was told that the ticket had gone. My hopes had been briefly raised then dashed (a sign of things to come) - a ticket for £100 would have been a bargain but in the Rangers end would have presented certain challenges. They suggested trying the station with my sign – but no luck there either.
So on to the ground.
On the way, two fans – a Geordie and a Scot (brothers in law) - asked me the way to the ground. I’m confused too now I said and they found this quite funny - the sister had bought them a hotel/ticket package from Thomas Cook – another good way of getting to see the game although expensive. Turned out one was a Bruce fan and the Sunderland concert on 21 June would be his 8th. I told him that I would be going to see Bruce on 22nd and we chatted about the Boss for a while.
On to the stadium, briefly being told by the touts that prices were £400 to £500 - no way ! Out came the sign and I drifted round the stadium to take in the atmostphere. Spent the next 45 mins standing outside the entrance to greet the players alighting from their coach, various celebrities, Arab types and Ricky Hatton. Went then to a sports centre on the campus where you had to queue to get in just for a beer. Gave up on that and decided to head for Mary D’s (later learnt that it was full by then and I would probably not have got in anyway) Showed the sign one more time and then it happened !. A wife and husband with two disabled people were taking in the scenes when the latter told me that the lad behind him was selling tickets. The lad advised that he worked for City in the car park and that his brother was coming out of the ground with 2 tickets. He was asking £250 for a ticket. This seemed a genuine case as I had been referred on to him by the husband who clearly did not know him but had seen him offering the tickets (briefly I wandered if they were all “in it together” and that I was being scammed but this was not the case.) I offered £150 first knowing there was no chance, then £200, then £220 “final offer”. He asked for £230. I agreed, giving £10 from my pocket as he asked me to walk with him to avoid CCTV ! I then gave the remaining £220. Mixture of guilt at paying this amount, worry if it was genuine and very minor euphoria. Had I done the right thing - the next few hours (and in deed days were to show that I DID).
Got in to the ground top tier. Chatted briefly to some fans telling them what I had paid more an attempt to expiate the guilt than boasting and then took my seat – on my left two Spanish students who had adopted City and on my right 3 empty seats – only one to be filled for the match ! – a young man from Abu Dhabi – not a member of the Royal Family he assured me - but had seen some 6-7 home games this season, flying in each time.
Everyone was tense with little singing etc. and anxiety certainly affected my enjoyment of the game. Missed City’s first goal going to bar/toilet but not concerned - it was a messy goal and we were on the way anyway. Then, despair, with City conceding first the equaliser and then going 2-1 down. I could not see any way back but consoled myself through texting friends that Bruce would heal the pain when I came back here on 22 June. Left my seat – not to leave the ground as some were, muttering words of pain and hurt - but to walk briefly up and down the food and drink concourse before alighting the stairs to an alternative entrance to the seats. Stood in the gangway with others (no sign of stewards) in a shocked state that City had still managed to cock it up. Then some consolation with a City equaliser but little joy - it was too late. Then AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
And chaos and hugs and screams and jumping about like the North Bank Days but above all disbelief and shock. Witnessed the pitch invasion – many were booing them – off off off !! but I could not blame them – the emotional release was justifiable. Anyway, they came off, the dias was erected and the trophy presented to the new EPL Champions.
Shared a taxi back to the City Centre with 2 Rangers fans and from the hostel to the station (and from the churches to the gaol-house – Bruce Sprinsgteen - Jungleland) I high fived every City fan I could.
Full Members Cup Final YES my old fella wouldnt take me to OT day before though
Huddersfield 10-1 YES, Blackburn A 4-0 (Day of Hillsbrough), Bradford A , Stoke A 88 YES
5-1, Derby a 6-0, OT every one except league match in 95/96 when they were redeveloping so watched on big screen at Maine Road
did Stoke A in 98, did Derby, Luton, Stoke, Gillingham, Wigan, Chesterfield, Walsall, York, Darlington,Oldham Aways in 98/99 plus all home games.
1999/2000 did every game except Southampton,Ipswich & Norwich all A
only missed Gillingham ,West Ham & Spurs A in 2000/01 only missed Palace & Sheff Utd A in 2001/02 did go to Millwall seen us knocked out of cup v lower league sides at Cardiff,Oldham, Chesterfield, Notts County watched us in friendlies at Scunthorpe, Tranmere, Bradford, Wrexham, Mansfield, Celtic, Rangers, Barcelona, Bury, Rochdale amongst others have got over 11690 loyalty points so probably miss 2 or 3 games a season
Huddersfield 10-1 YES, Blackburn A 4-0 (Day of Hillsbrough), Bradford A , Stoke A 88 YES
5-1, Derby a 6-0, OT every one except league match in 95/96 when they were redeveloping so watched on big screen at Maine Road
did Stoke A in 98, did Derby, Luton, Stoke, Gillingham, Wigan, Chesterfield, Walsall, York, Darlington,Oldham Aways in 98/99 plus all home games.
1999/2000 did every game except Southampton,Ipswich & Norwich all A
only missed Gillingham ,West Ham & Spurs A in 2000/01 only missed Palace & Sheff Utd A in 2001/02 did go to Millwall seen us knocked out of cup v lower league sides at Cardiff,Oldham, Chesterfield, Notts County watched us in friendlies at Scunthorpe, Tranmere, Bradford, Wrexham, Mansfield, Celtic, Rangers, Barcelona, Bury, Rochdale amongst others have got over 11690 loyalty points so probably miss 2 or 3 games a season
BezzMCFC
Well-Known Member
leeski said:be interesting to see which City fans were there at certain moments of our history more or less most people attended FA Cup Final & Qpr games would be interesting though to find out who was at Huddersfield 10-1, Mansfield Autowindscreens, Millwall A (when we were officially banned), Stoke A 98, Stoke A boxing day 88 (fancy dress)
was at stoke 98 and the one in div 2 also the mansfield game.
also remember going barnsley when i was young and we turned a corner into a market and it was kicking off everywhere.... all old woman watching in the market in disgust. then it was mental in the ground i swear to god there was a horse in the stand saw some1 get his in the head with a bin at half time also..
PD said:mrt4919 said:TGR said:Far to recent.
I was at 'the Ballet On Ice' game. Anyone else?
Yup
I will raise you the FA Cup replay against Reading 0-7 after a 1-1 draw at home 67-68.
Any takers ?
pretty sure the home tie was 0-0 (yep, i was there) but spot on with the replay. Was is not reported that at FT the Reading announcer said over the tannoy something like "Ladies & Gentlemen, the finest display of attacking football you are ever likely to see"?
Had high hopes for the Cup that season.
There was an announcement after the final whistle along those lines it was a wonderful display of that City team at their best, a sign of their rapid development that season. We had really struggled the previous promotion season but started taking shape after the 6th round away defeat to Leeds and went on a reasonable run to finish 18th I think.
Believe though that this current City team is the best I have ever watched.
Doncaster Blues
Well-Known Member
Had a ticket for a game at Millwall but it was cancelled due to international call ups! So ended up getting a refund.
Was at white hart lane when the game was called off with a waterlogged pitch, was just walking up to the ground as everyone was walking back to the station, assumed at that point was in trouble!
In the wrong end at Chesterfield when lee crookes scored a 35 yard screamer, remember walking to the ground watching the fighting, getting into the ground watching the fighting and again after our goal went in!
Still probably the most surreal game was on 09/11 away at notts county in the league cup. Was the weirdest atmosphere ever, drove home after game and sat up watching replays of the events in NYC until about 2am on NEWS24. Think we won but only after extra time if memories serves.
Was at white hart lane when the game was called off with a waterlogged pitch, was just walking up to the ground as everyone was walking back to the station, assumed at that point was in trouble!
In the wrong end at Chesterfield when lee crookes scored a 35 yard screamer, remember walking to the ground watching the fighting, getting into the ground watching the fighting and again after our goal went in!
Still probably the most surreal game was on 09/11 away at notts county in the league cup. Was the weirdest atmosphere ever, drove home after game and sat up watching replays of the events in NYC until about 2am on NEWS24. Think we won but only after extra time if memories serves.
digbythebiggestdogintheworld
Well-Known Member
geoff hammond said:Leppings lane pre disaster
"Last Christmas I Gave you my heart"
we want wham!
we want wham!