Maine Road: "Absence"

[Oystercatcher28]

I decided on Thursday to jump off the bus at Princess Road last Thursday. What has become of Maine Road and the surroundings, I wondered.
I walked up Great Western St and noticed the odd newagent and cafe, cut down Rosebery St. To my dismay, I spotted a gang on every corner. It did not feel safe.

The smell of local plants being smoked filled the air. Music blasted from numerous car radios with topics my Grandparents would dislike. Kids ran by smashing sticks against walls. The pavements looked littered and dirty. Wait a minute, an Arsenal shirt here, a Chelsea shirt there, even a house displaying a Spurs flag. Am I in London? A Man U shirt on a car window. Yes, I am in London. Is this a Dr Who episode?

I turn the corner to Claremont Rd, and follow it up. Right up to Kippax Street. Something is missing in this area. The few shopfaces I see appear empty. There is no landmark. Towards Yew Tree Road is a gap. A field, derelict, not much happening. St Edwards RC Primary has vanished. To my right is Bilsborrow Rd, Sunshine Place and BLUE MOON WAY. A new college/school with a grand name, Divine Mercy, rises from the ground. Generic flats fill the area. There is a patch of grassland in amonsgt the houses. It is rectangular. Where are the goalposts? Blue Moon Way isn't Blue yet... (http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ews/city-till-i-dye-street-where-maine-688535)

Who runs the site? http://www.prospecthomes.searchwinner.co.uk/index.html A pink cladded Maine Place sign coats a portacabin.

I was told there are around 474 new homes. I see a few, but I cannot count as amny as that. There is rumoured to be a public art display commemorating the stadium featuring a circular plate half open, symbolising the centre spot and the new emerging development which now sits on the Maine Road stadium. I see little. Absence.

Maine Road will always be a legend of English footballing stadia. Maine Road feels like a lost relative you can no longer see again. Our new home and the surrounding campus is the future. It feels like home.

 

[mancityvstoke]

There is no going back I agree with you there

 

[Feed-The-Goat]

I was around there on Monday as the misses lives in that area. I couldn't bring myself to go past and took a left turn and went away.

That area has never been the best but it's the absolute pits now.

 

[Why Always Ste]

Agreed.

Drove by a few weeks ago after buying a laptop for my Mrs off Gumtree (oh yeah) and the seller lived around there.

I have nice memories of visiting the ground as a child. Think I'd rather keep them than go back.

Enjoy the Future

 

[Danny St.helens CTID]

This is a story that some wont beleive, but i was in fact one of the last ever people to be allowed into maine road, my then partner took me for a drive there after it was shut, i walked around the stadium and down to the gap between the family stand and the kippax, there was a guy sat in a portacabin just inside the stadium, as i looked through the gates he saw me and asked what i was doing, so i mentioned being a big blue and i had come for one last look, they guy in the portacabin opened the gate and said come on then mate have one last proper look, i walked in in disbelive, sat in the seat i use to sit in in the north stand, and just took it all in, the memories came flodding back as did the tears, i asked if i could go on the pitch but i wasnt allowed due to city 'selling the grass' the guy then called me over, me thinking that it was over, he then took me through the kippax and into the corporate area at the top of the kippax and told me to take what ever i wanted, i got a champagne bucket, 2 glasses, an ash tray and a table cloth! he then walkeed me back down and let me take a very small patch of grass (dead now but i still have the soil)!! on the way out i also managed to grab half a fire exit sign that someone obviously tried to rag off at the last game v southampton, as i walked out my partner said were the fcuk have you been! and what the fcuk is up with you you soft twat, my response was 'you will never understand gemma', the day after we split up ha ha

that is an honest hand on heart, on my kids lifes story that i will never ever ever forget, since that day i have vowed never to return to were main road once stood, it would spoil the memory i will have for the rest of my life, i didnt even thank the guy who let me in as i was so overcome by it all, so if by any chance he is a blue and remembers letting me in, thank you!

 

[mancityvstoke]

Hard to realise that there are now City fans who have never set foot in Maine Road.

 

[MCFC BOB]

This is a story that some wont beleive, but i was in fact one of the last ever people to be allowed into maine road, my then partner took me for a drive there after it was shut, i walked around the stadium and down to the gap between the family stand and the kippax, there was a guy sat in a portacabin just inside the stadium, as i looked through the gates he saw me and asked what i was doing, so i mentioned being a big blue and i had come for one last look, they guy in the portacabin opened the gate and said come on then mate have one last proper look, i walked in in disbelive, sat in the seat i use to sit in in the north stand, and just took it all in, the memories came flodding back as did the tears, i asked if i could go on the pitch but i wasnt allowed due to city 'selling the grass' the guy then called me over, me thinking that it was over, he then took me through the kippax and into the corporate area at the top of the kippax and told me to take what ever i wanted, i got a champagne bucket, 2 glasses, an ash tray and a table cloth! he then walkeed me back down and let me take a very small patch of grass (dead now but i still have the soil)!! on the way out i also managed to grab half a fire exit sign that someone obviously tried to rag off at the last game v southampton, as i walked out my partner said were the fcuk have you been! and what the fcuk is up with you you soft twat, my response was 'you will never understand gemma', the day after we split up ha ha

that is an honest hand on heart, on my kids lifes story that i will never ever ever forget, since that day i have vowed never to return to were main road once stood, it would spoil the memory i will have for the rest of my life, i didnt even thank the guy who let me in as i was so overcome by it all, so if by any chance he is a blue and remembers letting me in, thank you!

Funny you should mention this. I have some Maine Road rubble thanks to the manager of the destruction operation who, when me and my dad were on the other side of the metal fences, welcomed us on to the site. The stadium was gone, the grass was gone - just piles and piles of grey stone.

 

[Danny St.helens CTID]

BOB

from my memory of the guy it was a security firm he worked for, wasnt too long before they started demolishing it pal, and ur rubble, i bet you wouldnt sell for any money mate! mad how much a few bits of stone can mean!

 

[MCFC BOB]

It was utterly incredible. I'd only been a blue for around 3 or 4 years at that point, but I still wouldn't give it up. It was seriously surreal.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

To my dismay, I spotted a gang on every corner. It did not feel safe.

The smell of local plants being smoked filled the air. Music blasted from numerous car radios with topics my Grandparents would dislike. Kids ran by smashing sticks against walls. The pavements looked littered and dirty. Wait a minute, an Arsenal shirt here, a Chelsea shirt there, even a house displaying a Spurs flag. Am I in London?

So it's just like it always was then ;)

The other teams shirts / flags etc isn't London - just living in a student area / or foreigners new to the area who supported said clubs before they moved.