Maine Road or Etihad

[valleyblue]

As a stadium the Etihad pisses all over Maine Road, but that is it.
Maine Road had everything else over the Etihad, great memories, nostalgia, 4 stands that didn't match up, it was unique, hostile environment ( sometimes ) the smell of burgers and booze, I'd get a tingle as I approached it on a match day, I was excited and nervous, the ginnels, so many pubs, the beehive, parkside, Sherwood, clarence, Albert, Claremont plus others, we even had a social club.
We didn't expect the club to put on a match day experience, we went for the match, we created our own memories, we had golden goal and we listened with interest for half time scores and a manual update of the scoreboard, checking who was game ABC etc, we collected tokens just in case we ever got to a semi or a final.
Maine Road was my youth and growing up years and I wouldn't swap them for anything, loved it and miss it in equal measures.

Couldn’t have put it better myself mate, really well done :)

 

[hilts]

Maine Road is like a mark I ford escort Mexico and the etihad a Audi A3 tdi. Okay the Audi is a superior car in every way but it’s a bland soulless experience and every other fucker has a similar car that looks and behaves so alike as to bore the pants of everyone involved.

One I loved the other just well, does it’s job.

 

[Half time draw tickets]

1st post... Maine Road for me, I first went with my stepdad in around 96 and we all had season tickets for a while. Others have articulated far better than I could but has anyone mentioned these signs yet? Even as a kid I remember finding them very amusing! Would love to own one

 

[Uwe's 80s mullet]

Also grew up close to Maine road, Henbury street in mosside. The stadium was right there when I walked out of ther door. Awful stadium but I loved it. Will always top the Etihad for me

 

[Ste1969]

As a nipper79/80 sitting on the white wall on the kippax was amazing being so close to the players, watching them pass long balls to each other in the warm up thinking they are so good.

Then fast forward a few years standing in the kippax, the smell of piss from the toilets the shit football, and waiting to get back home in the car on claremont rd listening to other results.

Nothing beats maine road, all stadia now is a bit corporate compared to the good old piss stenching horrible hot dogs and bovril days.

 

[Shaelumstash]

I can’t believe anyone who ever stood on The Kippax could possibly say The Etihad is better.

It’s like comparing your first wank with your last sneeze.

 

[Dirty Harry]

The spirals seem to go on forever, but they're probably safer than the Platt Lane steps

The “Mad Mouse” at Blackpool pleasure beach was probably safer .

 

[Scottyboi]

Maine Rd all day, the etihad is in a shit part of Manchester with fuck all around it. Maine Rd had everything and was a nightmare for away fans, my first game was a night match I remember seeing a car on fire on the parkway excited as fuck.

The Etihad just doesn't feel Manc and not being able to drink around the ground.

 

[toffee balls]

Always makes me sad this thread.

I went to my first game in the late 60’s , my old mans ashes were spread there in the 90’s , I have so many memories it helps shape my life however.....

it was shithole and the best thing that has ever happened to this club was our move back to East Manchester

 

[mcfcantc]

Going to Maine road as a kid will never be topped for me, I would imagine my lad feels the same going to the etihad too.

The atmosphere of the special games i experienced at Maine Road was something else, Wigan play off game, Birmingham fri night game, Spurs 5-2, last derby just some of the memorable ones. Then the oasis gigs, what a weekend.

My sister managed a telecoms project there 1998 ish. Once she told Mike on the door her brother was a blue, he said bring him down anytime. I met her there one Friday afternoon after work and after a brief chat he just said crack on, and basically gave us a free run around the place. Wondering wherever we wanted was something else, I even climbed the television gantry in the roof of the main stand, just wish I’d have taken a camera.

The etihad is magnificent, but like many others have said, the lack of decent pubs around the stadium makes the day out so different.