Touching down at Manchester was one of the sweetest landings that I ever made since I started flying, not because of the Captains’ magnificent landing techniques, but just by the sheer fact that it was homecoming, to the city of my most beloved – Manchester United!!!
Tired and weary after the flight, the thought of watching a LIVE Man U game was too much to ignored, despite must hassling and disruptions of not being able to get a room for some much needed rest before the game. Even watching the game wasn’t a certainty simple because we don’t even have tickets. Season ending game at home, the lure of watching Manchester live, joining the cult, the coincidence of being here at the weekend and most importantly, being a must-win game for the Red Devils sure has its ways of working its charms around people. Of the 7 of us who met up to watch the game, only 3 are Manchurian, there is 1 Gunner, 1 Scouser, 2 neutrals who just want to be part of the proceedings.
The enthusiasm of the 3 of us soon rubbed off onto the rest, as they got highly excited to watch the game and begin earnest to look for tickets among the touts. It merely took us 10 minutes for the train ride from Mosley Street to reach Old Trafford. Looking for tickets wasn’t difficult, as there were many touts around, haggering and bargaining of prices was left to me and FO Jonathan, as we managed to get the tickets at 70 pounds. Expensive yes, but I guess it was still within our expectations of the price that we are willing to pay. Who could resist the temptations after arriving at Old Trafford in a sea of Red. People decked in jerseys, dabbed with Man U scarves… I couldn’t resist myself and got myself a Man U scarf as well. Many snappings of the surrounding streets, Sir Matt Busby Way, leading up to the East Stand, where the main entrance and the Megastore is. Jingpei has arrived at Old Trafford!!!
Atmosphere electric and the cheers and songs deafening, no wonder oppositions have reservations playing here. I could only manage to pick up a few of the songs and sing along. Game on, within the first 5 mins, Cristiano scored and doubled his tally with his crouch mins later. Tevez produced a rocket from 30 yards and these 3 goals were on our side of the stand. Bird’s eye view of the proceedings as we were seated at the 2nd tier, though I would rather be sitting at the first tier where I can see the players up close. Ashton replied for West Ham with a spectacular bicycle kick before Carrick rounded it up with a fourth. We were suppose to be treated to a goal feast as the first 4 goals came within 30 minutes of play. Nani got sent off for headbutting and play toned down to a lower gear, but that didn’t spoil the experience as the crowd were always cheering and singing, there was a long of fun joining in and shouting and singing with them.
End of the game, we trooped off, happy and eager to share our experience with each other after meeting up again. Captains are going down to Liverpool to watch another game today between Pool and Man City, they couldn’t get a ticket for me. There was initial plans of visiting Anfield on the second day, but due to the match and unable to get the tickets, I guess that has to be postponed to the next trip up north to Manchester. I guess it will just be shopping around the area on the second day. The Old Trafford tour would have to wait till the next time I fly to Manchester again. I will and has promised to do it. There is no doubt about it. Old Trafford, wait for my return, I’m gonna sit at the Stretford End the next time and Anfield, Liverpool, you are next on the list….
03 May 2008
A Walk into the Munich Aircrash
Glad to have watched the game yesterday, it pretty much freed up today for other things like shopping and sightseeing… but things took a turn when Ruzi and husband decided to do the Stadium tour. Me, being a Manchurian, of course wouldn’t give that a miss, shopping was chucked right out of the window. So once again, changed and ready to go down Sir Matt Busby Way towards Old Trafford. The stadium tour cost us 10 pounds but the experience was indescribable, walking through the Museum, the trophies room, players seats, players changing room and lounge, the pitch, different ends of the pitch, the posters of players, the legends, the phototakings and the Munich tunnel.
Learning more of the past of the club, it’s a club with big heart and big players who play above themselves and I am talking about the Busby Babes, how the tradegy happened…. “one moment, I was sitting there joking and laughing with the young kings of England, the next moment they were lying dead or injured…” Sir Matt Busby, himself struggling in the hospital and twice given last rites but still managed to overcome the injuries and came back to rebuild the team and led them to an emotional victory 10 years later in 1968. Sir Bobby Charlton and Bill Foulkes, the remaining players from the crash led the team to victory, with players like Denis Law and George Best. How emotional it was for me when I read the quotes and the emblems and walking through the Munich tunnel where Roger Bryne Jnr opened in memory of his father Roger Bryne Snr, then the Captain of the Busby Babes in 1958, a team averaging merely 22 years old. Makes one wonder how much they could have gone on to achieve when the team in its youth days won 5 consecutive FA youth cups.
It was all the sadder when one of the last words of Duncan Edwards, lying in the hospital bed, was “What time was the game against Wolves? I need to be there…” He fought for 15 days before he died from injuries, at a tender age of 21. Even though at that young age, people who played against him were already saying that he is a more complete player and much better than the King of Soccer, whom we revered as Pele. Makes one wonder how it would be when they pit themselves against each other, cos they are from the same era. It was something which no one will ever find out. Duncan will always be a living legend in my heart. 3 other legends, Denis Law, was a goal scoring machine, George Best was the “Le Beatle” magician who mesmerizes everyone, people say “Maradona good, Pele better but George Best” and the last living legend is Bobby Charlton, who is now the ambassador of the Club.
Man U being the best supported club in the world sure has its charms, the players who are crowd pullers and because of the way they play, but I guess, there is a soft spot in most people who goes out to Manchester United because of the Munich Aircrash… whatever it is, Manchester United is still the club of my heart, and even etched even more deeply into my heart now after the match yesterday and the tour today… but there is always a special place in my heart for the Busby Babes…
“Lest we forget…”
04 May 2008
End of flight, everyone was relieved, cos it was pretty tiring, but everyone ended in a good note… considering that how distant and cold everyone is towards each other starting off. Had to thank Kelly, Jeannie, Cindy, Daniel, Ruzi and husband and of course, my 3 magnificient captains for the wonderful company, they brought us around for food and joined us for the game at Manchester, providing much laughter… I guess there is some kind of attachment to each other after the flight, Captain Ven even came to say goodbye to me, that is something that no other captains did to me before. FO Jon and Goek are wonderful and friendly, and super talk cock… hope to see them again soon, especially Daddy Ven… Jon and Goek… forgot to buy magnet this trip... thats one more agenda for the next Manchester visit, Edinburgh and Lake district made their way to one of my priorities list as well..
