Manchester United vs West Bromwich Albion
Mike's intrepid tour of the North West showed no abatement last night, as a trip to Manchester took him to Old Trafford to wach Manchester United play West Bromwich Albion.
While the temptation to travel to Manchester to watch West Brom play wasn't overwhelming, the desire to actually go to Old Trafford and watch a match was the overriding factor which won the day. Last night was also the first home game after the death of George Best (which I'll get on to later) which was also a game which would go down in the memory for a long while.
Every spectator was issued with an A2 poster of George Best to hold up during the minutes' silence, and the effect was quite impressive. Though the ground was some 20,000 under capacity (48,000 instead of around 68,000) it worked very well, and certainly the noise in the stadium did not suggest anything other than a full house.
As play degenerated in the second half - United were dominant - a twenty minute rendition of a song which almost made me cry (it was Bad Bad, not Good Bad) continued incessantly. It consisted of:
"Number one is Georgie Best,
Number two is Georgie Best,
Number three is Georgie Best,
Number four is Georgie Best,
Number five is Georgie Best,
Number six is Georgie Best,
Number seven is Bryan Robson,
Number eight is Georgie Best,
Number nine is Georgie Best,
Number ten is Georgie Best,
Number eleven is Georgie Best,
Number twelve is Georgie Best
We all live in a Georgie Best world…" ad nauseam.
I had several issues with this song:
• Why is an entire United team full of George Bests (goalkeeper included) considered a positive thing?
• Why does Bryan Robson earn the number seven shirt over George Best, who wore that number for years? And why Robson and not even Eric Cantona, or David Beckham?
• Why does the team have twelve players?
• Did anyone else not realise that it was hideous?
Equally, there was another bizarre song about Eric Cantona which seemed to consist of counting up to four, shouting a lot, and then counting again. If it's the aim of Manchester United to improve young fans' numeracy, it's worked a treat. If it's just a case of pathetic fans, then a plain and simple "oh dear" suffices.
Anyway, this aside it was an enjoyable evening, and I'm glad I went. The tally of grounds I've seen professional football at has increased to eight (Old Trafford, Villa Park, Molineux, Elland Road, Wembley, Parc des Princes, Stade de France, Grimponprez-Jooris).
After the break, have some more pictures.
The stand where we sat.
Another stand.
Tributes to George Best outside the stadium were genuinely amazing.
The stadium.
A blurry scoreboard showing the final score.
The name of the club, in red lights.
The road sign on the road leading to the ground.
Comments
While we're at it, the grounds I've seen professional football at:
Bootham Crescent, Parc des Princes, Stade de France, Camp Nou*, Bramall Lane
* I have seen two friendlies at the Camp Nou, but no official matches: Barcelona v Parma and Catalonia v Brazil.
Posted by: Timothy Barton | 1 December 2005 at 21:40
Can't resist a geeky list. I claim 10.
Highfield Road
Elm Park
Wembley
Recreation Ground
Edgeley Park
Madejski Stadium
Stade de France
Parc des Princes
v'Dolicku
Stadio Olimpico
Am currently hatching a dastardly plan to add a mystery 11th venue in the new year.
Posted by: Timber | 2 December 2005 at 00:57
We forgot the Bois de Vincennes!
Posted by: Timothy Barton | 3 December 2005 at 23:02
Hmm, ok, this gets me thinking I have seen pro footy at;
Highfield Road
Hillsborough
Bramall Lane
Filbert Street
Parc des Princes
Middlefield Lane (Hinckley Town, but they were playing Red Star Belgrade, then champions of Europe)
Wembley
Stade Municipal, Toulouse
And I think that's it.
Posted by: Luke | 5 December 2005 at 09:27
I'm going to come stunningly last here..
Elm Park
Madesjki Stadium
Wembley
Highfield Road
Villa Park
Ninian Park
Parc Des Princes
Home Park
Waldstadion (Eint. Frankfurt)
Posted by: Andrew | 5 December 2005 at 17:28
FUCK ! In my complete ineptitude I entirely forgot seeing the mighty Villa stuff Leicester at Villa Park. God that was satisfying.
Posted by: Luke Shaw | 5 December 2005 at 19:40
I notice the distinct lack of stadia of the clubs you all support in the list. Dear oh dear, no Old Trafford Luke? No St Mary's Andrew? And no Anfield, Griffin Park, National Hockey Stadium, Olympiastadion, Olympiyskyi, St James's Park (Exeter), Stamford Bridge, Prenton Park, Maracaña, Nou Camp, Stadio delle Alpi, Withdean, Memorial Ground, Twerton Park, Canal Street, Keys Park, San Mames, or Riazor Tim?
Posted by: Mike | 6 December 2005 at 11:33
Hey, Old Trafford was nigh on impossible to get tickets for when I was a kid. Plus, it was too far away (I know, start the jokes now). I did go on the stadium tour once though with Paddy Crerand.
Posted by: Luke | 6 December 2005 at 13:32
Would that be a dig, Michael?
I have been to Anfield, and I have seen Liverpool play. Just not at the same time. More to the point, I've been to Reading many, many times, including four occasions when I made the trip from France especially*.
Meanwhile, there is a moot correction to be made to Andrew's comment. He'd been to the Stade de France, not the Parc des Princes. However, on Saturday, he went to the Parc des Princes anyway, and we saw PSG 2-0 Stade Rennais.
In other news, my dastardly plan is nearing completion.
*Combining it with the lesser pleasures of seeing my family for Christmas.
Posted by: Timber | 13 December 2005 at 00:41