Away Days

For a change this week, I have decided to re-visit a ground that we only went too once, back before digital cameras were readily available. As I have gone on about the way that new grounds tend to be soulless out of town arenas, with little atmosphere, this week it is the turn of a venue that has been replaced by a modern structure, and no longer exists. Maine Road, in Moss Side Manchester, was the home for eighty years to Manchester City. It was a 1997 Nationwide football game, that we went to see the Mighty Bantams take on City. Those familiar with the area will not be surprised to learn I was asked for a fiver to mind my car. "It's a company car," I said to the young ragamuffin, who shrugged and took off to find a more gullible away fan. You approached the ground through gynells and alleys in the the middle of loads of terraced housing. It has to be said that it was a pretty impressive structure, until we were shepherded into our seats, which were in a temporary stand, uncovered, and at the mercy of the elements. It was a freezing day, to boot. The first half, if memory serves, was pretty dull, but the Man City fans were making for good entertainment, as they made throat slashing gestures towards us. This in turn lead to much foul mouthed, threat heavy chants back at them. Just the way it should be. We got beat by a solitary goal scored in the second half, and as we left, the place throbbed to the tune "Blue Moon" The alleys mentioned before were great ambush territory, and I would love to tell you how we burst into City chants, but as me and the Waynster had managed to get separated, and were surrounded by chanting Mancs, decided to mumble our way through a chorus of Blue Moon, as we headed to the car. I know that times have changed, and when you go to away games now it is a lot safer, and unless it's Leeds or Huddersfield you can have a friendly chat with opposing fans, but I miss that dangerous tension you used to get.

Statistics

• Capacity-35,150 at closure, over 80,000 when opened
  
• Concessions-Old ground, that had a tiny burger van to dispense pies and beers. Slow moving queue, but thick servers, who gave the Waynster 4 pints and 4 pies and couldn't work out how much. So Wayne offered a fiver, which she accepted. Result.
  
• Built-1923. Closed 2003. Demolished 2004
  
• Did You Know?-The last Blues goal was scored by Marc Vivien-Foe, who sadly died two months later playing for Cameroon against France of heart failure.
  
• Visited By-Euro Bri, El Grande Queso, Mallcy and the Waynster
  
• Rating-Field of Dreams-Sure it was a crap hole, situated in the middle of an even bigger crap hole, but it had bags of character. Blues fans are always good value, and even though it was intimidating around the ground, it was a true buzz. Your Grand kids won't believe you that there were places like this. Enjoy the ones that are left, while they last.