8 (EIGHT) - 2

Sunday August 20
What a day.

We left home at 8.00 a.m. and signed in to Manchester Airport Travelodge soon after noon. The taxi was booked for 2.00 and it was dead on time. The driver, Billy, was a died in the wool Man City supporter and had the radio commentary for their match against Spurs playing loudly. His yell when Dzeko scored their first goal was ear-splitting. He was great fun though.

We were dropped off very near the closed off Matt Busby Way and made our way to Old Trafford, scarves dangling around our necks, past the stalls selling all things Man U and a few Arsenal too. The usual cosmopolitan throng, most wearing shirts with players old and new printed on the back. Many eating Hot Dogs, Burgers and chips.

Making our way to the gate for the NE sector, an older steward suggested that we take the lift to the second level (white hair and stick again!), inspected and tagged our bags and led us to the lift which was in the hospitality sector and he had to ask permission from the guards.

I was determined to have a true footie experience this time and bought a piping hot peppered steak pie on the way up from the lift. It was delicious. As good as the excellent one I had in Aus on the way to Moolloolaba.

Row 37 was a long way up with enough steps for me, our seats in the middle of a row so no-one bothered us to make their way along.

In the hour and a quarter wait for kick-off, we were entertained by intermittent pitch sprinkling, which sometimes took the men carrying out and unrolling the pitch logos by surprise.

Then De Gea was put through his paces by Alex Stepney, the goal-keeping coach before the Man U team and the subs came out to do their warm up routine in a very organised manner.

 Rooney did everything faster and with more energy than anyone else - and no-one was shirking.

 Arsenal appeared, to do theirs right in front of us and, they looked a shambles in comparison - as the ensuing match proved. The captain, Van Persie seemed distant from the team and spent much time playing keepie uppie on his own.

Ready for kick-off, mascots still on the pitch

The two hours of the match sped by, joining in the chanting and singing (Stand up for United/ Knick Knack Paddy Whack/ We love United we Do and the brainless 'Who Are You?' and 'You'll be Sacked in the Morning' - aimed at an increasingly forlorn looking Wenger), leaping to one's feet to see the goals. Thus I managed to see every goal and the penalty save (Pam sat down for that).


Getting ready for our penalty - Rooney and Young involved, Giggs looking on. referee - Howard Webb - too soft on Arshavin, he should have got a second yellow for his leg smash on Jones.

Brilliant, what a thumping. Eight goals for us, a Rooney hat-trick and two for Ashley Young, who would have believed it. The two for Arsenal were not acceptable !

The 3,000 Arsenal supporters encouraged their side throughout, to no avail but, good for them.

Having loitered until the crowd had largely dispersed, we made our way out and to the lift again, and stayed outside the stadium enjoying the crowds, the beautiful police horses and reading the floor tiles engraved with past players' and supporters names. When it was nearly time for Billy to pick us up again, we strolled back, enjoying a Burger (Pam) and Hot Dog (me) for supper from a roadside stall. Again, very good and another post footie experience.  Virtually all my roll went in the bin, far too big.

The emptying of the stadium took no more than ten minutes, 74,000 people. Phenomenal.

Billy was cockahoop too. Man City won 5-1

Earlyish to bed after watching the goals on M of the D.  On our way home soon after 6 a.m. on Bank Holiday Monday, we were awake so why not...Back in Ridlington at 10.45. after a very good journey.