Arriving in Manchester on a road trip from London with some mates, three days before the clash between the Red Devils and Gunners, I immediately set about trying to source a ticket.
After speaking to the locals, it was quite apparent the game was sold out and the chances were slim to none. I went for a haircut at the hotel I was staying at around the corner and asked him.
He advised I could try my luck with scalpers on match day or try ‘Clive the Concierge who has a knack for getting things’ at the Crown Plaza down the road.
I couldn’t believe my luck.
We happened to be staying at the Crown Plaza and Clive was on shift when I got back. I asked him and he told me to leave it with him and he’d see what he could do.
24 hours out from kick-off and Clive delivered the goods to my mate and I in the form of his Season Tickets. We were seated top tier, three rows from the front at the Stretford end. All Clive wanted was a reimbursement of his ticket which was £25.
I slung him £60 to show the gratitude.
Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford to this day is the greatest sporting experience I’ve had as a spectator. This comes from a guy who has watched Test Cricket at the MCG on Boxing Day, Ashes cricket at The Oval in London, an AFL Grand Final and A-League finals with 50,000 others at Etihad among other sporting jaunts.
Nothing could have prepared me for what the day entailed.
The happenings off the pitch were just as interesting, if not more, as the game itself.
Down the road from Old Trafford on the corner of Sir Matt Busby Way is the Trafford Pub. The Trafford is exclusively for Manchester United fans on game day.
Think the Royal on Punt Road down the road from the MCG on the morning of the Boxing Day Test, but this was an establishment with a little class.
No cheap strippers rattling beer jugs for coins to get flash a bit of skin, much cleaner décor, and it was a breathing monument to all things Manchester United. The back of the pub was packed as tight as a peak hour train carriage full of chanting and singing as only the English can.
A season ticket was the only way in and I was privileged enough to experience it.
After leaving The Trafford, we made our way to the ground. You can see the stadium towering over the houses in the neighbourhood, spruikers everywhere in the street trying to sell unofficial Man U fanzines, scalpers discreetly offering tickets, merchandise stands selling badges, t-shirts and nick-nacks.
Upon entry into the stadium, what got me was how immaculate and clean the stadium is. Not a piece of litter, no old squashed up chewy on the grounds. The red vinyl throughout the stadium is polished and scarlet red.
The pitch itself is without a shred of grass out of place.
The game itself was really something else. I never knew where to look. The pitch had some of the world’s best plying their trade. The crowd was non-stop singing, chanting and swearing the entire match, not in patches but for the entire match.
The crowd around us refused to sit, so to see the game we had to stand.
Police made their way down the aisles getting people to sit, the reply from the Manc crowd was pretty blunt, “ah fook off”. No heavy handed evictions here, it’d start a riot. Knowing full well they were fighting a losing battle they probably fight most weeks, the police officers copped it and meekly stood around keeping order.
In a great game, Manchester United came from behind to win 2-1. All three goals were scored at the Stretford end right under me. An Arshavin screamer in the first half, a Rooney penalty just inside the hour and an Arsenal own goal five minutes later.
Tickets to Premier League games can be found. You just need to keep your eyes and ears open.
Not all Premier League teams sell out their games. Wigan and Wolverhampton may not be the hottest tickets in town but it’s still the Premier League and fans are just as passionate and the chants and singing just as humorous. The Fanatics sell tickets to Fulham matches where you are seated right behind the goals.
I did this also and it was a great experience too. The Crown Plaza in Manchester sells hospitality packages to Manchester United games starting at around £100 Clive did advise me when I was there.
Or you could just get the local concierge to part with his ticket!
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