Dont know where to start with this one...travelling alone and getting from Ireland to Manchester is a good place to start...it was a case of trains, boats and automobiles and lots of helpful and friendly Man City fans encountered on the way. It was amazing how helpful and friendly the travelling City fans were, including beers, directions, lifts and advice. I was due to fly out with Ryan air on sat morning and that statement needs no more further analysis; the chaos in the ports was unbelievable and it really showed how fragile our existence is and the things that we take for granted should never be viewed as such as its a house of cards.
Anyway, I eventually got to Manchester at 10.00am at the Holiday Inn at Central Park about a mile or two away from the ground where I was informed that they had no ticket for me (I was due to pick it up a reception) after what I had gone through (including a night in Holyhead) I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Panic stations and a few calls later and it turned out the ticket was in the hotel safe and only the manager had the combo and he wasnt there...about 11.30 I was handed the ticket and in fairness the staff couldnt do enough enough it was just one of those things, I thought I was going to have to travel the whole way over to watch the match in Mary Ds...(could have been worse).
Mary D's was electric and the craic was mighty, again the friendliness of the fans was excellent. It was then off to the match and a great seat on the second tier right on the half way line. Walking through the interior of the stadium and then seeing the ground for the first time was truly awesome and the anticipation I had for the game ahead was heightened beyond belief. It seemed most City fans were quietly confident that we would win this match and so was I, for once I let my 'typical City' guard down and allowed myself to be confident...hmmmmmm.
This is where things get a bit painful for me, I wanted to write this account because a few things struck me during and after the game that I hadnt expected, particularly on a derby day. I was disappointed that during a great majority of the match, the 3 or 4,000 scum fans outsang the City fans, I was amazed, particularly where I was sitting that it was really difficult to get a chant going or sustain a simple 'C'mon City', particularly when we needed it most in the second half. There were sections of the ground doing their best but I felt we should have had a sustained vocal support for the team throughout what was a tight game. It was apparent particularly in the second half that one goal was probably going to seperate the teams and I just felt the atmosphere was being dominated by the scum fans. I have been to big games at Maine Road during the 90's and the atmosphere was electric in comparison.
At the end of the game I just sat in my seat while the stadium emptied as I contemplated the defeat and I was emotionally shattered (in fact the stadium emptied and one of the stewards came across and asked me if I was ok, a dejected smile by me was sympathetically returned). I wanted to celebrate at least a goal at Eastlands but I genuinely hoped for goals and a win, I wondered about our mentality as fans and felt that during the match, particularly as the match wore on that we could have done more to rouse our team and silence those fuckers in the away area, maybe I am being over critical.
After the game I went to Mary D's for a pint and witnessed the lunatic fringe havin a wee handbag moment with a few coppers on horses and what appeared to be a few scum fans..nothing much to write home about. Just wonder why people take out their frustrations on the coppers (i'm no fan by the way) and their horses. Saw a few horses getting hit by stones and there was nothing else going on (just horse hitting)...strange behaviour but every club has them.
Didnt feel like socialising much that night but it was fairly obvious that most of the football fans in the City werent up for it either and I knew that getting back to Ireland was going to be a bit of a struggle (that is an understatement of grand proportions)
Anyway, got home a day late and sitting here reflecting on the weekend I can honestly say that City fans everywhere from Ireland to Wales to England and obviously Manchester are undoubtedly the friendliest and most helpful people. All my life being a City fan I have always believed we are generally good natured and realistic in our view of life and football, particularly being part of a small bunch of fans in Ireland. I was genuinely impressed by all the people I met over the weekend and the only thing I would change is the result of the match.
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