Monday, December 19, 2005
Happy days
My article from the game against Bishop's Stortford in the FA Trophy, 18th December 2005.
Watching the FA Cup 3rd Round draw the other weekend brought back many memories of last years FA Cup heroics. All City fans will know exactly how Burton felt when their number was matched with Manchester United’s. I can still hear the wonderful phrase: “Manchester United will play …… number 64….”. I didn’t wait for the club’s name to be read out. I was out of my chair celebrating. It was the perfect draw for any team desperate for money: an almost guaranteed sell-out at the largest ground in the country.
I spent the weekend of the match in Manchester, staying in a hotel near Piccadilly station that had been taken over by City fans. Having been out the night before the game, I was feeling a bit worse for wear on Saturday morning but refused to let that affect my enjoyment. After wandering around the centre of Manchester for a bit I headed for the ground relatively early, hoping to beat the rush and to soak up the atmosphere. Not surprisingly, everyone else had had the same idea so the tram was packed on the way to Old Trafford.
We had been allocated the Upper Tier of the East Stand in addition to the usual corner given to away fans. I have to admit to having doubts about our ability to sell 9000 tickets for the long trip up North but I was happily proved wrong. In fact, I’ve heard many stories of City fans having to get tickets for the home end because we didn’t have enough. I don’t remember much about the game itself. I seem to remember spending a lot of time staring at the clock and hoping it would speed up. Also, there were some great chants from the City faithful such as “Have you ever played Brazil?” and “Nil nil to the Exeter!”
After the game, the hotel bar was packed with celebrating fans watching Argyle’s “unfortunate” defeat at home to Everton, followed by the highlights of Manchester United 0 - 0 Exeter City on Sky. Later of course we watched Match of the Day’s highlights of Manchester United 0 – 0 Exeter City. Overkill? I don’t think so!
While the inevitable happened at the replay (we’ve never done too well when featured live on TV), the result didn’t take away from what had been a fantastic few weeks to be a City fan. The club had made a huge amount of money to help secure its short-term future; we had gained national recognition for all the right reasons rather than because of financial problems or imminent relegation; and we had all had a great day out in Manchester.
One of the big talking points about the replay was the decision to keep ticket prices at normal levels. Some argued that we should be cashing in while we had the chance. Others, including myself, thought that the positive publicity generated by keeping ticket prices the same, together with the fact that we had had a big pay-day already and the replay was to be live on TV, meant that there should be no increase. Burton faced a similar decision and opted to significantly raise their prices: from £12/£14 to £25/£30 for adults and from £3/£5 to £20/£25 for children. While it is arguable that the increase for children is a bit steep, having not had the luck to be drawn away, and with no guarantee of a return leg, I think the prices are justifiable.
So good luck to Burton. Hopefully their players will put in the same kind of performance City’s did and get them a replay and an even bigger pay-day up at Old Trafford.
Watching the FA Cup 3rd Round draw the other weekend brought back many memories of last years FA Cup heroics. All City fans will know exactly how Burton felt when their number was matched with Manchester United’s. I can still hear the wonderful phrase: “Manchester United will play …… number 64….”. I didn’t wait for the club’s name to be read out. I was out of my chair celebrating. It was the perfect draw for any team desperate for money: an almost guaranteed sell-out at the largest ground in the country.
I spent the weekend of the match in Manchester, staying in a hotel near Piccadilly station that had been taken over by City fans. Having been out the night before the game, I was feeling a bit worse for wear on Saturday morning but refused to let that affect my enjoyment. After wandering around the centre of Manchester for a bit I headed for the ground relatively early, hoping to beat the rush and to soak up the atmosphere. Not surprisingly, everyone else had had the same idea so the tram was packed on the way to Old Trafford.
We had been allocated the Upper Tier of the East Stand in addition to the usual corner given to away fans. I have to admit to having doubts about our ability to sell 9000 tickets for the long trip up North but I was happily proved wrong. In fact, I’ve heard many stories of City fans having to get tickets for the home end because we didn’t have enough. I don’t remember much about the game itself. I seem to remember spending a lot of time staring at the clock and hoping it would speed up. Also, there were some great chants from the City faithful such as “Have you ever played Brazil?” and “Nil nil to the Exeter!”
After the game, the hotel bar was packed with celebrating fans watching Argyle’s “unfortunate” defeat at home to Everton, followed by the highlights of Manchester United 0 - 0 Exeter City on Sky. Later of course we watched Match of the Day’s highlights of Manchester United 0 – 0 Exeter City. Overkill? I don’t think so!
While the inevitable happened at the replay (we’ve never done too well when featured live on TV), the result didn’t take away from what had been a fantastic few weeks to be a City fan. The club had made a huge amount of money to help secure its short-term future; we had gained national recognition for all the right reasons rather than because of financial problems or imminent relegation; and we had all had a great day out in Manchester.
One of the big talking points about the replay was the decision to keep ticket prices at normal levels. Some argued that we should be cashing in while we had the chance. Others, including myself, thought that the positive publicity generated by keeping ticket prices the same, together with the fact that we had had a big pay-day already and the replay was to be live on TV, meant that there should be no increase. Burton faced a similar decision and opted to significantly raise their prices: from £12/£14 to £25/£30 for adults and from £3/£5 to £20/£25 for children. While it is arguable that the increase for children is a bit steep, having not had the luck to be drawn away, and with no guarantee of a return leg, I think the prices are justifiable.
So good luck to Burton. Hopefully their players will put in the same kind of performance City’s did and get them a replay and an even bigger pay-day up at Old Trafford.
# posted by GrecianEd @ 8:18 pm 
