Manu visits MANU..

Imagine
- A beautiful glass building on the outside.
- Close to 76000 seats all painted in red.
- Sitting in the dressing room of the players
- Enjoying the comforts of the VIP room
- Almost getting onto the football pitch
- Sitting in the manager's chair

Well I just didn't imagine these things. I have experienced them.

I remember the first time I watched a football match with a lot of interest. It was way back in 1997 and ESPN had just come into India (thank god for that). It featured a team playing in red with Sharp Electronics being their shirt sponsor and being mesmerized by the way they played. It was then that I decided to follow the game and to support this club. I came to know that the club was called Manchester United aka ManU.

Ever since that time, I have desired to set my feet onto that ground. During the mid 90's, I was quite a slim, skinny chap who was into playing sports big time. I had attended coaching classes in cricket, tennis and played hockey and football at a decent level. I could run pretty quickly as well. And had made a good impression in Volleyball and Basketball at school. Now, do not ask me where that skinny boy went as I don't know myself.

The story is that, I had a dream of going to the Old Trafford stadium and enjoying there. And my dream was realized on the 29th of August 2007.
The first sight of the stadium leaves you in awe. The sheer magnitude and the opulence leaves you dumbstruck. The 'sea of red' inside is absolutely beautiful. The whole stadium tour and the museum visit cost me 10 pounds.(People knowing me, will know how I treat 10 pounds as [:)]). After the trip, I felt that it was a really wise investment.

They started the tour inside the stadium by making us sit in the Southern stand and I was shocked by the fact that the third tier in the stadium is as high as 160 feet. Thats almost 26times my height. And then, we proceeded to the away stand. FA rules state that the away club can get maximum of 3000 spectators. We then headed into the board directors rooms, the place that they occupy during the match. They certainly have the best seats and the most comfortable seats at that, in the house. We then headed into the players dressing room. The guide told us some strange superstitions players follow. Then into the playing area via the players tunnel. he then played a recorded piece of the crowd noise during the match and that certainly would get the players charged up. We then headed pitch side and had an opportunity to sit in the seats, Sir Alex Ferguson and the reserves sit in. We then headed into the Mega ManU store and did the only shopping, during the entire trip, there..

We then headed into the museum. It just showed me how much the club and its achievements are valued. The various trophies, big or small, that were won by the great team are displayed very proudly. A special section inside the museum has been assigned in memory of those who died in a terrible plane crash in the 1958 Munich disaster, that robbed United of 8 of its team.

After finishing the trip, I just did not feel like leaving the place. I had experienced a high that will be etched in my memory for ever. I felt like a pilgrim who completed his pilgrimage.

If people are wondering, why I have mentioned 'We' in my blog, it is because I was accompanied by Mr. Maurice aka Vagani aka Rahul.

The Pilgrimage was over and it was time to leave. And then I carried on with my journey..

PS - Other details of the trip, will be put in the next blog. Includes a special - Rahul gets drunk..

Some Pics
Row 1 - Left - The view outside my room. I could not believe what I had seen!! Right - Inside the stadium And the 'sea of red' behind me
Row 2 - Left - In between the great central defence. It was inside the players dressing room
Right - In the managers chair


Row 3 - Left - Being interviewed by sky sports
Right - I was on the holy turf


More Pics Later....