Blue Moon

Part of the reason we did "Married with grown ups" was to make sure that turning a certain age (50) shouldn't be a barrier to anything but, I think it's safe to say like any age with a '0' on the end it is a milestone in people's lives. Viv passed that milestone in June and as I write this mine is rapidly approaching. To help celebrate this the "grown ups" booked a tour of Manchester City's ground - the Etihad Stadium which all 5 of us went on in December. 

I've been to the Etihad before and whilst most of my live matches watching City were at the club's old ground at Maine Road  the chance to go behind the scenes of the club's current home was something that I was really looking forward to (followed by dinner at ​The Smokehouse in the city centre)

With quick and easy access via the Metrolink we were all soon waiting for the tour to start in the museum area which is quite compact but full of some great memorabelia. My favourite? Has to be Colin Bell's shirt from the 1969 FA Cup Final - sorry any Leicester fans! I still think the red and black stripes were superb and I can just about remember having a similar shirt way back in the day.

From there the tour took us to the main stadium and a look around the Chairman's Lounge - impressive stuff and a long way away from other facilities I've seen at a number of sports grounds.

Then it was out into the stadium and a chance to sit in the Directors/VIP seating area with heated leather seats. Comfy.

The pitch was having a blast of heat and light treatment which gave everything an eerie yellow glow in the dim light.

After that it was downstairs to the press and media room which hosts the after match interviews with Pep and the team. Yes, we got the chance to sit on stage and imagine what it must be like being under scrutiny from the press - especially if things arent going too well!

Then into the home team dressing room - the real inner sanctum. With all the players kit hung up in their positions as per a match day. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting. Maybe something a bit more lavish? However it is obviously  a functional/working area and would look and feel very different on a match day.

Then off to the final part of the tour - a walk up the tunnel, past the man of the match interview backdrops and, to the sound of a genuine pre-match tunnel warm up and crowd noise, which did actually make you tingle a bit,  out onto the side of the pitch with access to the dugouts and technical areas.

By this time it was raining and it made you only too aware that despite the money involved and importance of the managers and coaches - if it's raining you'll still get wet!

So a great couple of hours, a super tour guide and a real mix of people on the tour. From Ajax fans from Holland to Ecuadorian Leyton Orient supporters (!) and a group of Chinese visitors who had been to the "other" ground earlier and were still carrying their Man United bags with them.

I can thoroughly recommend not just to City fans but to anyone  wanting an insight into an important part of Manchester's life and soul.

Whilst the legends of previous teams - Bell, Lee, Summerbee, Trautmann etc never played at the Etihad their spirit and contribution is not forgotten and looms large as an integral part of the stadium, the club and its history.

And that's just how it should be.  


If you fancy a tour full details can be found here.