Internet Football Ground Guide - Away Days, Old Trafford, Manchester United

Old Trafford - Manchester United
Wednesday 1st December 2004
V Arsenal, Carling Cup Round 5, 7.45pm
By Charlie Maclennan

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be)

Well, as an Arsenal fan in London, I encounter a lot of 'Manchester United' fans who have never even been to Manchester let alone Old Trafford, so it was pleasing to rub there plastic noses in the fact that I've been to there ground and they haven't!! Also on the T.V 'the theatre of dreams' look's impressive so I was looking forward to seeing it live.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking

I decided to get a coach with the Arsenal Travel Club up to Manchester, We left at 1pm (enough time to get to old Trafford which is a 4 hour journey right?) We didn't arrive to the ground until 8pm due to damn road works. We missed 15 of the game which in fact was the only lively 15 mins in the whole game.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

As we knew we were not going to make Kick off because Manchester Police did not decide to delay the kick off (why I don't know) they put the game on the radio, as soon as David Bellion scored after 20 odd seconds a few shouts of 'lets go home' from the back of the coach were met with laughter! As the coach was not allowed to park next to Turnstiles to let the away supporters off we had to park at the back of the car park, and so a lot of Arsenal fans were sprinting into the game which looking back now was funny! When we looked, there was also thousands of Man Utd fans running into the game as well! which made me feel a little better!

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground.

From the coach, you can see the ground lit up from afar. As we rushed into the ground a was searched by a steward which I wasn't to pleased about because it appeared that I was the only fan searched. Arsenal fans were seated in the East stand upper where the home fans usually sit. The stairwells were quite narrow and inside the ground the seating was very tight and the gradient very steep. The game seemed to go very quickly due to the late arrival!

5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..

The game was very boring, but we knew it was always going to be like that as Wenger put out a very young side. The atmosphere was dead from the home fans but with the travelling arsenal faithful making the noise it was great. the song of the night from the arsenal fans had to be...'have you ever won the league at Highbury' to the tune of 'if your happy and you know it clap your hand'. This song referring to the title win at old Trafford in 2002! I didn't notice the stewards being stern towards the gooners, however there was a United fan in my row ho started a fight and was thrown out the ground. I didn't have a pie and didn't go to the toilet, so can't comment there!

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

I was told that after this fixture the Arsenal fans are usually kept behind for 20mins approx, and so when we allowed to leave on time I was surprised. Outside the stadium a number of united fans were shouting 'you southern' ****ers!' which you have to laugh at because most of there fans live down South! Also as our coach left with a police escort, the coach was hit by a few coins or small stones. Luckily no bricks were thrown. We got back to London in 4 hours flat, which was pleasing as it took 7 hours in total to get there!

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

The Carling Cup has always been a no pressure competition for the big teams. The result didn't really matter although a win over United is always great. On the whole I enjoyed my day out to Manchester, although to call it the 'theatre of dreams' is a bit far fetched.