We had not been to see City play for years, so for Alison's 50th birthday, I managed to buy three tickets for their home game against Birmingham as we had never been to the new stadium. And it was a Saturday afternoon kick-off. We always used to go with Chas, our brother-in-law, and he also came with us to Eastlands this time. I cannot remember the last time we went to Maine Road, but it was a long time ago.
We had been to the occasional away game when City were playing in the south, but again not for a long time. Many of these were when City made regular visits to lower leagues and I still have the programmes for the games at Watford (March 89) Oxford United (April 89) and Luton (November 91). But the last time we watched City play were the games in the Premier League at QPR (February 93) and Arsenal (August) and Tottenham in 1994.So here we were sixteen years later, making our way by train from Marple to Manchester Piccadilly and walking in beautiful sunshine from there to Eastlands. The City of Manchester Stadium and the surrounds are very open and smart, a far cry from the claustrophobia of Maine Road.
We arrived early and we were able to have a good look round. Inside, the stadium is even more impressive. The only seats available were high up in the Colin Bell Stand, but we still had amazing views. and we were close to the halfway line. The seats in the opposite stand were facing the blinding sun, so again we were very lucky.
The match itself was a disappointment, Birmingham set out for a goalless draw and that is what we got. City did not have the guile up front to break down a stubborn defence. And all that money paid for strikers. But it did not spoil what was a brilliant and memorable day.
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