From Theatre of Dreams to a close Nightmare

I have only been to the Emirates Stadium and Highbury in my two years in London. So when the opportunity to visit Manure at Old Trafford came knocking, it was not difficult to make a decision. After all, watching the second-best football team in Manchester makes a Sunday well-spent.

It normally takes slightly over two hours to get to Manchester from London. Somehow going up north today is a scheduled four hours from Euston. No problem, catch the 8:34am train to arrive in Manchester at 12:41pm for a 3pm kick-off. Nice. BUT Murphy Law's kicks in on arrival at Euston. Track problems, train will be delayed and route detoured = another 1.5 hours. We ended up arriving in Manchester past two. Hungry and thirsty, we had to make do with a quick BK burger.

Metrolink took us to walking distance of OT. Very impressive stadium from the outside and quite similar to the Emirates. Housing 72,000 people, we had to make our way up eight levels to our seats. Great. Nice view but the slopping roof meant that you can't see the opposite crowd.

The match had a good atmosphere, me the only Blackburn supporter (only for the day!) amidst the Red Devils. 30 minutes gone, goal-less with Blackburn hitting the post meant I was the only happy one in the crowd. Then two moments of magic from Ronaldo and Tevez made this game a two-nil win for Manure. A victory made easier by the sending-off of David Dunn. Sunil (travelling partner for the day) was ecstatic at the win and disappointed by the lack of more goals. 5pm and the game was over. Nice game and a worthwhile visit to OT (did I mention that the £300+ ticket came free for me?)


The real nightmare was about to begin. With 1hr 45mins to get back to Manchester train station for the ride back to London, we reckon we had enough time to take pictures and stroll around the stadium since Metrolink took us only 20 minutes to get from the main train station to OT. As we walked to Metrolink, we were advised by policemen to try alternative transport as the trams are crowded. The buses were packed and drivers refused to pick up passengers at the OT bus stops. Two former NSFs should be well-trained to venture a road march in 1 hr.

The walk seemed like an eternity. We met some kids who told us that the train station is a 10 minutes walk. We walked for 15 minutes, met another group of students who told us the train station is on our right and can be reached in 10 minutes. We met two Viet gals after walking for 15 minutes and were given differing directions. And was told it can be reached in 10 minutes. Fifteen minutes later, a Spanish group told us we were walking in the right direction but needed another 10 minutes. We met two other groups who told us, with five minutes to go, we are another 10 minutes away. We jumped into a cab straightaway (and the driver told us we are only five minutes away but who cares!). Luckily, we made it to the train platform with 30 seconds to spare.

Lesson of the day: If you are told 10 minutes twice, you know the town is using a different kind of clock!