OCCUPIED COUNTRY

Every Time We Say Goodbye

So. That was it ! End of an era. 80 years of history now at the mercy of the bulldozers waiting, like hyenas, to feed off the carcass of Maine Road. I must confess that I thought I would have been more emotional about the day, but, in the end, I found it quite prosaic.The most moving moments were when Shaun Goater bid farewell to the fans after 5 years with the club.

If ever there was an ambassador for the club, it is Shaun. Never complains, just gets on with the job. Back home in he is so revered that they even have special Shaun Goater day (June 21). For the last game at Maine Road he was given the honour of captaining the side for his last match in a City shirt.

  The Kippax Stand rears above the back-to-backs of Moss Side

As we arrived at the ground there was a jazz band, a steel band, face painters galore, people in costumes as varied as blue nuns, various Elvis’s, a Viking and many, many others were lurking about. Some were happy as clams, others seemed bemused, still others looked stunned and a little wistful.

 Elvis will soon be entering the building.

As we entered the back of the Kippax we were asked by a straight-faced copper if we had: “inadvertently left a screwdriver or knife or some such in our pockets”? We were then searched (in my case, for the first time since 1969 or so). Inside fans were wanderin’ about carrying armfuls of programs, pints in hand and smiles on faces. Others were photographing everything they could. Toilets, bars, stairs, walls everything.

 Fresh graffiti on this Kippax gate.

Eventually we made our way to our seats after acquiring two of the last programs still on sale inside the ground. (£5 !). On the back of the seat in front was a plastic bag with a Mars bar inside and some bumph regarding opportunities to avail oneself of a plate !!

We saw the last part of the ‘Parade of :Legends’. John Bond, Gary Owen, Ian Brightwell, Gio Kinkladze, Brian Horton and others.

Then the game itself. Another one of those teams with a combative midfield that we just couldn’t break down. We concede a goal from a set piece (again !!!!!), and the last ever game at Maine Rd ends with a defeat. After that the team came out and Shaun and Peter were presented with crystal ware to commemorate their careers at Maine Rd and, in Peter’s case, his career in football.

  The 'Goat' says farewell.

After the lap of honour the festivities descended into farce. A band called the Blues Brothers were introduced to the sound of the entire ground chanting “who the feckin hell are you”. At that point we left.

Why the club felt the need to put ‘entertainment’ on is beyond me. As far as I’m concerned they should have just kept it to football related matters. The Blues Brothers were presumably on the pitch because the word ‘Blue’ was in their name. Badly Drawn Boy and The Doves who came on later are City fans – so what ?And as for the Oasis covers band ‘Champagne Supernova’???? The only reason they were on is because they sing songs by a band whose 2 main men support City.

  The Blues Brothers strut their stuff to the sound of 'Who the F@*!*@## are you'.

So, in the end it all felt a damp squib to me. No doubt the emotions will overtake me when they actually start demolishing Maine Rd. Now that I will find hard to take.

Spare a thought for all those chippies, offies and kebab shops. They’ll feel the loss of the ground more than most; businesses going to the wall in 12 months from now I reckon.