Well, that’s Old Trafford (if you haven’t know by now)!
Being a big time fan, I did not think twice to pay 12 pounds for the stadium tour. I knew it will be well worth it. Even if you’re not a Manchester United fan, it’s worth the money.
Okay, so here it goes…
Old Trafford - Home of Manchester United
The photo above is the entrance into the Megastore. Behind it is the East Stand. Whenever we watch Manchester United play at Old Trafford, the camera is at the top of the South Stand. So that makes the East Stand on the right side of our TV screens, just in case you’re lost.
The entrance into Old Trafford is at the North Stand. Since North Stand is also known as the Main Stand, it houses the Red Cafe, museum and trophy room. The stadium tour starts at the North Stand. We exited into the stands somewhere at the letter E in the photo below (it’s taken from the South Stand).
View of North Stand From South Stand
At the letter E (photo above), the guide spent about 15 minutes telling us the history and background behind this ground and some facts about the team. After that, we walked along the North Stand and the East Stand towards the area reserved for the disabled. It must be one of the best views in the stadium, at the South East side of the pitch.
Old Trafford View from the Terraces for the Disabled
Then, we walked inside and towards the changing room. That’s probably the most exciting part of the entire tour!
The Path to The Changing Room
Manchester United's Changing Room
Where The Players Seat
Players' Lounge at Old Trafford
Right opposite the changing room is the players’ lounge, exclusively for Manchester United players. Those who will start the game, the subs, their families and nannies will spend their time there 2 hours before the game relaxing and chatting.
Next : The Tunnel & Dugout
I was really excited when the stadium tour enters the players’ changing room stage. It’s the highlight of the tours followed by walking along the touchlines of Old Trafford.
I always wondered how the Manchester United’s players’ dressing room looked like; what’s in there, who sits where, where are the warm up benches, shower place and where exactly did Beckham’s flying boot incident happened.
It’s always nice to get behind the scenes to see and discover what the team does before and after the match.
The photo below is how the dressing room looked like. I took this from where Gary Neville is sitting, at the corner.
The entrance is on the left of the photo. When you enter the room, on the left there’s another door to the shower and warm up room, and then that’s where Gary Neville, Berbatov and van Der Sar sits.
On the other corner at the right of the photo sits Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo and Giggs.
As you can see there, there’s a big LCD screen. Sir Alex will connect his laptop during his pre-match briefing, loads up a CD with the opposition team’s details (he has teams from all over the world?) and then start playing with the magnetic pieces on the white board on the right of the screen.
That’s basically laying out the formation we should play for the day.
Then he’ll ask a few players who are key people in set pieces like Ronaldo, Ferdinand and Vidic to one side and start briefing them what exactly they should do. Things like where they should be standing, where and when to attack/defend the ball and the opponents weak link during set pieces are all discussed here.
After the pre-match briefing, the players get ready to enter the pitch to warm up.
At least now (after 17 years), I can for myself where all the above are happening before the match.
Next Up : The Tunnel where the food fight with Arsenal happened.
I had this goal since I was 9.
That was to step my foot at Old Trafford one day.
It’s been a long 17-year wait to finally get there last week. And I felt really, really good and excited as though I was still 9 (too bad I’m not!). If you’re not a big time or 17 years Manchester United fan, then being at Old Trafford is just like it’s another stadium or another tourist destination.
I’ve been to other grounds (Hertha Berlin’s Olympiastadion and Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena) before, but what I felt there were nowhere near what it was at Old Trafford.
Old Trafford was different.
It’s the ground the club I supported since I was 9 plays. I’ve been seeing it in magazines and TV for the past 17 years and didn’t get to go there until recently.
For a mere 12 pounds, I get to visit the museum (talk about that later), players’ changing room, players’ lounge, walk out of the famous tunnel, sit at the dugouts, see where the WAGS sit on match days, walk along the pitch and see Stretford End, where the most loyal supporters sit on match days.
Things could even get better, but this time it didn’t. It’s okay.
It would be even better if I could catch a match there, but that didn’t happen. It’s almost impossible to get a ticket for a Premier League or Champions League match at Old Trafford nowadays unless you’re a season ticket holder or you buy the hospitality package which starts from 299 pounds.
Another option is to buy from outside the ground on match day for prices up to 5 times the original price with the risk of getting a fake ticket.
Only tickets for low profile matches like Carling Cup will reach General Sales. Other tickets are usually sold out before it even reach General Sales.
So, the next goal (as far as Manchester United is concerned) is to watch a match there!
