There is always something thrilling about the first home match of the season. I also find that the first away match of the season can also hold similar excitement, even though for me it normally happens a few weeks after the season has started. For the last few years I have tried to get to a few away fixtures each season and a quick scan of the new fixtures brought the first possibility to light. Being a supporter of Manchester City, you get the opportunity to visit a broad spectrum of the clubs and grounds up and down the country as a result of the roller coaster promotions and relegations of recent seasons.

After some discussions with Rich (nominated driver for the day), it was agreed that he would pick me up at 8:00. We both live close to Manchester Airport, but the third member of our party (John) had decided to emigrate to the wilds of Sheffield a few years earlier, so we headed over the Snake Pass to pick him up. By 9:30 we were all on our way south on the M1. 

We discussed the various routes and parking options on the way down and decided to follow the M1, M25, M11 and then onto the A406 North Circular. For those tall building enthusiasts amongst us, you get a good view towards Central London and Canary Wharf from the North Circular. Traffic was light all the way down and we made good time. As we were coming off the North Circular onto the A124 at around 11:45, we spotted the lovely looking Tesco Barking store, with a large car park and so pulled in for lunch at the coffee shop. The food is definitely not Egon Ronay, but my any six items breakfast, complimented by tea and toast at £2.31 proved excellent value, especially as we were now proposing to leave the car parked there and walk to the ground. This was quickly agreed on the basis that at full time we could probably walk the 2½ km back to the North Circular quicker than we could drive through the post match congestion and we were also aware that parking opportunities near the ground were very limited.

We had a look at a pub or two on our walk down Barking Road towards the ground, but felt they looked a bit dodgy until we came upon The Millers Well, a Wetherspoons outlet that looked suitable. None of us were wearing colours and we didn't spot any others whilst we were in there, but the accents gave away a good City contingent in the pub. The prices were very reasonable, £4.80 for two pints of Guinness and a pint of bitter, which I expect is good for London prices. It did get very busy an hour or so before kick off but I can recommend it as a safe pre match watering hole.

Our tickets were in row C of the lower tier of the Centenary Stand. The first impression inside the ground was the odd looking strip of spare grass at the side of the pitch, in front of the adjacent east stand. We were looking straight down one side of the pitch, even though we were a good twenty odd seats in. The stand was also slightly sunken so from row C, you felt you were looking up at the game and we struggled to see in perspective what was happening in the opposite end of the pitch. The game itself was not a massively great advert for exciting football. There were a few chances at either end, but neither team could hang on to the ball or put it away. The West Ham fans were fairly subdued, obviously a result of their initial poor performance so far this season.

At half time we attempted to obtain some refreshments from the outlet under the stand. Due to the poor design of the area, the massive crush and the fact I think there were only two young girls serving, we gave up after five minutes. It's probably the worst set up I've seen and it is in need of a big rethink by the club. The addition of some in and out barriers (I have seen them before on my travels but cannot remember where!) and a few more staff would solve a lot of the problems. The toilets were a bit small but of a reasonable standard.

One good point was that the club does not seem to suffer from the over zealous stewarding which seems to have infected most clubs I have visited recently. With neither team scoring, the points were shared, giving City their first away point of the season and doubling West Hams points total for the season so far. Unless they start converting chances into goals and results, both teams could struggle this season.

Our walking back to the North Circular theory proved to be right, as the congestion outside and away from the ground after the match was very heavy. After a quick stock up from Tesco's for the journey home, we were on our way. On our way down, we had spotted some heavy traffic through roadwork's on the other side of the M25, so we decided to stay on the M11 and take the A14 all the way through to the M1 at Rugby. Despite the draw, it proved to be an excellent away day for other reasons, with the high point of the day being voted by all as the decision to park the car at the Tesco store.

Iain Macintosh
MCFC Season Ticket Holder