From the Stretford End to the Sir Bobby Charlton stand press box
A night at Old Trafford reporting on the next generation of stars coming out of Carrington and Hale End.
The rush hour traffic had come to an end as I’d pulled into the Old Trafford E2 car park – an unusual matchday parking spot for myself.
I was more used to having to drive around Humphrey and Northumberland Road numerous times until a parking spot appeared.
But this was different to the 20-odd minute walk. The Theatre of Dreams was in sight as I stepped out of my car.
A much younger looking crowd compared to the typical Premier League game were scattered around Old Trafford, taking in the Trinity statue, and feeling the history that surrounded this place.
I headed straight towards the Munich tunnel for the media centre entrance.
I’d done this walk a number of times, though this one was cut short as I found the entrance where I was patted down by security and given access through a set of Manchester United stickered glass doors.
I was more familiar with the lengthy, crowded queue outside W14 and entering through the ageing, tight turnstiles.
Frames of the hundreds of editions of club magazine United Review and vintage newspapers lined the narrow stairs to the media room, as well as a list of honours United had won throughout their existence.
Images of legends George Best, Denis Law, Eric Cantona, Wayne Rooney, and many others plastered the corridors too.
The Manchester United branded teacups that welcomed me inside had to wait as there was just under two hours till Iftar (the meal to break the fast in Ramadan).
After Asr prayers, I walked past the press room and reminisced the press conferences that had taken place in that very space.
Jose Mourinho’s spectacular “three for me and two for them” quote immediately came to mind. So too some of the Sir Alex Ferguson and Louis van Gaal classics.
Out in the press box pre match, I was met with warmth by the rest of the BCOMS family.
The North stand fronting us quickly filled with spectators, just as the directors’ box, which included five-time Premier League and Champions League winner and now club technical director Darren Fletcher alongside director of football John Murtough.
I took my place on a press bench two rows up, thankful I’d be sat down for the 90 minutes ahead, contrasting to what was the case for a seniors match where me and my friends would stand up and sing from the first whistle to the last in The Red Army section of the Stretford End.
The teams walked out while MUTV’s Steward Gardner and Ben Thornley began their commentary duty behind me for the inhouse channel.
Throughout the first half, midfielder Dan Gore showed those in attendance why he was given the armband for the night, with Arsenal winger Charles Sagoe Jnr also catching the eye.
The 2004-born duo impressed, while my 2002-born-self wondered where it had gone wrong for me. The dream was to be out onto the pitch, not sat in the press box!
1-1 going into the interval, for once I’d looked forward to half time.
I rushed into the press room for Iftar as I filled my stomach with dates, water and pastries, while sharing cups of desi tea among those fasting. A tradition and a sign of how far the sports media industry had come in terms of diversity.
Yes, I’d finally got to use those Manchester United teacups, channelling my inner Marcelo Bielsa as the former Leeds United manager brought out a hot beverage for the second half when his side were thrashed at this very stadium in December 2020.
Maghreb prayers followed suit before we took our places for the second half.
A less entertaining 45 minutes came to an end, which made the match reports far easier to file than had been at the City Academy Stadium two weeks prior where United had been hit for six by their city rivals.
At full-time, the BCOMS cohort posed for pictures and though I’d been to this stadium 50 times according to match recording app Futbology, I had to get one for myself for LinkedIn.
On another day, I’d have been on route to the car, phone ordering my spicy chicken burger meal from Philadelphia Fried Chicken.
The groundsmen lawned the inch perfect grass, and as the floodlights were switched off, we made our way to the press room where senior academy coach Mark Dempsey was kind enough to spare some time for those apart of BCOMS.
As we exited the stadium together, we aroused upon a great night for us all.
A massive thanks to Tom Gayle who made such a special evening possible.