I first went to Old Trafford football Ground in 1973 September I think it was. QPR had returned to the top flight for a second crack at greatness and were cast against Manchester United within the first few fixtures of the season. Such a trip was not as onerous as it would be nowadays for a newly promoted side but still United were favourites, they won.
QPR did take the lead with the cheekiest of cheeky goals a Terry Venables free kick specially dinked over the wall to a youthful Gerry Francis who had walked through the defensive wall after pacing out the 10 yards on behalf of the ref. Special moment in a very special ground the start of a history of going to that ground to watch my team, the home team, our national team and also various International teams - I saw Zola play there - another definite highlight. I've been there a lot.
Needless to say I loathe what Manchester United currently represents as the chief launderers of obscene amounts of our money in our game. It's not because I am jealous if I wanted to count trophies I could simply start as a Man U fan tomorrow and buy the T-shirts and merchandise and feed Glazer’s debt. I support QPR and I enjoy that, thank you very much.
So what's this all bout I hear you ask - what are you on about, oh self appointed "King of Football"
Well if you hadn't interrupted I would have told you earlier. I was there this morning at about 11:30 and I was reminiscing about my Gerry Francis goal and reflecting on a variety of things that have happened between that Indian summers day in 1973 and this rainy morning in the borough of Trafford.
I entered the megastore and was taken by the factory style processing of the gathered fans/consumers who where efficiently being parted with their money as they bought tokens and mementoes of their visit to Old Trafford. It felt soulless and cynical it lacked the passion that I associate with football it seemed more Tesco or Asda if anything.
I stood close to some efficient looking characters that had clipboards and earnest looks. I asked an approachable bloke from within the coterie of retail specialists what was happening. “We are just tweaking the store to improve things.” My heart sunk. Scientific principles being applied to modify the machinery, improve the yield, feed the debt.
The young man – a fresh faced stunt double for Nigel Clough – turned out to be a Forest fan. We shared a moment of pain whilst I recalled Clough’s historic hat trick against my beloved QPR at the City Ground in the late 80’s and I left the building, head shaking.
As I headed back to real life, I paused to look at the bronze statue of Best Law and Charlton. Inspiring, truly great players, but also sadly another cynical marketing exercise to create a visitor experience, attract people to the megastore, rinse them of their cash. Encourage them to prove that they are real fans. Feed the debt.
I’m too old, too steeped in the experience of the 70’s 80’s when Football was a deviant behaviour, a grimy joy, cheap and cheerful. Happy days.
