Do You Remember The First Time?

I'll never forget my first time - I was doing it with 58,000 others at the time!

Do you remember your first time? I do, as if it was yesterday. The build up to it was memorable as well. It started with me wearing my school uniform . . . I'm talking of course of going to a game for the first time (what did you think I meant?!)

A pal of mine at school by the name of Dave McNulty had asked me if I wanted to go to Old Trafford to watch United. They were to play Everton in the F.A.Cup.

Naturally, I was excited. I'd only ever been to Old Trafford to see England schoolboys on a school trip two years previous. That was memorable in itself, seeing the ground for the first time.However, this was to see my team . . . we were talking big time stuff here!

Anyhow, I was told that I'd be accompanying him, his brother and his mates to the game. All I had to do was get my own bus ticket. The local bus company, Bostocks, ran buses to every home game back then. Sounds good. One problem - how to get round the big obstacle that was my dad.

He loved his football, was a half decent player as a schoolboy - even represented Congleton back in the 1930's. However, he did not like the prospect of his eldest son getting into mischief. He didn't want me wandering off with a group of lads anywhere. A recipe for disaster in his eyes. I think he remembered his own schooldays a bit too well I think. There was a solution. There was someone who knew about how to handle my dad in the best way possible - my mum!

The plan between my mum and myself was hatched. Dad was told that Dave's dad was going to take us all. That sounded good. Then, a few days later, Mr.McNulty's car was going to have problems (wink wink) and we would have no choice but to go and get our bus tickets from Bostocks in order to go to the game.

Now, my dad has been dead for over 25 years now. I miss him very much. He was a very clever, street wise feller. Yet somehow the plan worked like clock work! Dad took it. So, one day after school I was allowed to walk down town and get my bus ticket. Here's where my happy memory of  my school uniform comes in!

Feeling proud to go and get my bus ticket, I was even prouder when I got home and told Mum and Dad that I had been addressed as "Mr. Kennedy" even though I was wearing my school uniform! It makes me smile thinking about it now, nearly thirty years on.

So, the day of the game. Saturday March 12th 1983. I had to be there at 12 noon. Dave had my match ticket. It only cost a pound back then! My times have changed! We set off. I was excited. I remember we had to go to the Bostock's Bus depot in Macclesfield as well.

We got there just before two. The bus dropped us off by the docks. We walked up to Old Trafford. I sense it now . . . and therre we were. Our tickets were in the famous Stretford End. Old Trafford then was nothing like it is now. Our tickets were for the standing area. It was an area that I wasn't very well prepared for.

I bought my programme inside the ground. It cost 30p to buy. Today, they cost 3 quid (aboout $4.50) . . . again, how times have changed! The programme is something I have cherished ever since and I still have every programme I have bought from a game I have been to. My Mum has been very kindly looking after them for me since I've been here in the States. When we go back I'm looking forward to getting them back. Here's what the first programme looked like

One of my most treasured possessions!

I'll never forget the view as I walked up those steps on the left side of the Stretford End as the magnificent stadium appeared before me. Along with my first view of 7th Avenue in New York, the view of Old Trafford was amazing. To see something you've only ever seen on the telly is breath taking. What I wasn't ready for was the pushing and shoving of thousands of people all crammed in tight in the ground.

The noise swarms around you as you slowly try to decipher what songs are being sung. I quickly learned that it was important to stand halfway between crash barriers as when there was an exciting moment in gthe game the crowd would surge forward. If you were near the barrier you'd feel the full force of people moving down towards you. I did my best to stay near to Dave, his brother and his friends.

The game kicked off. It was an F.A.Cup Quarter Final tie against Everton. The atmosphere soon sucked you in and you were hooked! It wasn't long before I was singing along with everyone else. I could tell my voice was getting hoarse. (I would catch a bad cold as a result of the singing and have the following three days off school; Dave said when I saw him on my return that he thought the experience had killed me off!)

The game was won by United, Frank Stapleton scoring the only goal of the game. It was scored with five minutes to go. Apparently, Dave's elder brother Andy had lost sight of me and turned to see where I was and missed the goal! Sorry! I was happy I'd seen United play for the first time live and the adreanaline buzz was still whizzing around relentlessly in my head.

I got home safe and sound. I would go to watch United on Bostocks several more times while Dad was around. The plan continued to work, with Dad being told that it was deemed more appropriate to go via public transport in order to protect the car - it was still the era of the "football hooligan" so Dad was OK. He would later say to me that he was glad I went to matches and not those "bloody pop concerts"!

That Saturday night, after being fed the usual Saturday night fare of Steak and Chips (never complained once and never will when given that meal!) Dad asked me about the game and even read the match programme. It was the beginning of a ritual that would continue for what turned out to be the remaining two and half years left Dad had on this earth. It was nice looking back; a bonding moment you could say. His work as a self employed Plumber meant that Saturday was a work day. I only attended one match with him. It was a friendly between Congleton Town and Sheffield United. I think the attraction was an ex-England World Cup star playing for "The Blades": Sheffield is known as "The Steel City" because it's where cutlery is famously made.

Saturday night also saw the highlights of the game being shown on TV. It was fun seeing the game again and piecing together what you had seen. There are times when it's hard to remember stuff that happened because the game goes by so quickly. I remember going to see England play in 2008 when Linda and I were back visiting. We got back from Wembley in time to catch some of the highlights. I soon dropped back into my old routime . . . like the song says, "old habits die hard"!

I've been to many games since that day in March 1983. In some ways I take it for granted now, going to a game. Having Linda with me when we went back was wonderful for many reasons but it also reignited my enthusiasm for attending games. The look on her lovely face as she saw Old Trafford for the first time made me realise that you should never take moments like that for granted. It's a wonderful expereince going to a game. We've seen the New England Revolution whilst we've been over here a few times and that's been great. We saw a friendly between Brazil and Mexico . . . now that reminded me of home with it's vibrant atmosphere! Soon, we'll be making what will be our last trip to Foxborough to see "The Revs" play against some team from Manchester . . .yup, my beloved Reds. I can hardly wait. It'll be a memorable night for certain. They always say you don't really realise how much you miss something until it's taken away from you. I have loved my time in the USA but the chance to see United . . doesn't get much better than this! I'm so excited about the game, it feels like I'm 15 again!

Enjoy your football and if you can take someone to a game who's never seen one before, do it! You'll help them to have memories that'll stay with them forever!

Ed

PS United went on to win the F.A.Cup in 1983; they beat Brighton and Hove Albion 4-0 in a replay of the final after drawing the first game 2-2.