Bob Hayward & Nick Baldock have now run 19 consecutive marathons out of the 34 it will take to get to John O’Groats from Land’s End and in doing so have covered over 400 miles. This is all in aid of Podge the 13 year old boy who was so badly burnt in an attack last May.
Manchester City Football Club invited Bob Hayward & Nick Baldock to the first match of the season for a pitch side pre–match interview and to be presented with a signed Man City T–shirt.
They broke off from their run to the North of our great country to return to Manchester City. They are grateful for the invitation by the directors of the club to allow them space in their programme and in the pre match build up and hope that the story of what happened to Podge touches the hearts of the loyal fans.
As they got close to the ground you could feel the excitement in the air, even two hours before kick off there was a great deal of activity in the streets leading to the ground. The stadium rose high above the terraced streets that surround it like a massive blue and white space ship proud and omnipotent. Fans lined the approach to the main entrance in the hope of seeing a soccer legend or major celebrity pass by. The Gallagher brothers, Curly from Corrie, Elton John (because Watford are the visitors) there are some big names following this club.
Additional excitement was undoubtedly added with it being the first match of the season and the first match for two new managers — Mr Keagan & Mr Vialli.
The burly doormen were expecting them and Ian Howard, our contact from the Community and Marketing team was there to greet them (great examples of customer service). Because they were in a sense part of the pre match entertainment it gave them an insight into the complex process of putting on a major public event. The build up started long a go, the planning meticulous, with TV crews here two days ago to set up their cameras all over the ground and build their very own temporary studio. Birthday announcements on the screen and over the sound system, the young mascots from both teams playing penalty shoot out. The gradual build up of security and personnel. Amazing to watch and brilliant to be part of.
After the interview they sat high up in a stadium packed to the rafters. A sell out. Soccer fans starved for the last few months of any serious football were craving this feast. You could sense the energy building, was it being lead by the carefully selected music throbbing from the speakers around the ground or was the music reflecting the passion and ardour of the crowd? Probably the latter. While such stadia are now “all-seaters” they were up and down like yo-yos long before the start.
Bob was particularly impressed by Kevin Keagan who spent 10 — 15 minutes signing autographs, talking to fans and posing with children for photographs, never once did I see him turn anyone away.
The tension mounted like a kettle of water beginning to boil with no outlet for the steam, pressure, pressure. Sitting so close to 1000’s of people, all different ethnic groups united by colour – blue, the excitement turned to nervousness “come on!” people shouted at time itself. We want it now!
The music announcing the arrival of the teams seemed to play forever making the kettle set to explode and explode it did. How the structure of such high platforms withstand the force of 38,000 people launching themselves into space simultaneously they will never know. How their ears ever recover from the sudden chorus that erupts like a vulcano from every mouth, they’ll never comprehend. The kettle exploded, the steam found it’s release, yet unlike the after glow from a long awaited orgasm this was only the beginning!
They could only stay for the first half as they had a long journey back to Carlisle and another marathon to prepare for. Thank you Man City for taking them to your hearts.