Derby Day – Man United vs Man City
Jan ’23, I was gifted tickets to the Manchester United – Manchester City derby match at Old Trafford, and being a huge Man U fan, I jumped at the chance. Well, I didn’t quite jump, I’ve not learnt jumping on my prosthesis yet, but I definitely moved in an excited fashion.
Annabel’s Amputee Assessment: 4 Star
The parking was fantastic. My blue badge got me a space right in front of the ground, just 2 minutes’ walk to E4, the entrance to the Knights Lounge.
There were lifts up to the hospitality suite but no lifts to the terrace. The only way to get to our seats was to climb 4 flights of stairs – not really a problem now I’ve mastered the Genium X3’s step-over-step function, but enough to make me puff.
Once seated it was definitely worth the climb:
The only real issue was the crowds. Obviously you’re going to get massive crowds at a premier league football match but for anyone still a bit unsteady on their prosthesis I’d be really careful. Luckily my mum’s built like Arnold Schwarzenegger and was able to protect me, but I’d advise leaving just before the end of the match or once everyone has left the stadium.
Luckily we were swept around to the players’ exit, and my bionic leg, that seems to be a homing device for officials and anyone wearing a luminous vest, got us ushered into a pen separate to the crowds in a prime spot for player sightings and signatures, of which I got both.
Overall a great day and an incredible 2-1 win. Up the Red Devils!
