Forever Blue With Ian Cheeseman

I’ve attended well over 3,500 football matches during my life time. I’ve travelled all over the world watching Manchester City since I was a teenager. On European trips to Greece, Germany and many other places I’ve enjoyed the thrill of being in noisy crowds, full of passion and emotion.

Some have even felt quite dangerous due to the intensity of the experience. I’ve attended games in China, the USA and UAE too so I think I have enough experience to compare the different atmospheres.

On Monday evening I was at Oakwell, the home of Barnsley FC, who were playing Swansea City in the first leg of their Championship game. It was fantastic! I’ve attended quite a few games during the pandemic. Only a couple of them had fans in attendance. At Tranmere, in early December, a small crowd was allowed and despite the scattered nature of their presence it made a wonderful difference, but then lockdown returned.

I’ve worked at six City games behind closed doors and while I was glad to attend and to be doing what I love best – reporting on the Blues – it was a soulless experience. I was at Wembley for the League Cup Final, among the fans. The relief and joy was there for all to see. I’ve never taken my life for granted. I’ve been very lucky to have been in a position to commentate on matches, but despite the joy of being a journalist, I’ve still attended about two thirds of the matches as a fan/spectator. I feel at home in a football crowd, just as a lion might feel at home on the Serengeti. It’s my natural habitat.

I’ve felt lost, at times, during the last 18 months. Sitting at home in front of the TV is what I do when I’m unwinding, not to watch football. I don’t really enjoy watching games on the box. I can’t look where I want, I can’t chat to random strangers or explore places I’d not normally visit. It’s like watching a game through a letter box. I loved being among the crowd at Wembley, for the League Cup Final, but half the 7,773 inside the stadium were local NHS workers who sat quietly. The football atmosphere was only generated by about 4,000 in a stadium designed for 90,000. 

At Barnsley, on Monday evening, the stadium had fans in every stand and they all came to make a noise. In normal times, I’m sure Oakwell would have been bursting to the seams, but even with ¾ of those, who’d have loved to have been there, missing it was the most like a “normal” crowd I’ve experienced so far. When the players came out to warm up the place erupted. I hadn’t expected the noise level to be so high, but it was. 

During the game I could feel a greater urgency from the home players as the supporters made their voices heard. It was truly an exhilarating experience for everyone, even though Barnsley lost 1-0. I even enjoyed being stuck on the car park as I tried to head home. It reminded me of normality.

The Government’s relaxing of lockdown rules will be affecting everyone in different ways. My hope is that everyone can enjoy these new freedoms with an appreciation for the things we have sometimes taken for granted. On Sunday City face Everton at the Etihad Stadium in front of a crowd of 10,000 and I can’t wait to be back. It’ll be an emotional day with Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero lifting the Premier League Trophy. Next week I’m off to Portugal to attend the Champions League Final, also in front of a crowd. What a finale to this unique period in all our lives.

I’ll be vlogging, writing and broadcasting about my experiences at the Etihad and in Portugal. There’ll be words here in my column, my voice will be on Tameside Radio, on my image on my Youtube channel “Forever Blue”. I’ll be tweeting away @iancheeseman. If you can’t be there yourself, I hope I can take you there in spirit.