Within an hour of meeting Saul in Manchester, I asked him if he would be interested going to a United game the next day. I had seen some tickets available online for 25 pounds----not great seats, but seats. Within seconds Saul whips out his cell phone, makes a brief call and confirms that we can get tickets through his “connection”. His connection is Al. Al is a professional gambler who also supports himself selling tickets on the side. It becomes obvious that the next day we will acquire entrance to the game in a way that may not be 100% legal. This is underscored when Saul tells me we need to be at the game around 7:20 to pick up our tickets from the “meeting point” at the rear of the stadium. At this point, I ask the obvious question.
Me: “Should I bring a knife?”
Saul: “Nah”
Me: “We are picking up tickets at the “meeting spot” from a professional gambler named Al. I am picturing a back alley and a dude with a knife scar down his face who looks like he has killed a few men “
Saul: “Yes, Dodgy Al… and we are meeting by the stadium, not in an alley”
Saul: “I just made up that name. I wouldn’t call him that”
At this point, the idea of going to a soccer game got way more intense. I absolutely spend the hours leading up to the game commenting as much as possible on Dodgy Al and the “meeting point”. Saul’s roommate is also going to the game. On the bus over, Saul practices his French with her—in a great moment of cultural exchange I taught her and her friend the term, “balls to the wall.” Bringing a bit of ‘Merica wherever I go.
We arrive at the stadium and head towards the meeting point. Saul thinks we should get pretty good tickets. We wait in a crowd of people. “There’s Al,” he nods towards a man who looks like an investment banker. Surely this isn’t Dodgy Al—he just shook my hand and made small talk about soccer. No mention of breaking knee caps, no obvious knife wounds—he looks more likely to talk about hedge funds.
My disappointment that “Dodgy Al” seemed more like “Analyst Al” quickly subsided when I saw the seats. We sat two seats from the pitch---perfect view of the corner. I could see individual blades of grass. The only draw back is that you can't have a beer at your seat. I have never been to a sporting event in the West where you couldn't have a beer at your seat. Saul tells me that while they trust folks in America to keep their good sense after a beer in the US that trust does not extend to football matches in the UK. Looking around; you don't see many families or women... probably for the best.
I learned three cheers that day (all involve cursing) and we got some great photos. Enjoy.
