The Last Crusade: England v Turkey, Manchester

Monday, 23 May 2016

England v Turkey, Manchester

ENGLAND V TURKEY
FRIENDLY
ETIHAD STADIUM
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
22 MAY 2016

This is the first of three friendlies that have been carefully arranged to prepare the England national team with suitable warm up opponents to ensure we are victorious in the forthcoming European Championship in France.

22 May 16: England v Turkey (Etihad Stadium)
27 May 16: England v Australia (Stadium of Light)
2 Jun 16: England v Portugal (Wembley Stadium)

This is a welcome break from my usual trip from Grantham to Kings Cross for the Wembley internationals, despite it meaning that I would need a hotel.

England had been to the Etihad before on two previous
occasions, both during the FA Summer Tournament of 2004

1 June 2004: England 1 v Japan 1
5 June 2004: England 6 v Iceland 1

Due to my OCD about football stadia I decided to visit the Etihad on the morning of the game. This was because I wouldn't have much chance later on because I had arranged to meet Pete B and Sammy in the Circus Tavern at midday and that was likely to get messy.

The England team captained by Gary Cahill

England 2 Turkey 1
Attendance: 44,866

England came out of the blocks flying and go close through Vardy, but Harry Kane gave England the lead from a calm finish on 3 minutes when Dele Alli slips him through on goal. Replays show that he was marginally off side. Turkey fight back and come close when a shot by Ozhan is blocked by Walker and Joe Hart makes a fine near post save from Tufan. Turkey keep on pressing and equalise through Hakan Calhanoglu who slots it home from close range on 10 minutes when Sen sends him clear. There are more chances for both teams as Dier goes close with a header for England and Mehmet Topal does the same for Turkey. The first half comes to an end.

Ten minutes after the break Cenk Tosun narrowly drags a shot wide of Joe Hart's goal and flashes a header inches wide from a corner as Turkey start to look threatening. In response, on 70 minutes Vardy races through and wins a penalty from the chasing Topal. Harry Kane takes the pen but sends the spot kick spinning off the outside of the left post and into the packed England end. Just as it looks like the game will peter out for a draw, England win a corner. The deep corner is taken from the right and Dier rises like a Salmon to head it across the Turkish goal which causes mayhem in the six yard box. In flies Jamie Vardy to smash the ball into the net from a tight angle and its 2:1 to England with 7 minutes of normal time remaining. In stoppage time Kane nearly doubles his tally but his effort goes just wide of the right hand post, before Hart produces a magnificent save to his right to deny Olcay Sahan at the death and condemn Turkey to their first defeat in 18 months.

England fans in the North Stand (Family stand)

East Stand

Colin Bell Stand

Turkish fans in the South Stand

Peter the Red

D-1 (The day before the game to my civvy mates)
Digs for tonight, the very cheap 'Portland Hotel'

First a bit of culture in Piccadilly Gardens

Queen Victoria - sadly the statue was

unveiled after her death in 1901

Photography at its best

Metrolink Station at Market Street

My short culture trail ends up at the historic
Circus Tavern on Portland Street.

Once frequented by George Best

The United Trinity

...and their new member

It's 'sesh' on with 'Kamilla' and Sue

Next stop is the Sir Ralph Abercromby, this a 19thC pub and the only structure left from the old St Peter's Field famed for its role in the Peterloo Massacre. It was here where the wounded were brought for medical treatment. This is one reason why I supported the petition to stop Gary Neville and his cronies from knocking it down to build the 'St Michael's ' development project in this area.

St Peter's Square

Chinatown, MCR

Food!

Day 2 - It's the morning of match day, so we head for a brisk walk to the Etihad Stadium. Our route passes over the Ashton Canal

Ashton Canal towards the Etihad

These apartments alongside the Ashton Canal are affectionately known as 'Chips'!

Metro Station at New islington overlooked by 'Chips'.

Etihad Stadium is also known as Eastlands and was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The stadium was converted to a football stadium in time for the 2003-04 season as a replacement for Manchester City's former home at Maine Road.

In 2008 the stadium hosted the UEFA Cup final between Zenit St Petersburg and Rangers.

The stadium was initially called the City of Manchester Stadium but was renamed the Etihad Stadium in 2011 as part of a 10 year sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways.