Grand final eve : Fri Oct 13, 2023 7:36 am  

Is everyone exited, personally I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, finals make me feel like a kid at Christmas.
What are everyone's plans tomorrow? what time are we all getting there? anyone getting there early and making a day of it? How are we all getting down there?

Re: Grand final eve : Fri Oct 13, 2023 11:37 am  

Can’t wait for it. Same as we do every year, we’re out for breakfast in Manchester, tram over to Chorlton and a few beers there till about 4.30/5ish. A bit different this year compared to the last few, with us being in it but that just takes the excitement levels up.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Re: Grand final eve : Fri Oct 13, 2023 11:57 am  

Anyone any idea where the potential train issues will be, there are some reports of trains not running and replacement buses being used. May be the difference between train and driving for me.

Re: Grand final eve : Fri Oct 13, 2023 12:15 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Can’t wait for it. Same as we do every year, we’re out for breakfast in Manchester, tram over to Chorlton and a few beers there till about 4.30/5ish. A bit different this year compared to the last few, with us being in it but that just takes the excitement levels up.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Sounds good, we've always stuck around piccadilly, getting there for around 10.30, few beers, food then head up on tram to the tollgate, couple in there then walk down to old Trafford.
What's Charlton like mate?

Re: Grand final eve : Fri Oct 13, 2023 12:23 pm  

stpatricks wrote:

Anyone any idea where the potential train issues will be, there are some reports of trains not running and replacement buses being used. May be the difference between train and driving for me.

Timetables are saying they expect it to be busy and Deansgate will be shut from 18.00 so no getting home from there but nothing about bus transfers

Re: Grand final eve : Fri Oct 13, 2023 12:44 pm  

Jonnyboysbones wrote:

Sounds good, we've always stuck around piccadilly, getting there for around 10.30, few beers, food then head up on tram to the tollgate, couple in there then walk down to old Trafford.
What's Charlton like mate?

We always did the city centre but had issues with trams/taxis a couple of years on the spin and decided to head to Chorlton the following year for a change and we’ve done it for about 8 or 9 years now. Plenty of bars and pubs and quieter on the tram back towards OT. You get a few fans around the pubs but not too many. Depends what you want I guess. We used to go to Shambles Square for the atmosphere pre game.

Re: Grand final eve : Fri Oct 13, 2023 12:57 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

We always did the city centre but had issues with trams/taxis a couple of years on the spin and decided to head to Chorlton the following year for a change and we’ve done it for about 8 or 9 years now. Plenty of bars and pubs and quieter on the tram back towards OT. You get a few fans around the pubs but not too many. Depends what you want I guess. We used to go to Shambles Square for the atmosphere pre game.

That's were we've always gone, the oyster bar, bit different this year as am taking one of the kids for the first time so want the atmosphere but don't want anything too crowded for her.

Re: Grand final eve : Fri Oct 13, 2023 1:03 pm  

Does anyone know if there is anything going on outside the ground this year.
They used to have various different things going on around the ground but the last time wigan went I remeber they hardly had anything other than bars and the armed forces stands.
Also anyone know what band (if any) are on pre game

Re: Grand final eve : Fri Oct 13, 2023 1:45 pm  

Jonnyboysbones wrote:

That's were we've always gone, the oyster bar, bit different this year as am taking one of the kids for the first time so want the atmosphere but don't want anything too crowded for her.

Catalans have told their fans to meet outside the Oyster Bar, so it could be lively. I know they’re not bringing loads but I’d imagine a fair percentage of them will rock up there.

Re: Grand final eve : Fri Oct 13, 2023 2:15 pm  

First few times I always went the Oyster Bar but to save hassle with getting from their to OT we just decided to go straight to OT and drink in the pubs around there or other years just congregate outside the spoons with cans bought from Tesco, last time was a nightmare, couldn’t get in the pub and the Tesco had been told to stop serving alcohol so we are going to go to the Oyster Bar this year, taking my 5 year old lad and my wife to their first final so wanting to show them the atmosphere. With a bit of luck the weather might be decent too.