The Tigers’ 2-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday was a momentus occasion, writes Tigers fan Natalie Murphy
Liam Millar battles Diogo Dalot against Manchester United(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
It would be easy to blame pyrotechnics. It was the smoke from the flames, fireworks and flares that lit up the ground as the teams walked out for the first Premier League fixture at our stadium in a decade that brought on the tears.
But the truth is, I’ve never been prouder of my club than at the match against Manchester United. And not just because of Hull City‘s extraordinary result.
Everything felt elevated. Smarter and stronger somehow. There were the obvious upgrades, like the new screens, which I presume have been enhanced for VAR purposes. Looking at them compared to the previous ones, I felt like my eyes had been lasered into perfect 20/20 vision.
Then there are the new dug-outs, all curved glass and black metal, giving Andy Burnham’s dream bus stop meets the Gherkin vibes. And the hugely expanded media area in the West Stand upper is a reminder of the global pulling power of the Premier League.
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The energy was putting on a show for a visit from the posher side of the family. Biscuits on a plate and the telly switched off. Alright, muted.
But we were still authentically us. This wasn’t an act. It was the stepping up to the new promotion-worthy standards that we are now asking of ourselves.
Others will judge. One match report sniffed at the “Championship” sounding sponsors announced during our player substitutions. A visitor commented on the sheer number of commercial partnerships, for everything from the attendance figure announcement to added time, which, incidentally, is supported by a legal firm in what I can’t decide is either a brilliant or terrible piece of marketing.
So what? Why shouldn’t local businesses, many of which have been part of the club for a long time, enjoy our top-flight adventure? I’d rather that than a fleet of ‘official partner’ announcements for everything from crypto to coffee.
The early indications are that we are going to do things our way. Twenty-eight per cent possession, one-hundred per cent good vibes. Not that we’re just here to party. If there’s one word to sum up the season so far, it’s professional. From a soaring victory on Saturday to getting the job done at Stoke on Tuesday night.
We are, God rest her soul, the Dolly Parton of football. A class act in our own way and totally and unapologetically us. We’re not going to start copying what ‘big clubs’ do as though it is a shortcut to success. And for that reason, everyone else will be watching us, some like me, with watery eyes.
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