Sawasdee ka...Manchester (City)

Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone,
Whithout a dream in my heart, Without a love of my own…

Blue Moon, you knew just what I was there for,
You heard me saying a prayer for,
Someone I could really care for…..

“Blue Moon” the theme song of Manchester City was chanted so many times from the core Man City fans to welcome the new club’s owner, Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra or Frank (as Man City fans named him). The fans sang with the high hope that they now find someone who really care for their team.

This evening, I went out with my flatmates to join the MCFC's ONE CITY event at Albert Square, Manchester City Centre. We knew about the event from Manchester Evening News, the brochure from China Town and even from our university's email.

The main mission of my international flatmates was to get the taste of free Thai food. We reached there at 6pm and found that thousands of Man City came to the event despite the lost of their team 0-1 during the Thomas Cook Trophy match against Valencia earlier afternoon.

“We lost today but it’s a good match. Overall we are satisfied with the new players’ performance. As long as we could beat Man United, it’s ok,” A Manchester City fan told me during the queuing up for Thai food.

There are five main marquees. Two of them are from the restaurants in Manchester and three are from the restaurants in London. The queuing time for each marquee is around 30-45 minutes. There are plenty of foods at each marquee and each serve different kind of foods.

To name a few (that I can remember)...The marquee from Manchester served chicken red curry, fried spicy chicken, prawn fried rice, fried noodle, fried pork with rice. The marquees from London served BBQ chickens and ducks, sticky rice with papaya salad. For fruits, they served mangos, coconuts, mangosteens, rambutans, etc., and there are many kinds of desserts.

Attendees were so far satisfied with their foods and drinks. One guy came to ask about mangosteen as he never had it before. My international flatmates said that this is the good way to promote Thailand.

The show started at 6pm. Hart, Sutthipong was the Emcee of the night. He introduced Sonya on the stage and both teamed up as the host of the night. The program began with HM King's anthem.

Sixty Thai dancers and singers were performed on the stage including Lidea, Am-Saowalak, Mai-Chareonpura. There was a British singer who featured a Frank Sinatra tribute singer.

During the middle of the performance when Hart sang Elvis Presley's "It's Now or Never", Thaksin or Frank appeared for the first time by waving his hand from the window of the building next to the stage.

The highlight of the event was when Manchester City players, the manager Sven, the owner Dr. Thaksin and the World Champion boxer and devoted City fan Ricky Hattonwere were introduced to the public. Frank and Sven gave a speech to Manchester City fans.

Frank said that he would like to sincere thank to the supporters and would like to be a part of Manchester community.

Standing next to a core Manchester City family, Dunne told me that "We are so pleased with the new owner. It’s what we really need right now,”

Not only Manchester City fans, many Thai people from other cities including London, Birmingham, Liverpool mentioned as a few came to join the event. A group of Thai people also wore "We miss Thaksin" T-Shirts.

Before the end of the event, Hart asked people to shout “Top Ten.. Top Ten… Top Ten” It’s the aim of Manchester City this season.

The event ended with "Blue Moon" and Thaksin was invited on the stage again to sing the theme song …(which I think he probably needs more time to practice).

I overhearded a couple of fans talked to each other ….

“Hey, we look on the sunny side. Now there are not many teams that can get much money and afford to buy big players. We should be better this year.”

Blue Moon, now I'm no longer alone,
I have a dream in my heart,
I have a love of my own.......