Starting off in the CityStore, the family and I were able to have a browse around and be constantly tempted by the toddler-sized full kits, footballs and accessories, luckily the tour was due to start before I could eradicate my credit balance.

We were first taken to the main entrance to the stadium – one which a regular fan isn’t allowed to use – the typical viewpoint of ‘Transfer Deadline Day’ and walked straight into the Chairman’s Club.

One area for special guests, another area for very special guests, and even private rooms in which you can shut yourself off from the rest of the room and watch the game inside.

There is quite a difference in the experience when you compare the ‘experience’ you receive in the company of Al Mubarak, compared to the pie and beer stalls downstairs – but that’s what it’s all about, and you certainly get value for your money no matter which option you choose.

Walking out from the Chairman’s Club to the seats, you are immediately in awe of the 3x 3-tier stands and the change in the roof, and what a view of the pitch you have from those well-padded heated seats. 

Little do many people know, the height at which you are standing at this point, looking down to the pitch – is in fact, ground level. The 400m track which once occupied the ‘Commonwealth Stadium’ in 2002 is highlighted by a black line along the second tier stand-edge.

It was from these seats we all were told of the plans to expand the North Stand very shortly, bringing the stadium capacity to 61,000 – second only to the new ‘noisy neighbours’ across the City.

From here we took a short-ish walk down to the pressroom, couldn’t resist a picture I have to admit. Every single seat has network access and charging points, and they even have radio rooms, soundproof bliss.

Further along the tour we visited the away team waiting area, the home team waiting area and the home team warm-up area. Something missing from here? You can thank Stuart Pearce for that, ensuring from now on, the away team don’t have a warm-up area. You’ve got to give yourself an advantage if we’re being honest, and as a lifelong City fan, I completely agreed.

The home dressing room was were my family and I were made infamous on the Bloggers Tour; my eldest decided to throw quite the tantrum for (what seemed like a lifetime of) 15 minutes.
He got to sit in Charles Hart’s and Zaba’s seats, I didn’t get to sit in any! Much to my disappointment.

As we walked out onto pitchside, I had an epiphany to solve the ‘tantrum-gate’ situation we found ourselves in, sausage rolls.My eldest was too busy chomping down on the processed pork to remember what he was bothered about, probably food, actually it’s mostly food. I finally got to sit down, in the dugout seats with the whole family.

On the way back into the Stadium we noticed the very subtle door by the stairs, simply labelled ‘Manager’ – I had to stop for a few moments whilst the tour continued to realise the greatness of what sits behind that modest white and blue door every week.

Just before the end of the tour, we were treated handsomely to some very fancy sandwiches, biscuits and drinks, fantastic coffee I might add. One mascot decided to get a little up-close and personal with me, but as you can see, I closed my eyes for the benefit of my Mrs.

Whilst we were eating, I realised all around us was the progress and plans for the Sportcity campus, absolutely fantastic. As a lifelong fan, I would have loved to have seen the new academy across the road, as its brand new and is quite literally where all our future success will come from!

It’s quite the walk, but I definitely it would certainly add to the tour in the future.

Overall, it was one heck of an experience for a City fan, and it’s amazing to see where we’ve come from at Maine Road and Platt Lane. 

I feel being allowed to occupy the ‘Commonwealth Stadium’ in 2003 was a major influence in our rise to the Premier League title, and seeing what our owners have done with the area – the only way seems to be up.