“It is the philosopher alone who can conceive the grandeur of Manchester, and the immensity of its future”, wrote Benjamin Disraeli in his 1844 novel Coningsby. The future Tory prime minister could not have foreseen the astonishing goalscoring exploits of Erling Haaland. But a city associated with the industrious bee will certainly be enjoying an immense buzz on Saturday.
The first all-Manchester FA Cup final will see a mass Mancunian exodus towards Wembley. Meanwhile, in Manchester’s booming centre, reds and blues will fill bars from Deansgate to Piccadilly. In a city en fête, they will be joined by tens of thousands of music fans in town to see Elton John at the AO Arena, Coldplay at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium and the Arctic Monkeys at the Old Trafford cricket stadium.
