Last Saturday the H and C News pie tasting team set out for Old Trafford to test the pies on offer to the 75,000 fans there to see Manchester United play Sunderland. There was also the small matter of celebrating Sir Alex Ferguson’s 25 year tenure of the World’s biggest football club. More of the day itself later, but for now let’s focus on the pies.
We were at the ground about 45 mins before kickoff and went to the catering area in the West Stand, better known as the Stretford End. There was a good choice of pies and we selected the Peppered Steak pie. Far too hot to consider eating straight away so we took the pie back to our seats and waited a good 15 mins before tasting, it was still piping hot when we did.
On first bite the crust was crisp and the pastry firm holding the shape of the pie, which was filled with peppered steak in a rich gravy sauce. I was surprised that the rich sauce didn’t come spilling out and make eating the pie difficult. The pie held its shape from start to finish allowing you to eat and enjoy without wrestling with it to keep control of or spill all over the place.
The peppered steak filling was incredibly tasty for a mass produced football pie, in fact the whole pie, filling, pastry and crust was just a great pie, so good I would award it 7/10.
The good folk at Ipswich who won last season’s inaugural Football Pie League had better watch out… Holland’s plays a blinder at Old Trafford !
For all the background on the H and C News Football Pie League click here
The day itself last Saturday where 75,000 witnessed Sir Alex Ferguson’s 25 year anniversary as manager had to be experienced firsthand to appreciate the reverence the man is held in. The noise when he walked out on the pitch was deafening and must have scarred the prawn sandwich brigade witless.
The club then announced it was naming the biggest stand at the Stadium after Sir Alex and once again delirium. For 90 minutes they chanted his name, over and over and over and over ad infinitum.
The match itself was poor and a 1-0 win for united was ground out and only just about deserved. Wayne Rooney in mid field did a good impersonation of Paul Scholes but the forward line looked bereft of ideas without him. Another management task for SAF to solve.
I am just about to reach my half century and have been going to football since I was a child, which translates into far too many grounds and matches to mention. I have never witnessed such passion for one man as I was privileged to observe and be a tiny part of last Saturday.
So the big question now is, where next..?
If you would like us to come and test the pies at your football club, please get in touch.