Nou's the Time; Michael Grant Talks to Celtic's Alan Thompson About Playing in a Stadium He Dreamed of As a Child

Summary

---

BARCELONA'S Nou Camp is such a huge attraction that it is included on the city's main tourist trail. Holidaymakers join the hop-on/hop-off bus tours in the city centre and many - British males are notably prevalent - eschew the city's iconic architecture and parks to stay on the buses until the stop which nestles in the vast shadow of the mountainous stadium, where they alight and gawp in open-mouthed astonishment. Football supporters are drawn to the Nou Camp like iron filings to a magnet.

For around (pounds) 6, they take the official tour of the stadium. Given the magnitude of Barcelona the guides have an endearing line in self-deprecation. With a rueful smile they encourage visitors to "forget Real Madrid" because for the next 45 minutes Barcelona will be portrayed as the most successful club in the world. When the guide comes to the stadium's famous chapel, a small ante-room to the right of the players' tunnel, they joke that that is where "the visiting team goes for a final prayer before facing Barca".

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

Nou's the Time; Michael Grant Talks to Celtic's Alan Thompson About Playing in a Stadium He Dreamed of As a Child

It is impossible to imagine Celtic's Geordie midfielder, Alan Thompson, quaking at what lies in store in Catalonia. Celtic have more than a prayer of pulling off a famous result in Spain on Thursday. Thompson will walk purposefully past the chapel entrance, concerned with crosses of a differe...

See the full content of this document

---