Old divisions put to one side as fierce rivals

Etihad opens its doors to victims’ families on day clubs are left in shock, writes Luke Edwards

Amother carrying a toddler under her arm, shaking; an elderly couple, unsteady on their feet, every single step from the car park a painful effort; a larger group – a family, three generations. All strained, all in shock, all terrified as they approached Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.

Some walked with heads bowed, shoulders slumped, as they reached the glass-fronted reception of the Colin Bell Stand. Some had been crying, their red eyes puffy. Others tried to be stoic.

They had come to learn news of a missing loved one, and were greeted as they arrived by support staff. They disappeared after that. Most did not re-emerge from the same entrance. The news for them, presumably, had been the worst imaginable.

They could have been City fans; they might have been United. They might have been from a different town. One of the victims, Georgina Callander, used to play for Bolton Wanderers girls’ team. It mattered not a jot on this day, for the old divisions counted for nothing.

City had been told to prepare for this. Every major city in the UK has a plan in place to deal with an atrocity, so when the call came from Greater Manchester Police, an incident room at the Etihad – which has witnessed so much joy since opening for the Commonwealth Games of 2002 – was prepared to allow worried relatives to come. “It is the least we can do,” said one club official.

“The thoughts and prayers of our ownership, board and everyone at Manchester City are with the people of Manchester and all those affected following the horrifying events of last night’s Manchester Arena attack,” the club said. “We have offered our full support throughout the night and