OpinionLiving large at Old Trafford a rare yet pensive enjoyment

The food was better than the Wednesday night football at Old Trafford this week.

There, in the fabled Theatre of Dreams, the pre-Manchester United v Southampton supper menu offered "confit chicken and red onion chutney terrine with toasted brioche" or "cream of cauliflower soup with herb croute" to start. That is followed by "21-day dry-aged striploin of prime English beef with Yorkshire pudding" or "coriander marinated hake" and a smorgasbord of delicate desserts and fine cheeses for pudding.

The three-course banquet lasted the two hours before kick-off and there was much football to discuss - as well as stars to be spotted. "Executive Club: Get Close to Greatness" read the signs in the hospitality suites and this proved so. Alex Stepney, Bryan Robson and Paul Scholes were just a few of the United legends seen strolling to their dining tables or to their prime stadium seats behind the dugout.

From the walls of the ridiculously expensive hospitality boxes hung pictures of George Best, Bobby Charlton, et al - an entire galaxy of talent to dazzle first-time visitors and regulars. Black-and-white photos of the fans - hordes of smiling, cheering men and boys in flat caps from the 1920s to the 1960s - stared down upon us.

The spectre of Roy Keane and his dislike for the seafood sandwich brigade prevented an extravagant order of the Lanson Gold Label Vintage champagne at HK$1,000 a pop.

Instead, modest pints of local ale were ordered and we supped, soaking up the critical corporate mass and predicting the final score until the food started to arrive in the hands of our very own and attentive waitress, Clementine - a far cry from the burger van vendors outside St Mary's.