With around 250,000 people set to descend on Heaton Park this weekend for the return of seminal Manchester band The Stone Roses, we thought we would share this fantastic poem by drummer (and huge City fan) Alan 'Reni' Wren.

The Roses' hugely anticipated resurrection, following splitting up in 1996 has been the talk of the music industry over the past few months, and the three hometown shows starting this evening are set to put Manchester at the centre of the cultural map once again. 

Enigmatic drummer Reni is famously quoted as saying that the only time the band would ever reunite would be "when City win the European Cup", although we would like to think that last season's dramatic Premier League finale had a big part to play in the lads getting back onstage again!

'Enter The Arena' captures Reni's experience of being a ball boy at Maine Road - invoking the spirit of the Kippax and the magic of the Blues. It was first displayed as part of a Manchester music exhibition held at the old club museum back in 2006.

ENTER THE ARENA

In Alexander Sports maroon 
The ball-boys drew their plan 
Who would lead the phalanx through 
before the game began?

Ignite those mighty engines 
"I will" eight of us implore 
Invite the mighty Kippax 
to their galvanising roar

On big game days 
the sound relays 
around the roads of Maine 
between the swells 
Our Helen's bells 
We know she feels the same

No turf to kiss 
or blue bound wrist 
They run the ball-boy keener 
It's five to three 
All eyes on me.. 
We enter the arena

.....and Oooooh Rodney Rodney