TRUE BLUE STORIES

Chris Loveridge

Not being a citizen of the UK (in fact never having set foot on UK soil), the possibility of a Kiwi kid from staunch rugby territory of agricultural Taranaki (producer of All Blacks Graham Mourie, Dave Loveridge, Bull Allen) becoming an avid follower of English Soccer would seem remote. Indeed as a 9-year-old I had already some 4 seasons of junior rugby behind me. Then as fate would have it, my school soccer team West End, were 1 player short for their next fixture against Woodleigh and I was asked to play. As expected the "new" boy was given the job nobody wanted... goalkeeper. By halftime my new coach/team mates realised I was no expert between the sticks as per the 0-2 scoreline, hence I was shuffled up front quick smart. A hat-trick later (on debut too) and a 3-2 win and I was hooked. I proudly announced to my astounded rugby disciple father of my future aspirations with the round ball.

Our family moved from New Plymouth on the west coast of NZ to Napier on the east coast of NZ the following year and I saw my first game of English soccer on black & white TV, being the 1973 FA Cup Final Leeds v Sunderland. I chose Leeds as my team initially, but then in 1974, I purchased my first "SHOOT" magazine and turned to the middle team photo, which was "Manchester City". I liked the look of the strip and decided to adopt them as my team. The mid seventies confirmed them as a good choice with high finishes in the first division and frequent European campaigns. My favourite players were Dennis Tueart and Peter Barnes and I was somewhat a fanatical follower of the game. I lived for Sunday afternoon when we would receive match coverage, albeit one week later. It inspired me to train, often on my own and enabled me to attain provincial representative levels (for Napier and Hawkes Bay) from age 11 to 19. Indeed it led to an offer of a trial with Ipswich Town, but I never went... couldn't afford it (hate bloody Ipswich anyway).

I've put up with a lot of ribbing over recent times from soccer mates, particularly Spurs fans when living in Auckland. Terry Emms (was an apprentice under Burkinshaw when the Argies were there) and Kevin Le Cocq (played at school in Jersey with Le Tissier and Le Saux) have frequently reminded me of the 81 Cup Final. We also went to Paul McCartney's concert on a double decker bus full of scousers... big mistake.

Now aged 33, I'm still a City fan, still havn't been to Manchester and still am perplexed at our fall from grace. My wife Cherie who isn't into sport at all has been slowly converted to a fully fledged City fan and will be proudly wore her City shirt to the Oasis concert in Wellington recently. My oldest boy is a Junior Blue and a Georgi fan (hence his rabbit is called Georgi) and my daughter Chelsea and baby Aidan... well they can kick a ball better than Kit Symons!!

My high points as a City fan were the FA Cup run in 81, Tueart's goal in the 76 League Cup final, 5-1 over United, 3-2 away to champions Blackburn (best I've seen us play), 10-1 v Huddersfield and Georgi's goal v Southampton. My team of the last 25 years would have to be Corrigan, Brightwell (hey, his loyalty and gutsy displays in earlier years were superb), Donachie, Doyle, Watson, Kinkladze, Bell, Hartford, Lake, Tueart, Quinn. subs: Coton, Hendry, Barnes, White.

My team for the present would be Weaver, Edgehill, Tsh-wotsit, Wiekens, Shelia... Horlock, Gio, Brown, Pollock... Rosler, Russell subs: Wright, Brightwell, Bradbury, Crooks, Dickov. So on we go into a new millenium, hopefully in better shape than we are today, but I will never forsake City as much as they can frustrate and annoy... true fans stick by their team. Who did 50% of United's fans support 5 years ago?? I will continue to follow them from afar until such time as I can venture over to see them first hand (have to wait for the kids to grow up first). I long to sample the ritual of pre-match ales at the corner pub followed by a good 5-0 win over say Spurs (please let them be relegated). In the meantime my good Mancunian mates Tony Prescott and Nick Lilley (good City lads) keep me well informed and stocked up with programmes and video's.

By the way can anyone let me know the prices and postage for the latest City videos on offer at the club shop i.e there is apparently a history of City one, 96/97 season one and a Gio one?

Cheers