Ian Thompson

I guess being born into a Blue family has something to do with it. Most of my family, particularly my grandfather, father and uncles were all blue to the core (my old man went to the win over Gornik Zabzre in 70). Also, having a brother who is a City fanatic probably helped, as we all mostly went to matches together. Having said this, I like to think that if they were all Rags I'd still would have seen that being a Blue is infinitely more desirable then anything those media-made Reds have to offer. The old man bought me and our kid a new City strip every Christmas, even in those good old days when you could buy a kit in the knowledge that it would not be out of date the next season (or the current season if you're a Rag). I don't envy the parents of junior Rags, in fact I feel sorry for them, but it is nothing short of scandalous the way those marketing-hyped Stretfordians have ripped off their own fans (at least City only do it every other season with each strip) in the knowledge that they'll be bought in (sad) vast quantities. Anyway, to get back to my point, my decision to truly follow City was made in 1976, courtesy of Dennis Tueart's overhead kick against the Toon at Wembley, and Bobby Stoke's left foot drive for the Saints later that season also at Wembley.

The first game I can remember attending at the World Footy Academy was against Stoke City the following season, at the impressionable age of 11. The only thing I can remember about the action on the pitch itself was that it was a 0-0 result and that Mike Doyle, our centre half appeared to be everwhere, making tackle after tackle at the back, and seemingly linking up with the midfield for nearly every attack. What created the most impression though was the atmosphere and the attitude of the City fans - I stood towards the back of the right hand side of the Kippax, and I could just about see the game, the areas behind the Kippax roof stanchions excepted of course. The attendance I think, was about 39,000, the chanting and cheering seemed incessant, and my decision to follow the Blues was thus made firm. My old man still tells me that he took me and our kid to a few games before this, notably in the Bell/Summerbee/Lee/Marsh era, but strangely enough, the Stoke game is the first one I can personally recount, The only league game before the Stoke one I have any memory of was at Gigg Lane, the home of my hometown team Bury FC, for whom I suppose I have a soft spot (nb I did have a flirtation with the auld enemy Rochdale in the 1979-80 season briefly, but the less said about this the better).

Some of the best memories (see later section) of my teenage years were undoubtedly centred around Manchester City FC, and it seems to me impossible not to look back to those couple of seasons I remember most in the late seventies when we were one of the top teams in the country, and when teams actually feared to come to Maine Road. We had some great players - Dave Watson, Gary Owen, Joe Corrigan, Dennis Tueart, Willie 'I score great own goals for Scotland' Donachie, Asa Hartford, Peter Barnes (anyone remember those nationally retailed Peter Barnes football trainers, the soccer balls on elastic you used to practice close control!), Ged Keegan - ooops! Let's not get too carried away, even Brian Kidd and Joe Royle, to name but a few. It's a shame (and I'll admit it's often hard not to) that younger City fans memories of such players are often obscured by the mediocrity of players such as Stuart Lee, Bobby Shinton, Paul Sugrue, Gordon Davies, Mike Flannagan, David Johnson, Steve 'the biggest one million pound + transfer waste of money ever' Daley who played his best games at Maine Road in the amber Wolves' strip, David Cross, etc. No offence intended, they did wear blue shirts, but did we really expect we were going to win anything with these players, who had been good players in lower divisions but who had probably reached their sell by date a long time before they came to city. However, Gordon Davies did score probably my all-time favourite goal for city against Watford in the cup at Maine Road in, I think, the 85-86 season - a diving header after a good run down the right from Mark Lillis - I think this was the last time a City player had a goal in the goal of the month final?).

It would be interesting (or a good laugh) to obtain the definitive list of playing staff since 1975, can anyone provide one? We supporters of MCFC, of whom I count it a privilege to be one, are unique - I can't think of any other major (or minor, come to think of it) football club whose supporters have had to live for so long in the shadow and success of their so-called 'illustrious neighbours' and who have been so loyal for so little in return. I know Everton went quite a few seasons in the doldrums while their neighbours won just about everything in sight, but they too had their turn in the mid and late eighties with league and cup successes. What have we had? Excuse the griping, but we have had to be content with being losing Cup-finalists twice (if you count the Sinod Cup) and promotion twice (and heaven knows they almost cocked both these up, leaving it too late when we really should have won the titles) in the eighties, and only a couple of reasonable final league placings in the nineties. Yet, we've always had the nucleus of 20,000 loyal core supporters since those dark days of the early eighties. I can remember attending home games against the likes of Leeds, Newcastle and Everton when the regular chant was 'you only get 14,000' and 'whats it like to see a crowd', etc. City fans have been the most loyal and patient in the country, only to be rewarded with, on the whole, mediocre signings, defeat, disappointment and disillusionment. Let's hope the current regime can do better, we probably can't do any worse (but don't forget this is City we are talking about, the team who find it remarkably easy to defeat the teams you expect them not to one Saturday then lose against the really bad teams the next).

Anyway, please forgive this diversion and I'll get back to 'Why Blue'. Me and our kid seemed to be the only city fans in our area of Bury (near the old Bensons toffee factory where the Aldi supermarket now stands). My best mate supported Chelsea of all teams, and all the others were red scouser lovers (this was during their purple patch of late 70's), some switching to the Rags depending upon who was winning at the time. This is the sort of background that seems to mould and fashion Junior Blues, in the minority perhaps but loyal to the core, and it certainly was so in our case. In the period 78-83, we attended virtually every home game and most away, until I left Bury in September 83 to go to uni in South Wales where I've lived ever since. Since living in this football wilderness, I suppose I cannot argue with the fact that I've become somewhat of a part time Blue, due mainly to work/family/distance commitments/etc, temporarily broken by a couple of visits to the oasis of soccer, the Academy. I'll have to be honest and say that many a time I've thought 'right, thats it, I've had enough, I cannot take the disappointment any more', but this usually fades the next morning in anticipation of the next game. eg. suicidal after losing to the Rags AGAIN, but this fades when I realise we've a big cup game on Sunday.

To summarise, the answer to 'Why Blue' is because it's in the blood and when you attend you're first match you're smitten for life - very few people I know have ever been blue and jumped ship later in life. I think that being a City supporter is an admission of knowing that you're team are unlikely to win anything, and that you're unlikely to care because it's the club and culture that's hooked you, not the success on the pitch. Having said this, I still do desperately want to see City win trophies and derby matches. I remember glancing through a history of Manchester United from '74 to '94 (not mine may I add, but a nephew's) which started off with a description of Manchester football 20 years previously to this, stating that at the time the Rags were living in the shadows of their more successful neighbours Manchester City and painting a picture very much the reverse of the current one. It's funny I suppose how history repeats itself in circles, and I'm certain our day will once again come - though it's unlikely to be until the impending 21st century.

Anyway, I look forward to the day when I take my 2 young sons (aged 6 and 20 months respectively) to their first game at the Academy, when they follow in the footsteps of their father and his father before him.

MEMORIES

Being a Blue, it's impossible to conclude without mentioning some experiences that are forever etched in my memory, and which any City fan could themselves relate and which highlight the uniqueness of being a City supporter;-

Good

Beating AC Milan 3-0 at Maine Road in the 78-79 EUFA Cup (quarter finals?). After a 2-2 away draw, 3-0 up at half time, it seemed we were destined for European success, but alas it was not to be.

Bad

Losing 0-3 at home to the Rags in the same season, my first derby match, and having to watch Colin Bell continue his comeback in this game, completely out of position as sweeper behind Dave Watson (and Tommy Booth or Mick Doyle), not exactly a pacey central defence.

Good

Circa 79, beat Chelsea 6-2 at Maine Road (really pleased my best mate!).

Bad

Same game, arrive 9 minutes late with City already 2-0 up, just in time to see Chelsea score 2 quick goals to make it 2-2 after 15 minutes.

Good

Villa Park, April 1981 - watching Paul Power's scorching shot fly in against Ipswich (to set up FAC final with Spurs) from the top stand opposite the Holt End - I can still see it flying in now, the ball is passed to Power from a free kick, he lets fly and the ball hammers past the Ipswich wall and Paul Cooper their keeper, the Ipswich net bulges and City fans on 3 sides of the ground go wild.

Bad

1. FAC final against Spurs in 81 - City dominate the game, see Steve Mackenzie miss a near open goal towards the end when we were 1-0 up, then seeing Tommy Hutchie's own goal. 2. The replay, missing Steve Mack's cracking equaliser because of city fans decking some Spurs fans in front of us - I think these Spurs fans had bought tickets on open sale at Wembley, in front of the city fans. Watch with bewilderment as a Spurs 'mohican-haired' fan is punched seemingly over the tunnel entrance and falls 20-30 feet, then crowd erupts as I miss 'live', the best goal in my opinion, ever scored at Wembley (best goal I missed at wembley and had to watch at home on tv)

Good

Trevor Francis' City debut away against Stoke City, won 3-1 and Trev scores twice (why oh why did we sell him, and for only 900,000?).Same season, 1-0 home win over Wolves, Trev scores a cracker, City top of the league.

Bad

Same season (I think!), Luton Town at Maine Road, May 1983. City do just about everything but score, then the unthinkable happens and we concede a late goal that sees City relegated. Kippax started in fine voice (Luton Town, going down, etc.) but worst atmosphere I've experienced at Maine Road - not the level of chanting, but the niggle between the City supporters in the Kippax - at one point, the crowd opened up to the side of us and I just about managed to get out of the way of an enormous City fan, shirtless and clutching a blood-soaked head, legging it after a much smaller City fan. I also shouted loads of abuse at Luton players Paul Walsh and Brian Horton. Seemed at one point to be a mass brawl in the north stand uncovered section - Luton vs. City or City vs City, no-one seemed to know.

Good

Move to South Wales and miss those great games against the likes of Carlisle, Grimsby and Plymouth, etc. in the 2nd division.

Bad

Come home one weekend towards end of season for my 5th home game that season, against Huddersfield Town when City are still very much in the promotion running. Get jumped outside Victoria station by City fans and nearly again by the same city fans in Piccadilly. City lose 2-3, I think Mark Lillis scored one of their goals, and blow all hope of immediate return to 1st division (as it was in those uncomplicated days). To finish off for this season, can't bear to watch any more run-in games, and end up watching Cardiff City's last home game of the season against Sheff. Wed. Seemed to spend the whole game watching about 12,000 Wed. fans battling with about 6,000 Cardiff fans in almost every area of the ground. The result seems co-incidental, 0-0 and Sheff Wed promoted as runners up to title winners Chelsea - City miss out.

Good

Almost 12 months later, hammer Charlton 5-1 at Maine Road and it's promotion along with Brum City and Oxford at the expense of unlucky Pompey. Great atmosphere at this game, Kippax in full voice, even loads singing where we were at the front/middle of the Kippax - also seemed to be groups of hundreds of City fans in Platt Lane, the North and even Main Stand singing their heart out - cauldron of noise. On the pitch at the end of the game, we're going up!! Afterwards, spotted City and Charlton fans in the Kippax struggling and straining to get at one another to shake hands, exchange greetings, shirts, programmes, etc. (Reminiscent of Palace at end of 90 season at Selhurst Park, I reckon cockneys south of the Thames are much less likely to jump on you than those north or east of said river, even those that bear Cantona's stud marks on their chest). Also, in the same season, watched City win 3-0 at Ninian Park from the Cardiff End and live to tell the tale, and also was at Blackburn when we won 1-0 to knock them off and put us at top of the table at the time - best away match I can remember, out of a crowd of 22,000 at least 12,000 from City, City fans in EVERY part of the ground.

Bad

May 1987, City relegated (again).

Good

June 1987, successfully finish college (no thanks to you City).

Bad

In the promotion season 89, watch City lose 1-2 at home to relegation hopefuls Charlton - possibly the (and there have been many) worst ever performance from City I saw at Maine Road.

Good

Don't go to any of the promotion run in games (forced to take up playing rugby!!!!) with our kid, and thus avoid heart failure.

Bad

Miss the 5-1 home win - can't remember what I was doing (Will Carling was then breathing a sigh of relief since my rugby career ended due to injury!)

Good

End of the '91 season, watch City beat Sunderland 3-2 at Maine Road to finish above the Rags - probably the most away fans I've ever seen at Maine Road (10,000 at least), in the Kippax, Platt Lane full and maybe several thousand dotted around Main and North stands - they go down and Luton stay up - sat next to a Sunderland fan in the North Stand, we communicate with the aid of an interpreter.

Bad Bad --- Rags handed ECWC by Barcelona and claim they are champions of Europe

Good

End of 92 season and Leeds win the league, some team in red eventually come 2nd.

Bad

See City lose 2-4 at home to Spurs in the cup; I'm on telly for a whole minute close up with our kid when MOTD cameras do a close up on fans in the Kippax while other fans rampage over the pitch. Subsequent delay and late finish means I dont eventually get back to South Wales until the early hours of Monday morning, and Rags win the league.

Good Or so I think, City draw Cardiff in cup and look forward to watching City play locally.

Bad

City lose 1-0 to Cardiff, I stand in crappy, open, uncovered Grangetown End, and the game is broadcast 'live' to a laughing Welsh (Rag) nation on BBC Wales. After ugly confrontation with Cardiff fans on the pitch at the end of the game, stewards and police do well to keep City fans behind their fence. Amazingly, both sets of fans are let out at same time from adjacent gates, get home in one piece - no trouble?

Some of the dates and events may be slightly inaccurate, but after 19 years no-one is perfect? Whatever happened to Helen with the bell, and anyone remember City's appearance in the final of ITV's 'all in the game' @1976