WHY BLUE

Well, I suppose it happened when I was about 8 years old. It was during the 1980's that I developed a fear of football matches, because of the big crowds and the problem at that time of crowd violence. Anyway, one day me dad asked me if I wanted to go and see Man City (he being a long term follower since the 1960's) against Luton Town, a match that would decide City's future in the top flight. I agreed with much reluctance and off we went.

The match itself is memorable for the fact that I remember the bloke sitting behind me (in the Main Stand) was dropping fag ash onto the back of my seat and the fact that City spent most of the match trying to score. However they failed, Raddy Antic scored and I left depressed, unfortunately missing David Pleat's dancing and the violence which followed. This obviously didn't endear me to City and so I drifted and began to inactively (coach potato like) follow Liverpool's glorious eighties run, but with one eye always on City's progress in Division 2.

Maybe it was their appealing lack of success or the novelty of being a City fan living in Chester, where the pressure was on to support either Liverpool or U****d; once Dalglish (boyhood hero) left in 1986 I began to wane and my interest actively turned back to Manchester City.

I think it was the 10-1 beating of Huddersfield which aroused my interest as I quickly set the video to record the highlights (something I still have on Betamax tape, but no working video player to watch it on). Then followed a long series of scouring the papers for information and results on the Blues (a timeless task even today!). I began to question why Stewart and Simpson were sold, and why Machin was sacked just as the team was beginning its upturn in form (5-1 against the Rags) and I even got a letter from Peter Swales reassuring me that Niall Quinn would be signing a new contract. However, it wasn't until City beat Coventry 2-1 (I think or it could have been 2-0) that I again started regular attendance at Maine Road. I've been through pain and anguish, seen City throw away matches, had matches abandoned that they were winning and seen them humiliated by the Rags. However, the worst experience came with my first visit to the Kippax Stand (pre-seats) for the infamous Cup game against Spurs. The reactions on and off the pitch have been well documented, City's appalling play coupled with the mindless actions of many City fans (sic?). My father said he wouldn't go again and so I was forced to go to Maine Road on my own, until I eventually pursuaded him to go and see City vs. Norwich in the season just gone, but it didn't feel the same.

I'm now indebted to City for providing me with many trophy free years, I cannot be called a glory hunter or a sheep for following the crowd, but I'd like to think that I was there at the start when it all began to happen (i.e. Swales' last game in charge and the rise of Franny Lee's new era).

16th November 1999

Now exiled in Darlington, in hindsight the euphoria that accompanied Franny's entrance has now long gone. Even in retrospect the lowest point of relegation to the third tier of English football was a major positive step. The emotion of the play-offs was only heightened by the sheer charity of the club allowing fans to lift the trophy aloft on ground tours of Maine Road. As an aside I believe the Old Nafford tour only has a computerised image of you with the European Champions' League Trophy. The sheer professionality that now seems to flow out of Maine Road is a sight I have never associated with City in the past, are we becoming no longer the 3rd type of stock cube available? That feeling of positiveness and forwardness (as well as the superb use of Fat Boy Slim before kick-off) has nearly converted my Rag supporting brother - I'm still working on it. He even wanted to go alone but unfortunately City weren't at home. My present exiled state means that the FA Cup tie against Darlo (local speak) was a 'home' match for me. My surprise in receiving a ticket for the City end with a Darlington address was mainly due to the excellent service which the much-maligned ticket office is beginning to provide. The match itself was nowt to write home about except for the rather humorous disco lights provided by Alpha Radio. Here's looking forward to future 'home' matches against Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough. I am already guaranteed a place on the Sunderland supporters' coach for next season - fingers crossed.