It was the first home game of the 78/79 season. I had been waiting all summer as my sister had promised to take me. I was all kitted out in my new city shirt, shorts and socks. It seemed an age walking down Platt lane and then through the kippax car park to the ground. I just couldn’t control my excitement of walking into Maine Road for the fist time. As she was a bit protective, she decided to take me into the Maine stand. I was treated to a huge packet of crisps and a plastic cup of Bovril. It must have been at least an hour before the game started and there was nobody in the ground or on the pitch, but I loved it. To be honest, I can’t remember much after that but we did manage to beat Brighton three goals to two. I have never looked back since then and remain an excited optimistic blue nearly thirty years on.

- Vince Slatford