I came late to football. I only started getting interested in the game when I was 10. Man City however is in my family’s blood, my great-grandfather having watched them in their Hyde Road days and it has been handed down ever since.

My first game was against Shrewsbury Town in the 84-85 promotion year with David Phillips the undoubted star. City won 4-0 and there could never be any going back after that. My next game was the end-of-season 5-1 promotion decider against Charlton. Who else can lay claim to a better goal difference from their first two matches at Maine Road?