Believe it or not, my first game wasn’t at Maine Road. I’d been taken to Old Trafford by my dad to see United play Birmingham and can still remember the distinct lack of atmosphere within the ground, i didn’t ask to go and see them again. The next season, my dad took me to Maine Road to watch City, i still had no particular allegiance to any one team, i was 8 years old.

It was 26th September 1981, City were playing Spurs. As i type these words, i can vividly recall how unbelievably excited i was as i walked up to the ground, the buzz of the crowd, the push and shove, rickety old turnstiles, the old boys selling programmes, pies and hot bovril and me and my dad. As we sat down in the main stand i turned to my dad and asked him if we could come again, his response still amuses me now…”the game’s not started yet son, wait til you’ve seen the whole game”.

I knew i didn’t need to wait for anything, this was my club, my home, my love and still is. I’m 36 now, it’s been one hell of a ride but i’m still thankful to my dad for taking me to Maine Road that day. Incidentally, the score was 0 – 1 to Spurs.