The first game I can remember being at was Rodney Marsh’s debut in March 1972. Rodney was a big money signing and, a bit like Robinho, it generated a lot of excitement. I was only 4 but this was a very important moment in my early life and probably the moment that guaranteed my life support for City.

I was sat in the old Platt Lane Stand and remember vividly the noise and colour generated when Marsh appeared. The Platt Lane Stand was very dark and dull, but the pitch was perfect green and the players wore that powerful classic, stylish sky blue with white shorts. We were the audience and Maine Road was their stage.

Marsh posed for photographs with the Platt Lane Stand behind him and every time I’ve seen these photos since I’ve frantically searched them looking for anyone in the stand who could be me or my dad, but the crowd are just blobs in the stand.

Rodney became my first true hero. Not because he was a great player but because, legend had it at the time, he refused to wear socks (off the pitch of course!)! Why this appealed I have no idea, but it did. Perhaps it had something to do with the glamour. City were always ’soccer stars’ back then and glamour oozed out of the team.

Bell, Lee and Summerbee were the better players for City but Rodney was my star then. He was my first hero, but he definitely was not my last.