My parents came down to Manchester from Scotland in the early 1930’s and the first thing they did was to seek out Maine Road to start the Hamilton dynasty of City supporters. I was 5 when they took me to my first game, Easter Saturday 31 March 1956 1-1 draw with Birmingham City, Hayes the scorer. It was an early 6th Birthday present as I had been nagging to go with them for sometime. The excitement was intense as I prepared for that first visit, get out the scarf and new bobble hat, off to catch the bus at Minsterley Parade, Woodhouse Park to see this great team play in the largest stadium in England. The bus arrived at Princess Road Depot, off we got and took my first of many trips down Bowes Street towards the ground. On arriving, I couldn’t get over how large the outside was and on entering the Main Stand Block H my first view of the pitch took my breath away, by this time in the season the green turf had been worn away the surface was mainly brown but that didn’t matter I was here. This was the pitch my brother had played on with Dennis Violet and Eddie Lewis when they all played for Manchester Boys. They of course went on to become Busby Babes whilst Ian joined City but didn’t reach the heights of his friends, he earned more money working in a bank than playing for City, changed times. I can’t remember much of the match, but the team was the one that was to play in the Cup Final against the same team, except that Spurdle played in place of Johnstone. I can remember looking around the crowd of 44,777 and thinking this was amazing, looking across at the Kippax which was about to get its roof and thinking how vast the terrace was. My hero was Big Bert and I still rate him as the best goalkeeper I have ever seen, some of those saves he made were unbelievable. Dave Ewing was a rock in defence and Ken Barnes using his guile to prompt each City attack. I was hooked but was most upset to be left at home come May when off to Wembley they went. I was left at home in my sky blue kit watching on the small black and white tv. I have since seen all the highs and lows which followed and the dynasty continues, with my son, daughter, nephews, son in law, grand daughters all blues. I just wish my parents had still been here to witness our current stadium and new found riches.