fa cup final when city lost to newcastle made me a city fan.before the war my gran worked at maine road and would bring the kit home to wash and iron it so there was a connection already. in those days of no cars washing would be hung across the street, imagine that today! my dad and granddad took me to watch my first match but even before we got there i was amazed at the throngs converging on the stadium. many on bikes. no segregation preston fans were stood near us no problems. we went to each home game and i clearly remember asking my dad why so many more people were heading to maine road . stanley matthews is playing was the reply. well. he did not play, and the groan that greeted the news was deafening mixed wiyh more than a little anger.for the next fifteen years i saw the high and lows but the hooligan years finally put an end to my live football matches. the derby game when the ref took the players off to cool off was my last for many years. i am still amazed how depressed i get when city dont play well. and how good it feels when utd lose. not forgetting leeds of course they were so cynical . liverpool fans were the first to bring obscene chants to maine rd but chelsea fans took the biscuit for provocation by waving fivers at us .loadsamoney!