In 1971 I was in my first year at senior school, and for the first time in my life I met people who actually went to the match.

So after saving for months and finally persuading my mum to let me go (I lied when I said that a friends dad was taking me)I managed to go to my first game.

FA CUP 3rd Round against Non League Wigan, it was sure to be a classic and we were bound to win at least 4 – 0 or so we all said as we walked to the ground from Piccadilly Station where the train from Handforth had dropped us off.

If I am being honest I cannot remember much about the game except that we won 1 – 0. but as an eleven year old, having his first big adventure without his parents I do remember sitting on one of the bars in the Kippax in amongst loads of big men… I thought I was all grown up

Needless to say when my mum found out that I had lied I never got to another match until the next season, when the North Stand was opened as a standing area for a season.