My first game from what i can remember was watford in the 80’s.I can remember going in the kippax with my dad and seeing all these people could not figure out what all the fuss was about.can’t remember the score or much about the game just remember a young john barnes wearing gloves.

after mythering my dad(regular home and away from early 60s til present)for years to take me he decided that at 6 i was finally old enough. it was the 1st game of season and ranson,reid and caton (rip) were making their debuts.we arrived at maine road an hour before kick off with hardly anyone about and went through the turnstile into the main stand.”just go up there son”- i walked a few steps and there it was-heaven. the kippax across the green baize.ill never forget that moment.the match finished 0-0 and a palace player got booked!

I have been a city fan for 11years, since the good old second division. Living in the shetland isles its pretty difficult to get to see a match. This season i decided i had to come and see robinho. I went to see city win 2-1 against newcasle. Great day since it was bellamy and de jongs debut and became obvious that given was joining. Shaun wright and bellamy scored and robinho showed what a quality player he is. Will definately get sometime soon again. hopefully the uefa cup final.

It was wonderful opening this page just now and it was particularly poignant to immediately see the photo of Frank Swift – because it was his presence when we were literally sitting beside the Goal only a few yards away just behind the goal line. I have been meaning to enter my name among this “Hall of Old’uns” but I have not been to well of late. However, my birthday on March 26th, reminded me of my many visits to Maine Road during the war – including attending so-called “International Representative Matches” where well over 70,000 fans attended. The immediate names which come to mind (as well as the very kindly “Big Frank” Swift) are Styanley Matthews and Willie Waddell (Scotland).
I have been a loyal fan – mostly from afar however – because I ‘emigrated’ to London in 1951. Since that time I have been lucky enough to have travelled the world a great deal – but ‘City’ was ALWAYS on my mind – through Thick and Thin – and there were many times when I was in some other part of the world – and made a point of seeking out an English Sunday paper – always 1 to 3 days late – but still costing huge amounts of money. I still travel now and of course, it is so much easier now to pull up the results on my XDA – possibly even in real time.
I have to finish now, but – if it is possible, I will add to my story some other time. I will try to remember more Matches and Players etc. Before, I go, I have to tell you that my Son John who is now 51 – has been a Manchester City fan ALL HIS LIFE – even though he has only ever visited Manchester about a dozen times! (I could not and certainly would not entertain any person in my family supporting any other team!)
Good Luck to Mark and the Team and may you all get together and go from strength to strength

I was born into an opposition family – Grandad having been a native of Newton Heath – and started supporting City as a 10 year old as an act of rebellion and becuase my best mate at the time was a City fan and we reached an age where we started going to City home games. My first one was around 1962 or 63 and we were at home to Grimsby town. I remember being admonished by my friend as I cheered the wrong team on to the pitch as Grimsby’s strip was reminiscent of City’s 1956 cup final strip. City won I think on the day and I think Derek Kevan was on the team.

My first match was the FA Cup 5th round tie at Maine road. I was just a kid and my dad sat me up on the wall at the back of the Kippax so that I’d have a good view. The atmosphere was fantastic! We drew 2-2 that day and lost at Sunderland. But some good came of it because we ended up buying the great Denis Tueart, and Dave Watson from the Mackem’s. Iv’e been a blue ever since that day.

My first (and only) City match was in December of 2005. City were playing against Birmingham City. We beat them 3-1. I went with my then 4 year old daughter and friends. We had drove up from Burton-on Trent. I had also just recently moved from America to the UK.
I will never forget the roar of the crowd when we scored the first goal. It was so loud! It really got my adrenalin pumping and I was so stoked for the rest of the match. I will treasure my program and all the photos for the rest of my life-

the first city match i saw was when City won Bolton 6-2. brilliant match. it was played in the City of Manchester Stadium.

My first game was with my dad and my brother and we were sat in the north stand and Maine Road. I remember the grey seats really well and because it was Andy Dibbles first game as well. I remember that Mel Machin had bought five new players and they were on the front of the match magazine. I don t remember much about the match only that I think we lost but I was still hooked even at 7 year old. Haven t stopped since!

We moved to Manchester in 1964 from Wigan, but I didn’t bother with football much until the 1966 World Cup, after which I was a football daft 10 year old.

My Dad decided to let me choose who we would go and watch and we went to Maine Road courtesy of a Maynes bus leaving from the Quality Shop in Droylsden.

My first impression of the stadium was just its sheer size, and when we finally squeezed through the turnstile and walked up what seemed like 1000’s of steps to reach our seats – those great long benches – in the Platt Lane Stand I was in awe of the place. The smell of fag smoke, burgers and horse manure mingled with the cacophany of sound and I just stared, wide-eyed.
Alan Oakes – what a plyer ! – scored the only goal and City had beaten my home-town team 1-0.

On the bus home the noise was almost as great as the stadium as everyone talked about the great win. Everyone was so friendly and whilst most of my friends were Blues I agreed to go to Old Trafford the folloiwng week.

Same bus, same departure point – totally different atmosphere. United beat Newcastle
3-1 but all I recall is everyone moaning – some things never change. As the sworn rivals of my home town team I should have been delighted that Newcastle got stuffed, but all the carping mystified me. My Dad could not answer the question why.

When he asked me who I wanted to go and support there was no hesitation -”City”. He hadn’t tried to influence me at all, but I remember he said “Good lad” as he was an admirer of the great Joe Mercer.

Never regretted it for a minute and I know nor did my Dad and, like another supporter whose first game was in this era, I too would give the world just to attend another City game with my beloved Dad.

He was City till he died. So will I be.