I was 14-years old, a boy from Salford in United territory, but thanks to my best mate a blue through and through. On my first match at Maine Road, the pitch was full of snow and an orange ball flew around the players heads and feet. The smell of cigars in the main stand, the blue scarfs and flags and the Kippax swaying stuck in my mind! The atmosphere was electric and the big named stars, and my idols that I had only seen pictures of, were in touching distance. Bell, Doyle, Summerbee, Corrigan, Watson to name but a few, and City won 2-1. I kept a scarp book of City’s games from that day, win or lose, until I could afford a season ticket, which I have now held for 27-years.

At Villa Park; travelled up from Brighton to watch it…We lost but I had the pleasure of watching Kinkladze; The guy was an absolute legend!

I can’t remember who we played that day, and I couldn’t tell you who was in the team without ‘Googling’ it! I couldn’t even see much of it, as I was only small so my view was blocked for most of the match. I do remember the atmosphere, the boos, the cheers, smell of food and cigarette smoke, But most of all what made my first City match special was that I had my dad all to myself! It was a warm feeling that I forever associate with City…thanks Dad (you have the best view of all now)….thanks City

Boxing Day 1984 (just ‘celebrated’ my quarter century against Stoke!) Dad took me in the wooden Platt Lane benches. Was in absolute awe of the stadium, the crowd, and was deafened almost when Jim Melrose scored for City.

Nearly half time, Dad gives me some money for a drink, and I walk, backwards, up the tunnel, so not to miss any of the action, not noticing the enormous shadow about to cover me! Cue nine year old lad walking into the neck of huge horse!!

Needless to say, the idea of a drink quickly left me, and I sprinted back to my seat!

What a day!

Ipswich Town in the Full Members Cup, I finally persuaded my dad that I was old enough to sit through a full match. As a 7 year old, I instantly loved the Kippax, the clunking turnstiles, the stench of the outside loos, the ‘no alcohol past this point’ signs over the tunnel, the mystery of the abandoned staircases at the back (post-Hysel), the naughty words being shouted by men rolling up cigarettes, I was bamboozled by the whole experience, but I had no real idea what was going on during the game. I spent part of the second half cheering on Mick McCarthy, to whom I took an instant liking for some reason. I don’t remember much else but I do remember feeling the electricity around me when Varadi scored our second goal. We still lost 2-3, but I was hooked.

My dad took me to a few games after that, most of which were pretty awful, but it was him leaving me at home for the 10-1 the following season that really got me buzzing. Dad took me every week during our promotion season, and I’ll never forget the Bournemouth 3-3 and being sat anxiously watching the vidiprinter and the news that we’d clinched promotion at Valley Parade.

Dad bought me a season ticket for my first season in the top flight, and it was 21 years before I missed another home game after that.

Got a City top from the shop before the game the black and red away that was iin the sale bin then went into the ground. I remember the roar of the Kippax as we strolled on to a 2-0 win. Once a blue always a blue City City

My first City game was not actually as a City fan. I’m from north London and would go and watch various games around the capital as I didn’t have a team, but would usually go to Arsenal as most of my friends supported them. It was the season after Arsenal had won the league in the last minute at Anfield, so games were predictably packed. When City visited, we couldn’t get into the North Bank or the home section of the Clock End, so decided to go in with the Blues fans. City had only recently beaten United 5-1 at Maine Road and it appeared that the after-effects of that game weren’t going to disappear quickly. City were played off the park and trounced 4-0, but the atmosphere in the away end at Highbury that day wasn’t defeatist, dejected or downhearted. Chants of “0-4, 0-4, 0-4″ resounded around an emptying Highbury after the game and I don’t think there was a single fan in that section who hadn’t roared themselves hoarse throughout the entire match. It was at that point that I realised I’d finally found the club for me. 24 years on, I’ve regretted that decision countless times, but have never lost my love for City or the fans. A lot of people will say it was seeing Bell score a winner at Maine Road; Kinki weaving past six defenders before slotting it home, or the Goat hammering United that is the game that they first saw and will always remember, but for me it was a 4-0 defeat to the Champions and the passion and reaction of the fans that means I will always be a cockney Blue.

12 years old and my first city game was the first home game of the 1953/54 season.full of expectation and excitement,city did nt let me down they lost 4-0! thats city my dad told me,you dont know what your going to get!how true,things have nt changed much!

I remember walking up the steps at the back of the Kippax and as i got to the top seeing the pitch laid out in front of me like the green baize of a snooker table.
With butterflies in my stomache i sat on the wall at the front of the kippax and the matched kicked off.
Within 3 minutes big Joe Corrigan was being taken from the pitch with a dislocated shoulder and Defender Bobby Mcdonald went in goal.
Bobby played a blinder.
Tueart put city in front and Bobby made save after save until the referee blew the final whistle.
City had won and gone top of the table due to bobby’s heroics in goal.
We didn’t stay top long and were relegated that season on the final game against Luton

I remember this game all too clearly, I had a £10 bet on City to win 4-1 with Pearce to score the last goal at 150-1. When Super Ali Bernarbia deliberately chipped the ball against their defender and appealed for the penalty my mates thought I had written the script, Beasant tells Pearce to just hit the target and I was already planning how to spend my winnings BUT it just wouldn’t be City if Pearce had scored would it! I have the photo of me with 3 mates holding the Div 1 Championship Trophy on my wall from that day as a daily reminder so it was still a great day which involved copious amounts of beer and Port.