I can’t remember my first actually game, but I know it was just after the war. I’d just come back from India and went to Maine Road and was staggered by the noise and energy of the crowd. Everyone was standing those days, and there was no fighting or aggression, it was a great time for football.

I was so excited when my dad told me we had tickets for the match.  When we got to the game I could not believe how many people there were.  They were all  wearing city shirts hats and scarfs I lived it in the stands everyone was singing songs I did not know the words except “we’ve got Robinho, we’ve got Robinsho”.  I was singing it all the way home. I loved my first match it was great.

- Jaeden Mitchell (age 6)

My first game was the Manchester derby in 1989, when we beat United 5-1.  My dad played for City as did my granddad before the war, so I suppose it was inevitable I was going to be a blue, but before the game I was wondering if I should support United or City.  That said, after such a great game and City performance there was no decision to be made.  I went with my uncle Ged and sat in the back of the North Stand where there was a bit of trouble, and the game was delayed for a good while when the players were taken off the pitch.  I remember Sparky scored a blinding volley and started a mini comeback but then City’s next goal was pure class.  It was a brilliant day.

- Ricky Hatton

I’d been pestering my dad and my sister about taking me for years, so as a birthday present we went to the opening game of the season in 1992. It was also the first game of the Premier League on Sky, so we saw all the razzamatazz – cheerleaders, fireworks, someone singing ‘Baker Street’ and army parachutists dropping into the centre circle before kick off. It was only a draw with QPR, butit was the start of a beautiful friendship.

- Karen, Sale

My memory is of the size of the crowd and the blue of our shirts, and going with my Dad, who tells me my first game was at home to West Ham in 1972. I do know Rodney Marsh scored and I can still hear the roar of the crowd when we scored. We walked back to Oxford Road, ate chips while queuing for the bus – I was hooked.

- Dale, Stockport

I’ve come to Manchester as a student and always had a soft spot for City, so I came down hoping for some entertainment. And I certainly got that! Easy walk from town, great seats on the second tier and a superb view of Robinho milking the crowd when he got his hat-trick! Seeing a Brazilian superstar bag three on my first visit was perfect, and I’ll definitely be back.

- Pat, Manchester

The Reds were champions and champions of Europe, but we ran away with it and won 3-1, but the abiding memory is of Mike Channon scoring and then doing his trademark windmill celebration right past us.

- Mike, Fallowfield

Bright and sunny but bitterly cold, paid some local kids a couple of quid to ‘watch’ the car in Moss Side and then to Maine Road itself. Saw Stuart Hall outside the ground in full-length fur coat and fur boots, and he was bright orange despite it being the depths of winter. Liverpool dominated but Clive Wilson nicked it with a toe-poke, a nice extra Xmas present!

- Tim, Marsden