I suppose it is quite unusual for a fan’s first City match to be away from home. However, for me, that was the case. As it happened I witnessed, what I believe to be, the greatest individual performance ever by any City player.
It was January 1961 and City had drawn Luton Town in the 4th round of the FA Cup. Luton were a decent team in those days and had made it through to the final a couple of years earlier where they were beaten by Nottingham Forest. In those days the FA Cup was really special, and my Dad, a lifelong City fan, asked if I would like to go with him on the train. I didn’t need asking twice.
Earlier that season??? City had signed a skinny 20 year old inside forward from Huddersfield Town for what was then a British record transfer fee of £55,000. His name was Denis Law.
When the day of the game came we set off from our shop on City Road, Hulme to walk to Central Station (now G-Mex). I don’t remember when it started raining but I do remember incessant rain when we arrived in Luton. I recall queuing for ages to get into the ground (this was still in the days when you simply turned up and paid at the turnstile). We had to wait that long that when we eventually got into the ground we were just in time to see Luton score their second goal to take an early 2-0 lead. I remember some of the locals “taking the mickey” and asking us where this Denis Law was.
The rain continued throughout the game, that is until approximately twenty minutes from time when the referee decided to call it off. No, the ref didn’t do us a favour, far from it, because by that time Denis had scored all City’s six goals to leave us cruising at 6-2. I clearly recall Bill Leivers City’s tough tackling full back of that era picking up a handful of mud and hurling it at the ref, so disgusted was he that the match had been abandoned.
Nearly 50 years later it doesn’t matter that the result didn’t stand or even that City went on to lose the replayed match 3-1, with Denis of course scoring our goal. What did matter was that I had seen one of our greatest ever players and from that day on what there was only one team for me.
I live in Perth, Scotland now and cannot get down to as many matches as I would like. I have a son, Calum, who was born and brought up in Scotland. I distinctly recall Calum’s first match – it was the Alan Ball relegation match against Liverpool in May 1996. Calum was just 6 then. He is now 20 and we go to matches whenever we can, we watch live matches in the pub together and chat about the blues every day.
Bill Shankly’s oft quoted comment about football “not being a matter of life and death – but much more important than that” is, of course complete nonsense. Allegiance to a club is however something that transcends generations and helps to form lifelong bonds.

my first game was City against Coventry.I was 10 years old and sat in the Platt lane stand with my dad and my brother.I was deafened by the ovation before the game for the arrival of the Coventry manager-Joe Mercer!
we lost the game 1-2 and Francis Lee missed a penalty.but most important of all-I got to see Colin Bell in the flesh!

My very first City match was Tommy Booths testimonial match in 1981 when I was 11 years old. My dad took me to the match and i watched in awe from the Kippax stand as my dad pointed out such greats as Franny Lee, Dennis Tueart, Tommy Booth etc played before me. I was hooked and have spent years following ‘MY’ team through good and bad times. I love, and will always love City.

I remember my first MCFC match for both being an exciting time and a little sad, I came home from school and got changed and then it was off to grandmas for a chippy tea with grandma and grandad. After tea we left my older sister safely with grandma and promptly kidnapped grandad and whisked him away to the match, it will be great to share memories of my first match with grandad when i am older. Although a little sad that my dad had to work and could not make it, I wasnt sure what to expect when i got to the stadium but it was huge i couldnt believe how many people where there. The atmosphere was fantastic even though we where sat on the front row getting soaked but it was worth it with a 2-1 result. Half time was interesting too as i had never seen or tasted a hotdog that was so big before and it is now my ritual to have a hotdog at every match i attend. My friends have laughed at me for being a MCFC supporter but the love i have for MCFC will never fail, I have been laughed at for wearing the kit and going to matches but it is me who is having the last laugh because in the last 12 months i have converted 12 of my friends, including some who have laughed at me and probably to their dad’s dismay. I also include a photo of myself and my birthday cake.
Freddie Barnes
age 6

My dad took me to a pre-season friendly away to Oldham and I remember him saying we were off to watch the world’s best footballer.
George Weah played well and City won but the highlight for me was getting Nicky Weaver’s autograph.

My first City game was at Maine Road and it involved a Bury youngster playing I think his first senior game for Bury ie. Colin Bell and yes he scored to make it 1-0 to Bury. However if my memory serves me well Harry Dowd took a knock and had to play upfield in the second half ie. no substitutes in those days, and yes the City goalie scored the equaliser. Definitely one to remember!

My first city game was on the 28/01/1967 it was the third round of the fa cup at home to leicester city.
I was six and how proud my dad must have been taking his only son to his first city game.
i remember he sat me on the wall in the platt lane near the main stand, i dont remember too much not even the score although my dad tells me it was 2-1. Im sure George Heslop was centre half, he was a favourite of mine.
Thanks Dad for baptising me BLUE, a ritual i gladly passed on to my three sons and daughter.
Brendan Edge CTID

standing under the old score board the wooden on in maine road when it was raining x

Boxing day 1977 my dad asked if i wanted to go and watch City.Dreams do come true.Sat in the main stand with tears rolling down my cheeks as my hero Colin Bell runs out on to the pitch for the second half.what more can you ask for?

My 1st game was when my dad took me to the cup final replay in 1981 against tottenham(spurs) and despite the fact we lost the final we lost it to a wonder solo goal by Villa…hence the title villa thriller…i will laways remember the true support from both teams,since that day the song blue moon will always play a massive part in my life and now my 6 year old sons life names Jensen after nicholas jensen.