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.

My first game at Maine Road was the 5-1 against United in September 1989. I’ve been a City fan since March 1974 but seeing as I live in the west of Ireland, I hadn’t really looked in to going to a game until I reached the ripe old age of 24 !! I had recently joined the Dublin Branch OSC and was looking forward to my first trip with them. Left Galway at 3pm on the day before the game, travelled overnight by ferry from Dun Laoghaire and landed in Manchester, early on game day. As it was my first trip, I headed to the ground about three hours before kick off just to see what it was all about !! Great seat in the Main Stand for the game, on the 18yd line at the Platt Lane end. Perfect view of White’s cross & Hinchcliffe’s finish. This is easy I thought (famous last words). Must come more often !! I have done, with the Galway Branch that I helped start in 1991. Have made many friends in Manchester/Oldham since that great day in 1989,that will live with me forever (and a day).
(The photo is of me, on the left, with fellow Galway Blue, Jimmy, in Gelsenkirschen before the Schalke game)

My first game was at Maine road against Newcastle in the 95/96 season. I was 10 years old and went with my dad and brother who surprisingly are also blues. It was the most exciting game I’ve ever seen, a 3-3 thriller with action galore. Poor old Keith Curle was battered by Faustino Asprilla in what turned out to be a great battle between the two sides.

What an atmosphere! Cardiff was alive as it was for any event at the Millennium Stadium. Few drinks in “The Prince Of Wales” over the road from the ground, usually reserved for home fans during match days.

My Girlfriend bought us tickets for my birthday. It was also my first visit to the Millennium Stadium. TNS started to sing in their little block, at which point the half of the lower tier filled with City fans bellowed out to Blue Moon! The sound was immense and I will never forget it.

Thank you to my girlfriend and also for city for making it such a great day!

The match that stood out mostly for me was actually watching City resoundingly beaten by West Ham when a young Joe Corrigan turned to walk back to his goal line as the ball flew over his head. He went on to be one of City’s top keepers, My dad carried a stool to matches and stood on it at the back of the Kipax as I would stand on the spiked railings at the back for a perfect view