I went as a kid in the 40’s can’t remember who we played, but I know the team; Swift, Sproston, Barkas, Walsh, Cardwell, McDowell, Dunkerley, Herd, Constantine, Smith, & a player on loan Pearson, I think from Grimsby. With most of the lads in the Forces, we had an old team with visiting players. I am still as excited now as as was then when the Blues come out. Sat on the touchline on occasion at Maine Road with 80,000 plus, no problems!
Jack Hynes

I live in Winsford and still do. I went to watch City for the very first time in the early forties. City had been my team since they won the cup in 1934.With three schoolmates I travelled by train from Cuddington. A bus from Piccadilly and we were at the Gates long before Kick Off. Virtually the first to be admitted to the Main Stand, we watched the ground fill. I had never been so thrilled before to see so many people. I tend to think that we were playing Blackpool. Another first. I had never seen a side play ih tangerine shirts. I had been restricted to watching the old Cheshire League.My alltime hero Big Frank Swift was in goal. Peter Dougherty was playing, as was the man I would always choose to be City’s best ever player. Billy Walsh. I also remember George Smith a wonderfull player to watch,with his damaged arm inside a his shirt and his empty sleeve pinned to his side. They always say once a blue always a blue and nothing could be more true as far as I am concerned.

Cup matches were two leg games (home & away) and City were playing Bradford P.A. on a Saturday with the first leg away at Bradford.

My father and I travelled to Bradford by coach and City won 3 – 1.

The second leg was played the following Wednesday afternoon (no floodlights then) and I “wagged it” off school to go.

On my way into Maine Road I chanced to meet my Father’s friend who was also going to the game.

“Come along “ he said “You are coming in the main stand with me” and I sat through the match thinking what would happen when my Father found out that I had missed school.

To add to my misery, Bradford won 8 – 2 with the forward A.E.Gibbons scoring about 4 !

I spent an anxious week or so waiting for the lecture from my Father but it never came. Maybe he considered that I had suffered enough !

Still a City fan and season ticket holder.