My First City Game » 1945

How times have changed!

John Hicks — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:04:29 +0000

My grandad took me to see City immediately after the war.I was 6years old.We would arrive at the ground before the turnstiles opened at 12 noon (kick off at 2pm).We arrived early to ensure a position on the wall at the corner of what later would be called scoreboard end and Kippax street.we took a stool for me to stand on(can you imagine that being allowed now?)
Grandad didnt have to pay for me-the man taking the money allowed me to be carried over the turnstile.Another time we went we didnt manage to get to the wall so I was carried over the heads of the crowd by the supporters and placed inside the wall and watched the game from there.
I cant remember much of the games but do remember the tall dark figure of Frank Swift. Remember Andy Black ,I am sure that City had player with only one arm (was that Smith?)

Frank Swift

George Derbyshire — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:22:22 +0000

It was either 1945 or 1946 – probably 45 – when I was taken by my dad, who was a strong City supporter, to my first game at Maine Road. We stood on the terrace at the scoreboard end. Frank Swift was in goal. I struggle to remember the names of any other players in the team. Was one of the full-backs called Banks?

We lived in Clayton and travelled to the ground on the special buses laid on by Maynes on Ashton New Road, next to the Carlton cinema.

I was 5 years old.

George Derbyshire
Watford

At Maine Road

John Archer — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:16:39 +0000

Can’t recall exact details of first match at Maine Road. My Dad had just been demobbed from the Navy after the war. We went on the Hyde supporters bus from outside the Clarendon Hotel. He was secretary of the supporters club.
He worked at the CWS in Balloon St., including Saturday mornings, so it was quite a rush for him to get home, eat and return for the match.
I was perched on the parapet of one of the corner tunnels and all I remember was the huge Frank Swift in a yellow (I think) jersey and the away team in white tops, black shorts.
As a matter of interest dad went to one match at the Hyde Rd ground just before they moved to Maine Rd.He must have supported them for at least 80 years. My son does now of course and we are at long last looking forward to a little taste of fame and fortune!
John Archer

Memories

Harold Wood — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:43:28 +0000

I remember my first City game i was about 6 or 7 yrs old my father had just been demobbed from the RAF after the war,an old war mate was captain of Southampton and he invited us into the away team dressing room to meet the Southampton team and then we watched the game from a box,i cant remember the score but it was 60 odd years ago.
H.Wood Manchester

Up the Blues

PETE SOUTHALL — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:44:39 +0000

My first game was in 1945 i was 10, City v Swansea Town who in those days played in all white.the score was 1-1 i remember the center foreward Jimmy Constantine and also City could boast of a international back three of Frank Swift ,Bert Sproston,and Sam Barkas.
Once a blue always a blue.I used try and stand against the WHITE wall near the halfway line.

My First City Game, 1945

Fred Rosenfeld — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:05:46 +0000

It was Easter Monday, 2nd April 1945. My friends were all with their families; I, a 13 year old only child, found myself at a loose end so decided to get an all day bus ticket on the number 50 departing from Sale. Football was certainly not on my mind. Sale was a rugby union stronghold and soccer, as it was contemptuously called at my school, was a dirty word. My parents, neighbours and friends had no interest in the game so City, United, etc. were just words on the sports pages of the Manchester Evening News.

I carried an A to Z of Manchester to identify the buildings that I passed and my habit was to get off and investigate anything that I thought to be of interest. Travelling along Princess Parkway and approaching Moss Side I noticed masses of people arriving and converging to a point before disappearing between the buildings. “This is exciting”, I thought, “better find out what is going on”. I alighted and was immediately accosted by a seller beating off his competitors for my one (old) penny programme which screamed, from its editorial front page, “Stockport’s Advantage”. Yes indeed, a football match featuring Manchester City v Stockport County with, apparently, a number of key players not available. The prediction was correct; City lost 1 – 5!

Following the throng, I passed sights long since gone. Some were tragic, ex professional footballers with placards around their necks detailing their clubs and histories begging for a few coppers, others more pleasant with traders selling rosettes and souvenirs from their barrows. There was no segregation with all supporters intermingling and approaching the ground together. Then I saw it standing before me, Maine Road! Never had I seen anything so big The grandstand towered above me, I entered through the turnstile an took the steps to the very top and the stadium opened up before me. I can still feel the awe that I expeienced that day; If this is football I want to be part of it!

As for the match itself, all I can remember is my first idol – Frank Swift. A charismatic showman who enchanted all. City may have seen better goalkeepers but none had the charm of big Frank. He was particularly loved by the kids and in those days, when keepers stayed on their line, he kept up a constant chatter with the boys behind his goal who would arrive 3 hours early to ensure their spot.

Now, 63 seasons later, I am enjoying my football more than ever. I have experienced good times and bad but there is nothing that beats being a City fan. I often think back to this eventful day that started me on this long journey and, bearing in mind that United shared the ground, I give thanks that it was City playing on this eventful day otherwise, horrors of horrors – I might have ended up a red!

It started here

Trevor Manning — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:21:49 +0000

My father took me to Main Road at the end of the War. I saw the great Frank Swift in action I was hooked. I have supported City ever since. Never wavering, even in the hard times. Remember billie Linnicker? Ever the Best.

A long time ago

Peter Holt — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:17:46 +0000

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.