My First City Game » 1948

City v Blackpool

Tony — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:01:47 +0000

I was born about a mile from Maine Road.

The first game my father took me to see was City v Blackpool who had Stanley Matthews playing for them at the time.

In those days, before the smoke abatement laws came in, Manchester suffered from dreadful smog conditions – real pea soupers.

As kick-off time approached, the smog came down, then started closing in, thicker and thicker.

We were standing behind the goal, but within a short time we could barely see the centre circle, let alone the other goal.

The referee kept the game going until half time, but then, inevitably, it was called off.

I can’t remember the score, but I do remember the disappointment, something that we City fans have tasted all too frequently over the years, albeit with stoic resignation.

Let’s hope that Sheikh Mansour’s new regime will usher in a golden age for the club and its many thousands of faithful supporters.

harold armstrong — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:59:22 +0000

my first time was in 1949
watching city it was against
stoke city on oct 15 it would have been good if it had been at
eastland as i lived on devon steet, beswick, harold armstrong 71 on oct 18th

Picture 026.jpg (846 KB)

My first game

Alan Lesser — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:25:44 +0000

My dad took me to my first game in 1948. I can’t remember who they played but Frank Swift was in goal. I also remember Ron Phoenix playing at left half.No. 6, and George Smith playing inside right, No. 8. He think he’d lost his right hand when in the army in WW2 wiich had only ended 3 years before.
Before the game started my dad sat me on the wall, just to the right of the goal at the score board end and he said. “What you must remember is that City have got a knick name. They are called “The unpredictables” because they can beat the top of the league one week then get beaten by the bottom of the league the next.
How right he was, because 60 years on, nothing has changed!!!

An Interesting Journey

Dick Connor — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:54:13 +0000

My fiorst match was at Maine Road and I think it was at the end of the 1947-48 season. It was a rearranged game for one that had been cancelled previously and it was with Bolton Wanderers. Frank Swift was in goal and City won 1-0. It 2ould be good to find out which year I did see my first game. I was taken to see City by Mr. Hampson, a pork butcher from Aston New Road, in Clayton. He has a stunning looking daughter called Jane. City have given me the best and worst days of mt life. It is good to be alive.

Frank Swift

Don Booth — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:23:43 +0000

My Brother took me to Maine Road when I was 10yrs old and stood behind the goal. My lifelong memory was Frank Swift picking up the ball with one hand and throwing it over the halfway line. The ball then was a lace up leather type.

my first match

Joe Laurens — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:32:57 +0000

My dad took me to Maine Road for the first time this year and we played Bury a game which got me hooked not just because City won 4.0 but the whole atmostphere was fantastic I know we have had more lows than highs but I still go back for more,after all thats what being a City fan is all about,

my first match at maine road

Harold Armstrong — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:05:04 +0000

my first match was man city v west Brom and i have becomeing to all the match up to 2006 and then i move to spain , but i till come over to see the boys ,thanyoumr H armstrong i was 8 and city won 2-1

My first game

Joe Laurens — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:31:00 +0000

I went to see BURY PLAY city at Maine Road in 1948 with my Father. City won 4.0 after that I was totally hooked and have been ever since

Frank Swift’s Last Game (NOT)

Andrew Parr — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:27:35 +0000

At the age of 10 I went to Maine Road with my Dad to watch City against Arsenal we sat in the Main Stand near the tunnel. I cannot remember much about the actual game, except Arsenal won 3 nil. The lasting memory came at the end of the game when all the City players lifted Frank Swift shoulder high, which was a feet in itself. He received a lap of honour and was still being carried down the tunnel and I am positive the players would be relieved to get to the dressing room and put him down. However obviuosly Swifty returned at the start of the next season as Alex Thurlow who was the 2nd keeper had TB and was not fit to play. Swifty came out of retirement and played the first 4 games, until Alex was fit again.