My First City Game » 1940-1949

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

Norman Jackson — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:06:02 +0000

The first time I watched Man City was at Maine Road in 1943, although it would have been handy if Eastlands was built then as I lived on Every Street right next to the new stadium. I cannot remember who it was against but I remember that some the the players playing in the match were Franck Swift, Sam Barkas, Les McDowel, Peter Doherty, Alec Herd, Brook and Tilson. It was in wartime days and so the teams relied on guest players who were footballers in the armed forces who were home on leave and allowed to play for their local teams. I am now 80 years old and live in Lancaster but still support City as much as I always have but due to poor eyesight can’t drive so cannot get to see as many games as I would like and cannot see the game very well but can follow the players movements and when I do attend but listen to the game on headsets that they provide at the new stadium which is extremely helpful.

Norman

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!!!

My 10th Birthday present in 1940

Ernst Grahame — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:44:33 +0000

It was wonderful opening this page just now and it was particularly poignant to immediately see the photo of Frank Swift – because it was his presence when we were literally sitting beside the Goal only a few yards away just behind the goal line. I have been meaning to enter my name among this “Hall of Old’uns” but I have not been to well of late. However, my birthday on March 26th, reminded me of my many visits to Maine Road during the war – including attending so-called “International Representative Matches” where well over 70,000 fans attended. The immediate names which come to mind (as well as the very kindly “Big Frank” Swift) are Styanley Matthews and Willie Waddell (Scotland).
I have been a loyal fan – mostly from afar however – because I ‘emigrated’ to London in 1951. Since that time I have been lucky enough to have travelled the world a great deal – but ‘City’ was ALWAYS on my mind – through Thick and Thin – and there were many times when I was in some other part of the world – and made a point of seeking out an English Sunday paper – always 1 to 3 days late – but still costing huge amounts of money. I still travel now and of course, it is so much easier now to pull up the results on my XDA – possibly even in real time.
I have to finish now, but – if it is possible, I will add to my story some other time. I will try to remember more Matches and Players etc. Before, I go, I have to tell you that my Son John who is now 51 – has been a Manchester City fan ALL HIS LIFE – even though he has only ever visited Manchester about a dozen times! (I could not and certainly would not entertain any person in my family supporting any other team!)
Good Luck to Mark and the Team and may you all get together and go from strength to strength

My first game at Maine Road-1943

Walter Allison — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:53:25 +0000

I was 10 years of age living in Crowther Street in Gorton. Our next door neighbour-Keith Moray- took me to the game. Manchester City vs Halifax Town-a wartime fixture. It was a time of German air-raids, ration books, and gas masks. The fact that any football was played at all was due to the indomitable spirit of the British people. “Business as usual.”

There were no match programmes. The players names were entered in chalk onto a blackboard and this was paraded around the playing area before kick-off (2.15pm- no floodlights then). The City team was Swift-Sproston-Barkas-Walsh-Fagan (later to manage Liverpool)- McDowall (later to manage City)- Dunkley- Hend (who had played in the 1934 Cup Final)- Smith- Black- and Emptage.

City led 2-0 at half-time with goals by Hend and Smith. In the second half Halifax took control and dominated the game. A hat-trick by Tommy Barkas (brother of City’s Sam Barkas) gave Halifax a victory by 3-2.

City had England internationals in Swift, Sproston, and Barkas- also Walsh (Republic of Ireland), Mcdowall (Scotland), and Herd (Scotland). A bus home cost 2d (old money) and I delivered sporting papers on the Saturday evening. The old Empire News had all the results from the days’ fixtures. I have been a supporter all these years. I am now 75.

Walter Allison

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?)

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.

dad was back from the war..

roy h oliver — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:15:58 +0000

I was born in may 1940. Dad was back from the war..he was in the RAMC (medical corps) so wasn’t demobbed until 1946.
His business had failed during the war so he bought into a shop at Withington with my Auntie Minnie.Her and Mum ran it,Dad joined the Ministry of Food. One day my brother Brian(5yrs older)told me City had been promoted to the 1st division and we would go and watch them next year. We walked to the match down Platt Lane..sorry don’t recall who it was against or the exact date in 1947 but I remember Eric Westwood at left back..why him I don’t know! We drew..thats all I can remember.
BUT from playing on the local “rec” with pals at every spare minute..I became – and still am 61yrs later – hooked on soccer,the “blues” and a United “hater”!. Since then I have followed City everywhere..”head down Nobby” (Roy Clarke – a Withington neighbour) got 3 season tickets for Dad,Brian and I – we had to give them up – each at different times and for different reasons – thro neccessity and only after many,many years. I then stood on the terraces..and honestly enjoyed it more!Brian lives in Essex but he and Dad – I’m sure (up there somewhere)still follow the Blues.
However, as I am now retired and live in the Isle of Man (moved there with my job – not as a tax exile!)I cannot really justify the cost of going to watch City..Its my ambition to get to Easlands – I haven’t been yet.. before I turn my toes up! I will make it!!. What will the future hold for the great unpredictables? they have caused me more enjoyment and heartache than..well anything else! But come on City ..give Mark a chance..HE NEVER showed that arrogance and pettiness so typical of most Untd players over the years. Don’t let this wonderful opportunity pass..we are rich but maybe our wonderful pedigree is more importent, don’t lose the true “blue”. Finally lets hammer Untd at “old trafford” – I refuse to call it anyhting else!.
Sorry I have gone on..but I hope I live long enough to see us back on top..in style..the way we won the league that night at Newcastle..where we belong.Unfortunately my son supports Liverpool 1st but City 2nd!
Roy Oliver

My first City match

Jim Bell — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:11:08 +0000

My first city match was away at Bradford Park Avenue. 1st leg in the 4rth round of the FA cup 1945/46 season. City won the game 3-1 i remember George Smith scored 2 goals for us. I was lifted up at the back of the stand behind the goals and sat on a roof girder to watch the game. Unfortunately City lost the home leg at Maine rd 8-2 to go out of the cup 9-5 on aggregate.