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

I was taken to Maine Rd by my eldest brother and saw City defeated by 2 goals to one by Blackpool. As he at the time supported City I became a fervent supported too. But the next time I saw City they went down again to Blackpoool, in a war-time cup final in 1944, again 1 – 2. I got used to the idea that my team could lose but my hero was Peter Doherty and I wanted to go just to see him. Further disaster struck when he refused to stay with City and Derby picked him up for a knock-dowm price. Thereafter I got used to the disappointments of following City, with only the (one) league title and two FA cups to lighten the gloom. The future seems brighter now so I hope they don’t let me down again.

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

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

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.

September 14th 1946. My Father took me to see City play Millwall at the Den. The great Frank Swift was in goal for City. He used to amaze the crowd with the ease with which he was able to catch the ball with his huge hands. He was a truely great goalkeeper. City won 3-1 that afternoon,Constantine scored all 3 goals and City went on to win the 2nd division championship, as it was then. I have been a City supporter ever since through thick and thin, and always will be.

for heavens sake, so long ago, the memories fade with time, just ask anyone in the 70s,i know it was a freezing cold winters day when frank swift came strolling out of the tunnel, as a small boy, he seemed to me to be a giant of a man and reaching the goal posts he tossed his flat cap into the corner of the net, then turned to face the enemy, there were no parades in those days, nor a warm up, you came out , the coin was tossed, and the game began, i think sam barkas was in defense but i think it was too soon for roy clarke, and the score escapes me also, like i said, when you reach the 70s, the memories fade, but frank swift walking to the goal mouth is indelibly linked in the memory bank,and the rodney marsh debut thats one ill never forget nor i imagine will the other 50,000 at maine rd that day.

Can’t recall the exact match, but the team was Swift, Sproston, Barkas, Walsh, Cardwell, McDowell, Dunkerley, Herd, Contantine, Smith & a guy on loan Pearson, I think from Grimsby. Most of the lads were in the Forces, & our team had a lot of older players, but still as excited now as when the Blues came out at Maine Rd then.

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.