April 1949 and my uncle who lived in Longsight and worked for Manchester Corporation Parcels Department said he would take me to the game because a Parcels Department man-Johnny Williamson- would be playing for City.The Manchester Evening News was urging everyone to go becase City we desperate for points to stave off relegation
What a match. 53,000 fans saw a nailbiting 2-2 draw. I was only nine so was passed over the heads of the crowd so I could sit on the wall and watch the magic of Roy Clarke. But what was better still, to see my hero, Bert Trautmann. Johnny ran his heart out but never looked like scoring City went down that year but after that experience there was no escaping my destiny–to be a lifelong Blue

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

My father was on leave and took me to Maine Rd.
We played Barnsley (I think).I dont know the score, but I remember their kit was a vivid red with hooped socks they looked like world beaters to us youngsters when they ran out.
After that I found my own way, and it was City one week united next. Before each game we played on the car park City v Utd with a Tennissy(tennis ball)
My favourite was Billy Walsh a classy wing half.
I can never forget Frank Swift. Being born 1933 the same day he made his Maine Rd. debut I was reminded of the fact each boxing day until 1980. Two games I shall never forget were Birmingham away in the cup 1947. I went with my dad by coach from the local pub. On the way we were snowed under and had to be dug out by German p.o.ws. It took 7 hours and we just made the kick off. Amazingly the pitch was cleared and the game went ahead.
We lost 5-0.
Another debacle was Bradford in the war time cup. We won there 3-1 and lost at home 8-2. I saw both games.
Anyway after 65years watching City I am still of sound mind (I THINK)
Up the Blues.

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.

February 1946. Regional competitions had replaced the national leagues. Taken along as a youngster by my Dad, and overwhelmed by the occasion. My first sight of the great Frank Swift, who from that moment became one of my all-time heroes. (Trautmann and Bell have later joined that select band. Denis Law would have done, had he remained with us.)

My first attendance at Maine Road was in October 1944 as a 10 year old boy with my cousin Roy Kyte. City were playing Crewe Alexandra and drew 1 -1 with a player named Heale scoring City’s Goal. It was a sunny afternoon and the sky blue shirts made a great impression on me and the ground was so impressive and both being boys we could sit on the barrier behind the goal half way up the terracing at what was known as the scoreboard end. This was when it was only Regional North football and you did not know who was playing for the teams. The programme which was one sheet printed on both sides and the teams had a lot of A N. Others printed on it

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.

It was a long ago day, back in December 1947 in fact, that I saw my first City game. Just eight years old and taken by an older brother down Oldham Road to Manchester on a No 98 bus, across the tramlines at Piccadilly (where trams could still be seen) and onto Parker Street bus station for a “football special”. City’s opponents were Liverpool, not the great team they woukl later become but still a formidable combination that had won the 1st Division Championship the season before.
The impressive edifice of the Main Stand loomed and a modest halfcrown plonked on the turnstile gained us entry. It would be nice to say I could remember every kick of the game, but I don’t. But I remember the goals. George Smith scored the first and Eddie McMorran the second as City ran out winners by 2-0.
Thus began a life time love affair with the Blues. Not an affair littered with trophies. Some half dozen cup wins. A solitary League Championship, some promotions (preceded of course by relegations) – not much in sixty years really.
Visions of idols, some greats, some less great and numerous also rans. Days of anguish, frustration with just occasional ecstasy. Finger nails bitten to the quick and all started by a trip on a bus on a murky December day sixty years ago. Best wishes for the next 60 years.
A McKenna

My first trip to watch City at Maine Road, was just after the War. My dad took me on the tram from Burnage but sadly, I cannot recall who we were playing that day.
I was so excited at my first visit to watch my beloved team, but the large crowd was intimidating to a young boy. After a long time queuing at the turnstiles, we eventually forced our way onto the Kippax stand and squeezed into the capacity crowd, all standing of course.
As I was quite small then, I was having difficulties in seeing the pitch or players until my dad lifted me onto his shoulders.
In a world where everything seemed to be grey, I was amazed to see so much colour on the pitch and in particular, I noticed City`s goalie in vivid green.
Then an opposition forward hit a screamer to the far corner of the City goal. A certain goal, until this blond giant of a man ( in every way ) took off and not only reached the ball, but held on to it. His name of course was Bert Trautmann, a German P.O.W. whose life story is just as fascinating as the man himself.
I was dumbfounded that a human being could be so agile. That was the start of my goalkeeping `career`, forever trying to emulate Bert as I grew older.
Eventually I played for Manchester Boys at the same time as Nobby Stiles, but never quite achieved the heights I desired ( though still playing competitive 11-a-side soccer in Lancs & Ches. League at almost 67 ).
I have met Bert on a couple of occasions, but I am still awestruck by him…..he was and still is, simply MY HERO.
Thanks for the treasured memories Bert !

Malcolm Maginn

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!