It was September 1957 and my granddad was an avid City fan, as was my dad. They asked me if I wanted to go to City for my birthday. The obvious answer was yes! As my birthday was 6th October the next home match was against Sheffield Wednesday on the 9th October. On the night before, I couldn’t sleep, I was up at the crack of dawn. I sat at the table with my City scarf and bobble hat on making my family laugh. I even had a blue and white rattle on the table.
At 1.30pm we set off and I was a bundle of excitement. We parked the car and it was the first time I had seen more than 1 or 2 coloured people at the same time. I was in a different world, one full of wonder, one of promise and one of amazement. We sat in the Main Stand and of all the places to sit I chose the front row on A Block so I could see the players. I remember some of the team that day; big Bill Leivers, Roy Little, Dave Ewing (who later turned out to be a good friend), Joe Hayes and Colin Barlow, but alas no Bert Trautmann who was injured. We won 2-0 courtesy of Colin Barlow and McAdams.
That was it- taken in completely, hoarse with cheering and right arm tired with using the rattle. The next season I had my first season ticket and never missed a match except for work commitments.
Now as a father and grandfather, my kids watch City as often as they can and maintain a constant following that makes me proud.

The cup replay against Newcastle. I was almost five when he took me to this, my first game. I can still remember the noise of the crowd, the smells and the excitement. Sat right at the back of the main stand, sat next to a strange man in a great coat and bobble hat yelling at the top of his voice, I was fascinated. I can just about remember tiny figures running around on the pitch but nothing else. Mind you this was the perfect match to begin a life in Blue. Three up at halftime, 3-3 at full time. 4-3 up and then losing 4-5. This set the tone for the future and I’ve loved every minute of it though my fingernails haven’t!

Bill Chapman
Sydney Australia

It was a Wednesday afternoon game and my teacher Miss Bird,I think her first name was Pat,took me as a reward for doing well in my exams at Brindle Heath School in Pendleton. My mother took me to meet her in Manchester, from there we took the bus from Aytoun Street to Maine Road.Miss Bird must have been well connected with the club because we had drinks in the boardroom before the game.We lost 5-4 but that was me hooked for life.I was ten at that time,and I am now 61yrs and I still go to this day,along with my son and grandaughter.

The first time I went on my own to Maine Road was for a FA Cup third round replay against Newcastle on a cold afternoon in January 1957. I was a rather small, skinny 11-year-old and didn’t realise that standing in the middle of the Kippax was not a good idea.(At least it didn’t rain, as this was the last season that the Kippax did not have a roof!) Some kind soul lifted me on his shoulders and I saw City take a 3-0 lead in the first half. It seemed that all we needed to do was to attack and we would score. A red-haired centre forward for Newcastle, Alex Tait who was deputising for the great George Milburn,began to play havoc with our defence. I saw very little of the second half as my exhausted helper had to put me back down on the terrace. Thus I did not actually witness the three goals that Newcastle scored before the 90 minutes were up. At that point, not realising there would be extra time, I left. Outside the ground, I heard the roar when City regained the lead. Subsequent groans, however, announced that the worst had happened. Despite the defeat, the sheer drama had me hooked. I went to the next league match I could (and sat on the wall at the foot of the Kippax) and, guess what, City beat Charlton 5-1. A fifty-year roller coster ride had well and truly begun.

Can you please help me? I remember my first game well and want to tell you about it. We beat P.N.E. 5-1 at Deepdale, but I can’t remember the date. I was about 10 or 11 so its a long time ago.

I was about 5 or 6 years old, so that may have been the 1957-58 season, my two elder brothers took me and being so small they sat me on the wall behind the goal in the “Scoreboard End”, in the first few minutes a shot went whistling past my ear, being a complete wimp I started to cry for fear of getting hit. A complete stranger walks forward and put me on his shoulders (great view now), at half time he bought me a drink and crisps and then back on the shoulders again for the second half. I think the match ended 0-0 and big Bert (Trautman) had a great match, not much chance of getting hit while he was in goal. The atmosphere was terrific and a great day all round, but I will never forget the “blue Stranger”, I dedicate my 35 years as a season ticket holder to him.

I first started going to Maine Road around 1955 but my memories of that era are rather dim now except for my memory of City playing Santos of Brazil in a friendly and seeing the great Pele in the flesh!!
I remember him taking a penalty with Trautmann in the City goal and Pele must have changed direction about five times before sliding the ball home.
What a great night that was!!
City till I die!!

Xmas 1957 was not the first time I had been to Maine Rd but it’s the first memory. Two all draw. Abiding memory is the crowd. 70,thousand. City scored 104 goals that year but let in 100 finishing 5th

28th December 1957 the Derby match. I was 10 and stood in the Platt Lane End at the front with my brother. Bert Trautman looked so huge.The noise sticks in my mind. We drew 2-2. Of course the events of Feb. 1958 could not have been anticipated.

My second “first game” was my first visit to Eastlands. I was unprepared for the sight of the stadium when you first see the pitch. I cried, it is by far the best stadium I have seen.

My dad took me to maine road we played Blackpool I can still recall the bright coloured shirts our blue ones and the tangerine of blackpool.

Been going ever since. I have 50 years of supporting City, my dad died shortly after the game at a very young age so I always remember the day and thank him for taking me to the best football club in the world my lads and my granchildren are city fans.