My First City Game » 1950-1959

1st City game at Maime Road

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

My uncle Fred, life long City fan took me to see City vs Charlton in mid fifties. City won 6-5 and I ,was hooked and became lifelong fan myself. Thanks uncle Fred for the indoctrination!
I idolized Bert Trautman and Bobby Johnston and remeber Helen and her bell fondly.

City v Sunderland

ted knott — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:01:46 +0000

My first ever City game was actually against United at Old Trafford on Feb 12th 1955 but I can remember very little other than the 5-0 scoreline in City’s favour.
However it was the following season on April 2nd 1956 when we played Sunderland in front of a crowd of 40,915 that I watched my first City game at Maine Rd.
Only 13 days before we had just beat Spurs in the FA Cup final at Villa Park to reach our second successive FA Cup Final.
My dad took me to the match on the crossbar of his push bike which he left in someones back yard alongside twenty or so others.
We entered the ground at the platt lane end of the stadium where the stand curved round to the section behind the goal,it was adjacent to the main stand with the top half of the terracing being wooden similar to the Belle vue speedway track at Hyde Rd.For me it was an experience I have never forgotten where for the record we won 4-2 with goals from Joe Hayes 2 – Jack Dyson 2
To be honest as a 9 year old at the time I spent most of the game running up and down the stairs at the back of the stand whilst listening to the roars of the crowd but whenever I did take a peep at the game I will always remember Bert Trautmann diving round his goalmouth,saving and clearing the ball upfield with his blonde locks of hair and a green jersey that stuck out so much Bert became my hero and it was the day my love for City begun.Sadly the grand old place has gone now but the memories of my first City game live on…..

pies and programmes

brian witton — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:01:45 +0000

My dad took me to maine road Ithink it was 1957 or maybe 1958. It was a bright cold winters day.Many years ago and memories are of reaing avidly the programme from front to back every word while we waited for the match to start. I think we were playing Leyton Orient and city won 2-0 with goals from David Dunmore.
I remember having a pie and oxo at half=time and immediately buyting into the ritual of this half=time snack.
My dad was from the south of England and also took me to Old Trafford, but for whatever reason this first visit to Maine Road sealed my allegance for life

Match Abandoned

John Elston — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:59:22 +0000

I cannot remember the exact date but I thing I was about 10 years old so that would make it 1958. I also think it was a couple of years after my father had taken me to into Albert Square to see City bring back the FA Cup and I remember Trautman with his hand on his neck in front of the Town Hall. Anyway a couple of years later a neighbour took me to my first game – in the Kippax against Birmingham City and it was abandoned after 40 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch! Our neighbour said I was bad luck and threatened not to take me again but he relented and took me agian many times.

mr

alan chappell — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:59:21 +0000

my first city game was city versus bolton wanderers, 1966 i think the score was 4 goals to 2 to man city johnny crossan was the captain at the time, from the minute i walked into maine road i was hooked, it was full of characters in the kippax stand, that game will always be in my memory?

City v Spurs Aug 22 1956

Chris Wright — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:43:26 +0000

It was the first home game of the season and we drew 2-2.
My dad had said that he would only take me to a game when I reached 5 years old. My birthday was in July so I had to wait a month for the best present I’ve ever had from that day to this!
We stood behind the goal (where they eventually built the North Stand), I was pushed to the front, sat on the wall and knew I was home.
The smells, the noise,the cheering fans,the game, my heroes close enough to touch – I was now a proper fan and I was there!
53 years later and nothings changed – still a proper fan and still there.
Chris Wright

1953/54 season

richard gaygan — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:09:26 +0000

12 years old and my first city game was the first home game of the 1953/54 season.full of expectation and excitement,city did nt let me down they lost 4-0! thats city my dad told me,you dont know what your going to get!how true,things have nt changed much!

Bert Trautmann

Dennis Briggs — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:35:58 +0000

I remember, like most, being taken to Maine Road and watching Bert Trautmann getting very Muddy

First match at City

William Thompson — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:35:54 +0000

I cannot remember the exact year but I think it was around 1958. It was at Maine Road with my Uncle Jim who lived in Moss Side which is a while ago now! It was against Preston North End, Sir Tom Finney was on the right wing for PNE and Bert Trautmann was in goal for City. The final score was 1-1 and I was in the Kippax near to the score board end. I have been a life long City supporter ever since.

Birthday treat that set a trend.

Terry Simpson — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:35:24 +0000

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.