Memories so far...
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Struggles in the early Sixties made being a Blue a tough existence but in many ways helped prepare fans for the success that was to follow. In 1965 Joe Mercer arrived as manager and with dynamic coach Malcolm Allison City became one of the nation’s most glamorous and exciting sides. In 1966 City were promoted as Division Two champions, in 1968 they won the League in style, in 1969 the FA Cup and as the Seventies dawned they were at the peak of their powers. The side oozed class, style and excitement.
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August 18th, 2010 NeilBurrows
I cant remember the first game i went to but i remenber my dad taking me to main road,parking in the bus station and buying me sweets from the corner shop next to thr ground.We stood at the rear of the main stand and always watching proper football with my hero Colin Bell.
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August 18th, 2010 Colin Greenwood
My first game was the 1969 FA Cup Quarter final against Spurs; my Dad took me to the game on a very wet Saturday after noon. We got the 53 special bus from Belle Vue getting off at the end of Dickinson road a journey that I would make hundreds of times in the future. We walked around Platt lane into the side streets and called into the Rusholm Working men’s club sadly no longer there I sat in the corner with a coke and some salt and shake crisps listening to the city fans talking about the coming game. Just walking to the ground through the back alleys was exiting enough with the sound of the crowd and everyone wearing some form of blue, I had never seen so many people. Once inside the walls of Maine Road .I was overwhelmed by magnitude of the ground and the hustle and bustle of fans chanting and cheering.
I sat on the wall close to the half way line with my feet dangling over onto the side of the wet and muddy pitch. When the players came out in their sky blue, my heart missed a beat I was so close that I could have reached out and touched them it was fantastic. The thing that I remember the most was the roar of the crowd and the celebrations when Franny Lee scored the winner; I was nearly pushed on to the pitch
I remember thinking that I would get the chance to go to a semi final. But was told that I was too young.
A game that I will never forget
Colin Greenwood born in Gorton
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August 18th, 2010 Lawrence Connell
My Dad took me to a few games in the early 60’s we stood in the Kippax with me at the front on the wall,
My first game I went to on my own was agenst Rotherham, I can’t recall the score ? I must have been about 13 years old, I can also remember seeing Colin Bell play against City for Bury !
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August 18th, 2010 jon whitlow
Jan 2nd 1960.
Manchester City 4:1 Sheffield Wednesday.
I was 6 and my dad decided as a treat I was old enough to go to my first game. The pitch seems to have shrunk allarmingly as I have become older as I swear it was at least a mile long the first time I saw it.
I stood on the crash barriers in the Kippax stand and held my dad’s neck. My hero was Trautmann and I was dissappointed that he let 5 goals in in the first 3 minutes but then dad told me that they were only warming up!!!
Don’t know who scored (Joe Hayes got one I think?)I remember Trautmann making one good save but little else. Still it must have stirred something because I’m still going 50 years later.
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August 18th, 2010 John Conway
I was 8 yrs old. I was very cold, sat in the Platt Lane End with Ronnie our lodger to watch my first ever live football match. Snow covered the pitch and the ball was orange, I remember that very clearly. Jimmy Greaves scored the first goal…. Apart from the cold my overriding memory is of the hardest shot ever ever seen on the football field. Neil Young hit the bar from outside the area and I thought the bar would never stop shaking. We skated the ice rink better than Spurs and ran out winners: 4-1. I went on to spend a lot of time at the training ground in Cheadle, close to where I lived, helping where I could; I’m sure my help was invaluable to our success of the era. I took penalties against Joe Corrigan, understudy to Ken Mulhearn at the time … Big Joe did the decent thing and dived over the ball for me. I remember the first time Joe Mercer came to the training ground … his presence was obvious, even to a kid of eight. I have been on the bluemoon rollercoaster ride ever since, an experience I would describe as ‘character building’. But as I say to the many ManU fans I know: You’ll never know true happiness until you change to blue. Happy days!
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August 18th, 2010 Colin Greenwood
My first game was the 1969 FA Cup Quarter final against Spurs I was only 8 my Dad took me to the game on a very wet Saturday after noon. we got the 53 bus from Belle Vie and got off at the end of Dickinson Road and walked around the side off Platt lane to the Resole Working Men’s Club sadly no longer their I sat in the corner with coke and a packet of crisps I remember listening to all the men talking about the game.
.Just walking to the ground through the back alleys was exiting enough with the sound of the crowd and everyone wearing some form of blue, I had never seen so many people. Once inside the great walls of Maine Road .I was overwhelmed by the size of the ground and the hustle and bustle of fans chanting and cheering, and the programme sellers shouting “programmes come and get your programmes”.
I sat on the wall close to the half way line with my feet dangling over the side all that I could see looking back onto the Kippax was a sea off blue scarves and in front of me a green but rather muddy pitch. I was so close I could have touched the players it was fantastic. The thing that I remember the most was the roar of the crowd and the celebrations when Franny Lee scored the winner; I was nearly pushed on to the pitch
I remember thinking that I would get the chance to go to a semi final. But was told that I was too young.
A game that I will never forget
Colin Greenwood Born in gorton
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August 18th, 2010 Gary Smale
My first memory is City v Leicester (I think) sat in the old Platt Lane End on the wooden benches. I went with my Dad, we paid to get in the Kippax and transferred for a shilling into the Platt Lane. City won 4-1 and the game was made even memorable by a very rare Gordon Banks own goal. It was happy days watching the then 1st Division Champions.
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August 18th, 2010 William Norman Eaves
I was 14 years old and it was the first time my Mam let me go on my own to a City Match with my mates. It was on the 17th Oct 1964 , It was against Huddersfield a real red rose’s battle sadly we lost 3-2 but what a game , my mates and I walked to Maine rd there and back and we felt like “real grown ups” there was no trouble and I was hooked for life. Today I go with my own son to Eastland’s and I get the same “buz” with my new mates
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August 18th, 2010 Steve Wright
Sometime in 1963 / 64. My Dad had been promising my brother and I that he would take us to see ‘City’, for some time. My elder brother Paul and I caught the bus from our home in Northenden to my aunty’s house in Platt Lane, very close to Maine Road. We were very young, I was about 7 or 8 years old. After various members of our family met up we walked the short distance to the turnstiles at the Platt Lane Stand where we joined a long line of city fans. I remember the police horses walking past and along the lines and how people loved to stroke the noses of those huge animals, well when your less than 5 feet tall they look very big!. When we all eventually got through the the turnstiles and Dad bought a programme, we walked through a tunnel towards the pitch and the seats of the Platt Lane Stand. This is the moment that caught my breath away, the sight of the huge crowd in the Kippax Street stand was an experience that left such a lasting impression on my young mind. Although I cannot remember who City were playing that day I do recall that it was one of Bernhard Carl “Bert” Trautmann, OBE (born 22 October 1923)last appearances in a City jersey. I also recall that City were playing in the ‘old’ 2nd division. I have remained a loyal city fan through the years. Sadly my aunty and most of the people who went to that game are watching from another ‘elevated view’ but I thank them for taking me to see City and providing me with a lifelong passion. What a great day, thanks Dad
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August 18th, 2010 Nigel Reynolds
My first game watching City’s first team was against Wigan, who were then a nn league team. The North stand at Maine Rd was a large lump of earth. I sat in the front of the main stand with my dad and I watched City win 1 – 0. I was 6 and a half. I remember the game because we had coffee with rum in it to warm us up on a cold winters day. Great memories. Sadly my dad isn’t here any more but I know he will be watching all the goings on at City.