52,000 crammed in versus Chelsea. Thousands, eagerly awaiting a glimpse of Rodney Marsh’ debut. City riding high at the top of the league. My hero Franny Lee here there and eveywhere. A Tommy Booth headed goal is my main memory of the match….oh and the Jaffa Cakes at half time. Loved the atmosphere and knew I belonged for life…whether you like it or not.

I was 10 when my dad took me to Maine Road (Main Stand) for the first time, a 2-0 win over Blackpool? We were regulars in Platt Lane and the New North Stand until he let me loose on my own (With a bunch of mates of course) maybe 13 or 14 years old at the time.Then became hooked on the Kippax. Best memories are Wembley 1976, Barnes and Tueart,the FA Cup replay win against Everton on a rainy Tuesday night,Bobby Mac, never seen the Kippax so full!
The First Division championship with Berkovic, Benarbia,the Goat and Huckerby etc. Converted my son to Blue that year…Gene Kelley Stand.Saw last game at Maine Road, and First at CoMS. Dont go as often now due to cost and work commitments, But I’m City till i die.

I walked to Maine Road from my home off Parkside Road, just 5 minutes stroll away. I actually went to watch Leicester. They had recently signed Frank Worthington and I had seen his first game, against the Reds at Old Trafford on Wednesday, 23 August.
Thanks to Marsh, Bell and Summerbee I became an instant convert. That match was the start of, so far, 36 years support for City. I’ve made friends with City fans in Manchester, Carlisle, Australia, Spain and Romania through this support. I’ve met Chairmen, Managers and Players, even Nick Leeson, and been a supporters branch secretary, but I can’t find any fans in my current home area of Bournemouth, Dorset.

April 72. City 3 West Ham 1. Two from the genius that was Rodney Marsh. Even to a child it was clear he had something special. he became an instant hero and that was me hooked. The good thing was I lived on Thornton Road, a minute from the main entrance. I spent every holiday outside the ground playing football against the big, exit gates and waiting for the players to come out. Sometimes they had a brief kickabout with us. Big Joe was a tough opponent! I became a season ticket holder from the next season on the end of the long Maroon benches in the Platt Lane right behind the goal, easy access to the aisle where I could try to chase any wayward shots that came anywhere near. Great times and we never lost once, did we?

1972 I went on a tour of Maine Road with my Primary school, our headmaster was a big City fan. I remember being taken onto the pitch, and then round the the changing rooms before meeting Joe Corrigan, who for a little ten year old seemed to grow into the sky as I looked up at him. Great day, saw City beat United at Old Trafford that year too, but meeting Big Joe was it.

My Dad took me to Maine Rd one Saturday afternoon
I was 6 yrs old the year was 1972. I remember getting out of the car and walking up to the ground ,there was hunderds of people singing and shouting, I was scared but excited, the atmosphere was awesome. we were playing West Ham Utd .I didn’t know much about them or City .I remembe my Dad going on about Rodney Marsh .The game kicked of at 3pm .and the crowd went mad .we moved towards the front and dad sat me on the wall. i felt great and very excited.I will never forget it .at one point in the game the ball went out for a throw in near me as I was sat on the wall in the Kippax stand I picked up the ball and passed it to a City player it was Rodney Marsh ,he patted me on the head and said thanks son.my dad said to me we’ll win this game son.
guess what we did 4-2 it was a great game and that was me hooked on City.Ihave followed City ever since and now have a season ticket in the North stand with my brother and my son who is now 6 yrs old and now he is a mad City fan.Iam 42yrs old now and can’t wait for City to win a trophy again so I can share the experience with my son as my Dad did with me.C’mon City

The first game I can remember being at was Rodney Marsh’s debut in March 1972. Rodney was a big money signing and, a bit like Robinho, it generated a lot of excitement. I was only 4 but this was a very important moment in my early life and probably the moment that guaranteed my life support for City.

I was sat in the old Platt Lane Stand and remember vividly the noise and colour generated when Marsh appeared. The Platt Lane Stand was very dark and dull, but the pitch was perfect green and the players wore that powerful classic, stylish sky blue with white shorts. We were the audience and Maine Road was their stage.

Marsh posed for photographs with the Platt Lane Stand behind him and every time I’ve seen these photos since I’ve frantically searched them looking for anyone in the stand who could be me or my dad, but the crowd are just blobs in the stand.

Rodney became my first true hero. Not because he was a great player but because, legend had it at the time, he refused to wear socks (off the pitch of course!)! Why this appealed I have no idea, but it did. Perhaps it had something to do with the glamour. City were always ’soccer stars’ back then and glamour oozed out of the team.

Bell, Lee and Summerbee were the better players for City but Rodney was my star then. He was my first hero, but he definitely was not my last.

Grand National day 1972 and it rained all day long. City at home to West Ham – not only would I see Lee, Bell, Summerbee and co but also Bobby Moore and Clyde Best.

Saw the floodlight pylon as we turned past Maine Road and realised this was it: the Blues were no longer the mythical figures I saw on the TV and in Shoot! and the papers. We walked across the forecourt and through the Platt Lane turnstiles.

I bought a rosette (remember them?) from a seller on the way in and we ran down the corner tunnel. It felt a bit like going to the cinema – and of course as at the flicks the good guys will always win, right? – but then the green pitch emerged as we reached the end. Couldn’t believe the size of the place or the noise from the still-terraced North Stand.

City won 3-1 with Rodney Marsh scoring twice and (I think) Colin Bell the other – two of the Blues’ goals were in the second half when they attacked our end so it was even better. Went home happy and watched it all over again on Match of the Day that night, what could be a better introduction to attending games?

Maine Road on a very cold day in January 1972. City v Wolves. City win 5-2. Saw myself in the crowd on MOTD that night !!!

my first city game was in 1972

i went with my best friend and his dad to maine road. city were playing wolves. we won 5-2

fantastic, loved every minute of it