I am 51 years of age now.The first time I saw Manchester City was as a 17 Year old youth in my home town of Carlisle. It was Carlisle v City Tuesday 6 November 1973 on a very cold Tuesday evening.

Even though I am a local lad by nature I had always admired City. I used to play football on scrub land with believe it or not local lads David Geddes and Kevin Beattie both of Ipswich Town and Kevin later of England.

We all came from a rundown estate in Carlisle called Botcherby

The highlight of the week was kicking lumps out of each other at the field before Gerald Sinstad and Brian Moore took the afternoon TV stage on a Sunday.

Some lads in Wellington boots others barefooted.

All of the lads would ceremoniously go to Brunton Park week in week out. At the time I was afraid to mention to the BIG lads that I had a soft spot for City Greats like Franny Lee. Mike Summerbee,Tony Book, Willy Donachie and Big Joe Corrighan.

It was a tremendous game with both teams going at it hammer and tongs with City coming out on top 1-0 winners. There was no way that i was going to show who i was truly supporting that night as i could easily have found myself tied to a lamp post in only my underwear.

Thinking back to those hard times the whole estate was that poor including my own family I doubt whether  I had any underwear on.

- Jimmy