The heckles and hairs on the back of my neck as I walked into Maine Road. I watched Jimmy Grimble when it came out and his first experience of Maine Road when he walks into the Main Stand stand and sees the Kippax opporsit lit up by floodlights on a night game still makes me full of pride and fills me up because thats what I always got from the very special football ground, you know, just know when something is right for you.

My first game was a friends birthday, it was Novemeber 1975, i was 10 years old and mad about City, i remember freezing in the main stand but City won 2-1 against Spurs, Alan Oakes and Peter Barnes i recall!, afterwards we walked up Oxford Rd and had beans on toast, a real treat then!. The day was topped off as my parents lived next door to Pat Jennings brother!, we gave him so much stick that weekend!, brilliant memories.

Remember sneaking in at tree quater time. Colin Bell was stretchered off after a terribel clash with Martin Buchan? I then went round to the front of the ground after the game and saw Colin Bell leaving the ground on a strecther and going into an ambulance. The King was never the same again. I will never forget that horrible scene.

The year was 1975. I was 7 years old.I was lucky, my Grandfather was the Head Groundsman at the Cheadle training ground. I visited the stadium in the summer, during the school holidays.
I didn’t know who was a hero at City but i soon understood who was.
“Do you want to see a football game?” was the question my father asked of me. “Why ? All they do is run up and down the field.” I replied.
I sat in the North Stand,the crowd roared,people i saw during the week prepaired to battle for a cause.
Peter Barnes controlled the ball. Five or Six opposision defenders found themselves perplexed as Barnesey teased and fainted left to right to cross the ball to Kidd.
A Goal!
This is my club, my history and our future.

My first home game playing for City was against Norwich in August ‘75.   I was used to big crowds from my time at Sunderland, I’d also played for England 13 times, but there was something special about Maine Road. City fans are a salt of the earth lot and the atmosphere was incredible.   I remember Helen ringing the bell behind the goal, and the players really enjoying the banter that accompanied it. Despite having played for a few clubs, I’m a City fan to this day.

I was a ‘purple’ as a kid. In the days when you could just turn up and pay on the gate my step-dad and step-brother would take me to watch the reds (cough) but my uncle took me to watch the Blues. My first ever game was Stoke away in 73 when I was 10. We drew 1-1 and Denis law scored on his first away game back with City. I turned somersaults on the railing in the away end before the game and fell off and cut my head open. I watched the game with the St Johns Ambulance guys in front of the advertising hoarding as a result and had the best view ever from behind the goal. Colin Bell was my hero and after he spoke with me following a corner, I was hooked from that day on. Being a kid I still got dragged to matches on the dark side occasionally but if my step-brother still had any doubts as to which way my allegiance was shaping then he was left in no doubt as I cheered Law’s goal in front of the Stretford End at the end of the season. I survived to tell the tale and despite the ups and, more usually, the downs, I would not have had it any other way. My kids are Blue through and through. Thanks Uncle. CTID.

Kenny

Not my first game, but the first i can clearly recall. Massive build up, going at it all week with mates from school. Freezing night, warmed by the vived colours of blue, white and red, the smell of Oxo and the whiff of pipe tobacco. The atmosphere was electric, with the Kippax a sea of heads ebbibg and flowing in unison. How could we lose. Inside the first minute Tueart scored and i was literally flying through the air. We played them off the park, the blue men against the red boys. 20 mins. or so it was 2 0 and up in the air I went again. Then Colin Bell gets injured, i can clearly remember the worry and concern as we all realised it was serious. It might be weeks before he would be back. If the truth was known i think many would have left then, in memory of a true world class player and gentleman. Bang 3 0, up in the air. Bang 4 0, up in the air. Truth is i’ve never come down since. 9 years old and in love with the Blues. 43 now and it gets stronger with age.

My first City game was a 1-0 win against Coventry in 1975. I was taken by my aunties parents.We sat on wooden seats in the main stan. The thing I remember the most is the size of the croud. I had never seen so many people in my life. The date was 22nd March 1975. Twenty Five yrs later my son was born. 22nd March 2000.

Steve Holmes

My first ever game was back in 1975 I went with my dad and his friends I was 8 years old. We walked there from West Gorton, past Victoria Baths. It took about 45 minutes, I always ran off in front. When we got nearer to the ground the place was buzzing with fans most of them singing walking down Claremont Road. I was so excited, I know it sounds daft but I remember getting this little fluttering in my belly the nearer I got. We got in the long line of fans waiting at the Kippax end to get into the ground. Once through the turnstiles, my dad went to get his programme and then made me go to the loo! He waited for me at the bottom of the stairs. We stood in the corner between the North stand and the Kippax.

I could hardly see but remember being more interested in the people around me making loads of noise, the enormity of the ground and the strange woman sat behind the goal ringing a bell. Half time came and my dad’s friend Frank got out his flask of coffee and a couple of toffees for me as a treat. For years I thought Frank was deaf, he always had an earpiece in, it was a long time before I realised it was the results from the other matches he was listening to.

I remember my favourite players being big Joe Corrigan and Gary Owen. I’ve heard people say “once a blue always a blue” and it’s true, it’s bred into you from an early age. I still get that buzz walking down Grey Mare Lane with my son towards the stadium. These days I’m proud to say I work at the Stadium, along with my dad and daughter.

I remember this as my first City match because of the score 5-1 to City, Dennis Tueart Hat-trick and a goal from Colin Bell, can’t remember who scored the other goal, I was in the Platt Lane end with my Dad.