This was the game where Spurs had just signed Ardiles & Villa, in the close season after the ‘78 world cup. My dad took me and we sat in the Platt Lane End, on those wooden painted benches. I can’t remember if we won, think it was a draw. But I do remember that a couple of Spurs fans had infiltrated the blue ranks, but there was no animosity, in fact it was all very jovial, good natured banter, and unlike today, people were standing up, not just in their seats, but in the aisles too. It was very exciting to be in this huge hubbub of noise and passion, and as a 10 year old kid, seeing this vast theatre, filled with your heroes, just amazing!

After moving with family to Plymouth, some years earlier, it was a visit to family that coincided with the first game of the 1973/74 season, and the return of Denis Law. Two goals from Denis and another from Colin Bell saw City triumph 3-1 and I was allowed to stay up late to relive it on Match of the Day that night with my new silk scarf, which had the legend “Follow your Hart – go City” in honour of then manager, Johnny Hart, still tied around my wrist!

I still attend most games from Plymouth but no longer need permission to watch Match of the Day!

I remember my first game as if it was yesterday! My first visit to Maine Road at the age of 8 – Sitting on the wall at the front of the Kippax with the other kids – Not able to put your legs over towards the pitch! No fences in those days!

Borussia Mönchengladbach playing in green and white on a cold Wednesday night in March.

City scored first and I was in dreamland – Soon after my world was shattered – They scored to level the match and there 100 or so supporters in the bottom of the main stand went beserk!

I heard from my Dad a couple of weeks later that we had lost the away leg….. but no matter, I was hooked! The rest as they say is history!

Not strickly my first game, as I’d been going since 1967. It was however my first game as a Policeman. And I remember it so well. I was sitting to the left of the goals at the Platt Lane end and was watching a game, against whom I cant remember. I do remember City scoring, and out of the corner of my eye I saw the police man next to me rise.. “Great” I thought, “another blue” So i lept up and arms aloft cheered and shouted for all i was worth until i saw him facing the crowd, and realised thats what i should be doing… The fans near by gave me a little ear ache, but in good hummour and as i was OBVIOUSLY a blue, it was ok. I left the ground after and directed the traffic from Maine Road onto Claremont Road. – Chris

I think it was 1975…i was 7 years old and went with my Dad and older brother we sat in the main stand at maine road. I remember walking up the stairs and seeing the pitch for the first time it took my breath away! We beat West Ham 3-0 i think Alan Oakes scored twice. I was hooked and have been going ever since now my 7 year old has started down the rocky road and we wouldnt have it any other way!

I remember my first ever match as if it were yesterday.

I was born in Wythenshawe hospital in July 1968 and lived on Roundwood Road in Northenden until I was 5. This would be the reason I first became a City fan.

We moved to Fleetwood, near Blackpool to be near my grandparents.

Of course City lost 3-1 on the day with Brian Kidd scoring City’s only goal. I’m sure it was Cyrille Regis who scored a hat-trick for WBA.

My dad and my uncle Phil took me to the match in my uncle’s shiny Ford Granada and we sat in the Platt Lane stand on what could only be described as long, narrow wooden benches that my dad had to sit side on to squeeze his legs in! I think, at the time, they were referred to as “orange boxes”.
At half time I tasted my first ever Maine Road meat and potato pie – I am still finding the gristle in my teeth to this day!

My biggest memory, however, was hearing my dad sing “who’s the b£$%^&d in the black” for the first time – I will never forget it!

I didn’t attend another match until the early 80’s as my dad had lost interest and I couldn’t travel alone. I joined the Blackpool branch of the Supporters Club, bought a season ticket and went on the coach to, pretty much, every single match (home and away) for the whole of the 80’s and well into the late 90’s. Since 1998 I have been to as many matches as possible but with 2 daughters find it very difficult.
Now I live in France with my wife and daughters.

The UEFA group draw took place and we ended up getting Paris St Germain at home!
Oh well – let’s see if we can progress and get a French team away in the knock-out stages…

CTID
Andy Fildes

As a young boy I have to admit i nearly beacame a red, my mum told me City were the better team and at that time they were. My first game was away to Blackpool in January 1971. My Mum & Dad took me.It was cold day and the ground was packed. We managed to get on the ground just before kick off. The score was 3 all and I remember being disapointed we did’nt win. All in all looking back it was a great day seeing my hero’s for the first time. Summerbee scored twice & Bell got the other. – Dominic

My first ever City game, 9 years old, my dad bought me a City scarf on the way to the ground, some United fans were planning to relieve me of it (but my dad was a boxer from Ancoats so they thought better of it!!!!), still got the programme (priced 6p!) from the day, and Dennis Law scored the only goal,I can remember holding my scarf aloft in the Scoreboard End seats.As a kid, I didnt realise the enormity of the result in terms of what it meant to Manchester football. Happy days! Happy to be Blue – Sean

My 1st game was a Manchester Derby in the early 70s. It was at old trafford and we were 4 nil up when Brian Kidd scored a late consellation goal for the reds. Glyn Pardoe had his leg broken in a tackle with George Best. My older brother was a red and he took me in the Utd section of the stretford end! How I wished to have been amongst the City section that day. – Maurice

I was 10 years old it was a cold November evening and I was taken with my best freind Philip by his uncle – i can’t remember his name but I owe him my first city memory and my lasting admiration for taking my life into this vibrant and cheery community called City. We caught the “special” bus from aytoun street. We sat in the North stand and watched a 4-2 victory i think. Bright lights, grown ups all laughing and singing and we won, it was fantastic – caught my imagination, it was entertaining, it was about friendship, being part of a community feeling like i was being looked after by everyone around me – an amazing memory for a kid to grow up with – feeling part of something far bigger than my early years had ever experienced, watching my heroes play on that intense green pitch, with bright lights …fantastic – a blue for life from that moment no question… this community is part of my life.
Paul from Saddleworth