My first City game was 30-01-1971 against Leeds United. Coming from a household where my two elder brothers and stepfather were United fans, I had been taken to Old Trafford on a number of occasions without thinking much of it (still don’t, come to that!)
However most of my schoolmates were Blues so I tagged along, not expecting much.
Despite losing 2-0 the atmosphere standing on the Kippax instantly had me hooked.
Being the only Blue in a United household made for an interesting evening 3 years later when Denis Law scored the winner and sent them down! Still one of the greatest days of my life.

My first game. I am not sure if it was 1979. It was a friendly at Somerton Park, Newport, my hometown and I was 8,there with my dad in the cromwell end. I was in awe of Corrigan Ranson etc. I was already a blue and was kitted out in my Asa Hartford shirt. The county beat us 1-0, I’m sure. This was early preparation for the ridicule I was to suffer as a city fan. Who Cares! It is better to have loved and lost…etc. Forever Blue, Tony in Bolton

i was 7 years old and had been to many city games before with my uncle lennie but this game i can clearly remember maybe it was we were taking my kid brother who would have been 4 years old at the time for his first game.Birmingham city were our oposition that day i remember it being a damp cold novembers day but that doesn`t dampen your enthusiam for watching the blues, we had seats in the north stand and our kid was blown away with all the noise and the size of the pitch. the game sticks with me because of colin bell who on this cold day was the only player wearing long sleeves, he controlled the game from the centre of the pitch with no one getting near him on that muddy surface. that day city ran out 2-0 winners with the king getting both the goals . when the first one went in our kid covered his ears and fell down the back of his chair because of the increase in volume but another true fan was brought into the fold that day.

My dad took me to my first City game in 1978 when I was 5. Dont remember the game much, although my fave at the time Mick Channon grabbed two, in a 2-2 draw. Colin Bell was also playing post injury. Didnt see much as I forgot my (national health obviously) specs so the pitch was just a blur. Remember the amazing flood lights and the roar of the kippax. Remember the flask of bovril and munching away wagon wheels (I think my dad had a pint). Remember feeling miffed that the maine stand had lovely looking blue seats and we were sat on Benches in the Platt Lane end. Think it was foggy too but that may have been down to my poor eyesight. Remember for ever trying to drive away from the ground along with seemingly 400000 other people. We parked near the toastrack building near plattfields (we dropped my mam off, so she could cut an old dears hair near there)

Loved it and went twice more before the end of the season. It would be 2 years before the next game and first game I saw us win. Southampton at home 3:0. My dad took me because Keegan was playing for them and there was a lot of build up to the game (I think hed just come back from Hamburg)

Maine Road has loads of memories but have neither time nor talent to portray them in an interesting fashion!!

Gary
..ex Reddish, now Munich Germany

My first trip to Maine Road was for a match v. Nottingham Forest with Peter Shilton in goal for Forest. I was 16 years old and loved City. Three older friends offered to take me along to Maine Road and as Im from Northern Ireland we took the Larne / Stranraer ferry across and drove down all Friday night until we got to Manchester. We reached Manchester at about 4.30 a.m. on Saturday morning. I was awestruck. Even in the dark I just wandered around the ground and my heart was pumping. I couldnt believe I had finally made a trip to Maine Road. We slept for a few hours in the car outside the old souvenir shop and when it was light we sat until the souvenir shop opened and I was buying loads of merchandise. I was like a kid in a toy shop. I wanted everything they had. Decided there and then I would come back many times and make many purchases! Even started collecting City badges and have approx. 300 at the moment and still collect them. The match itself ended 0-0 but I’ll never forget the atmosphere or the feeling. From that day it was something I would repeat many, many times (sleeping outside the ground in a freezing car). I went to a couple more the following season when I got a job, bought a season ticket for the Kippax for two seasons after that for £15 and saved and spent every penny I could to go and watch City. Im 46 now and I still love City as much now as I did then and I still travel over several times a season to watch my beloved Blues. The feeling going to the ground never leaves you.

The first City game I remember going to was on, Wednesday march 7th 1979 v Borussia Monchengladbach in the UEFA cup quarter final.

We had beaten the mighty AC Milan in the previous two legs 5-2 on aggregate.

It was a complete surprise to me that I was even going, “We have to get home quickly, you’re going to watch City tonight” said my Mum as we walked home from my junior school gates.

The City line up on the night was full of City legends. It included the likes of to name just a few Power,Donachie, Hartford, and Barnes.

I was so excited going to the game, and in the ground the atmosphere was electric. We drew 1-1 on the night but unfortunately lost the away leg and went out 4-2 on aggregate. It was too late though, I had been bitten by the City bug, and there was no turning back.

I remember fondly how I always wore my full kit to the games under my clothes, as my dad always told me that if they were short I might get a game. So I went to all those games with my full kit on complete with shin pads, and with my boots in a bag.

Funnily enough they were never quite that short, I never got on, but I never stopped believing.

I have stopped bringing my boots and shin pads now.

But you never stop believing.

In an attempt to lure me into supporting Arsenal, my Dad took me and my brother, (who had already decided on City), to Maine Road. I was only 3 at the time and I didn’t realise there were two halves to a game of football. So when City were 1-0 up at half-time I was heading for the exit, satisfied that we’d won and that they were the team for me. Unfortunately Arsenal equalised in the second half and the game finished 1-1. Even so, once a Blue always a Blue, even if it initially was for only 45 minutes.

In 1971 I was in my first year at senior school, and for the first time in my life I met people who actually went to the match.

So after saving for months and finally persuading my mum to let me go (I lied when I said that a friends dad was taking me)I managed to go to my first game.

FA CUP 3rd Round against Non League Wigan, it was sure to be a classic and we were bound to win at least 4 – 0 or so we all said as we walked to the ground from Piccadilly Station where the train from Handforth had dropped us off.

If I am being honest I cannot remember much about the game except that we won 1 – 0. but as an eleven year old, having his first big adventure without his parents I do remember sitting on one of the bars in the Kippax in amongst loads of big men… I thought I was all grown up

Needless to say when my mum found out that I had lied I never got to another match until the next season, when the North Stand was opened as a standing area for a season.

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.

I first went to Maine Road for my elder brother Craig’s birthday treat on an August evening in 1970 for a game against Blackpool, I believe. I was only 6 years old, I had just been enthused by Brazil in the World Cup and was looking forward to seeing live football. I can’t remember the score, all I can remember is that the North Stand was a building site and I kept saying to my Dad ‘Is that the real Franny Lee, like on the telly? And is that the real Colin Bell?’