My first City was the promotion game against Charlton at the end of the 1984/85 season. Having always been a fan of football I had supported numerous clubs, glory hunting with Liverpool, following my grandad’s team, United, before finally settling down to following Altrincham around the country, home and away. My best mate, Woz, was an avid blue. He was season ticket in the Kippax and he invited me along to the Charlton game. Victory was required to ensure Billy McNeill’s side’s promotion to Division One. A full house at Maine Road roared a David Phillip’s inspired team to an easy victory and a well mannered pitch invasion. And that was it, 24 years later I’m now a long-term season ticket holder in the Family Stand with my youngest son, Thomas. I must admit the years in the lower leagues have been some of the best, winning promotions with Joe Royle and King Kev the highlights. Favourite game Blackburn away to gain promotion to the Premiership. Favourite player, Big Niall. Stick with Sparky and the kids coming through and success will finally come our way I’m sure.

My dad took me to see city play brighton at maine rd on the 23rd of feb 1985, the night before he told me he’d only take me if it was’nt raining, so i stayed up half the night peeping out the window to check the weather,anyway no rain thankfully, and through the platt lane turnstile we went, i remember just seeing a glimpse of the the pitch through the tunnel that lead to the seats and being mesmerised, once in i must have changed seats ten times just to take it all in, much to dads displeasure! i can hardly remember any of the game just being in awe of maine road, i can remember both goals in a 2.0 win gordon smith and david phillips, i still have the programme and have been to hundreds of city matches since, but that first glimpse of the maine road turf will live with me forever!

On a sunny May afternoon there we was leaving as it as late as possible we had to beat Charlton to win promotion to Div 1. I had already thrown a sicky at work and off I went to Maine Road. City stormed into the lead after only a few mins and I decided in my infinate wisdom as David philips scored the opener at the North stand end to run on the pitch and celebrate forgetting that my manager from work was also a blue and guess what after the game was shown om Match of the day I recieved a call from my supervisor advising me That I had been spotted by my manager! Luckly for me with him being a blue I claimed mistaken identity with a rhy smile

my first game was at maine rd in 85 we were playing everton.me and my dad went to the game and the only tickets he could get were in the maine stand behind the POST didnt see much and we lost god i love the blues !!!!!

Thursday night, 6th Feb, 1985. My first City game. My Dad managed to get hold of a couple of tickets for the second replay between City and Watford. We took our seats in the North stand, about half way up, behind the goal. It was freezing. I don’t remember much about the game, apart from seeing John Barnes wearing tights and gloves in the second half. We lost 3-1 in typical City fashion, but I was hooked. The atmosphere at Maine Road was electric. A very special place indeed.

I had grown up supporting my local team Altrincham and had no allegiance to either city or united (though I never liked united!!). All that changed in 1985 when I went with my elder brother and his mates to watch City play Notts County away on May Bank Holiday. I was 18. If City won they were promoted to the old div 1 and were playing a team who were already relegated – so there were hardly any Notts County fans there – it was full of City – many in fancy dress. The atmosphere was superb – which was more than can be said for the football. By half time we were 3-0 down and it was kicking off everywhere – some had even got in the dressing room and I remember Billy McNeil coming out on the pitch trying to calm everyone down. I remember thinking – if this team is so bad how come everyone is here – whats the attraction? I suppose there are thousands who still think that now but I know from that day I was hooked…we ended up losing 3-2 – Paul Simpson got both our goals…..and 23 years later I’m still trying to work out what the magic is but I know it will always be there.
CTID.

This is my first real memory of City, I was 12 years old, I went to the game, sat (but spent most of the match stood up I was so excited) in the North Stand, just to the left (Kippax Side) of the net about 9 rows back from the front, the sun was shining, Maine Road was packed to the rafters (our kid was in the Kippax), the singing was as loud as I have ever known and was start to finish. I remember Simpson’s goal when he took it off the foot of the keeper and then Dave Phillips whacked a 25 yard screamer into the bottom corner (the video is on You Tube). The final whistle went, fans (including me) climbed the fences and invaded the pitch. There were hundreds on the pitch carrying the players to the tunnel and the players came back out of the dirctor’s box in the Maine Stand to applaud the fans and take the accolades. It was just a dream day, one I will never forget. One of those days where everything was perfect.

Being born a City fan, i was desperate to go to Maine Road but had no one to take me, until finally age 10 i got to go to Maine Road. November 12th 1985, yes ok it was actually only a reserve match but to me it was awe inspiring! I can still remember exactly how exciting it felt, entering the Main stand, with the swooping staircase in front of me, and walking up the steps to see the pitch emrge before my eyes.. heaven. The little sign on the Kippax roof “welcome to Maine Road”. It was bitterly cold, but 10 year old me enjoyed every second, and was spellbound by the action. We even managed to win – we beat Aston Villa 2-0. So, just the reserves it may have been, but for me it was the start of my lifetime of worship at Maine Road, i even got my mum hooked!

man city vs swansea city 4-0
Reply to this memory »
this was first game my dad took me to we sat in the north stand and what a game it was brill and been a blue ever since i met my wife mandy at a city match and are first date was man city v blackpool in 80s in the fa cup and now our children go to the matches with us we are all season ticket holders in the north stand

Dave Walford

My Dad took me to Maine Road for my first game in 1985 against Southampton when I was seven years old. We left the ground 5 mins before the end as we always did to beat the traffic! I hated that! We won the game 1-0 and we missed the goal scored by David Philips,apparently? In school the next day I told everybody that we had scored against Peter Shilton as I thought he was a great keeper. I never told them I missed the goal though? That was the first time I ever felt that unbelievable rush of pride and excitement when MY TEAM ran onto the pitch. I was completely hooked from then on, thank you Dad.