My first City game was a drab 0-0 draw with Birmingham. It was a night match and I remember vividly how big and bright the Maine road pitch was under the four floodlights. By the way it was the noisiest match as i was sat behind Helen ‘The Bell’ which generated a great sound in the North Stand. RIP Helen Turner and RIP Maine Road.

This was my first ever game i went to, it was Norwich at home and it was a evening kick off. Cost me only six pounds to get in, i remember the walk through the tunnel and then i saw it. The hallow turf of Maine Road. After that nothing could keepme away from that ground i even had my work experince there. My mates tried to turn me to the dark side but will always be a blue.

Norwich, I was about 8/9 years old so it will be 1988/89 season, think we won 3-1. All i remember was the place was overwhelming. I had never seen that many people all in one place and my biggest memory of the day was a man a few rows in front of us, in the family stand at maine road, who spent the whole match waving a yellow banana. The cheering and singing was so uplifting. For a 9 year old it was an amazing experience and i’ve been hooked since. My favorite player of the time was Paul Lake until he got injured, what a shame. To this day my brother still laughs at the big grin on my face when the boys walk out the tunnel, nothing beats the feeling of excitement and anticipation at the start of a match. Maine Road lives on in all of us but lets make our memories turn our new house into a home.

My first ever game at Man City was the game vs. Stoke City in the 1986 / 87 season. Being a six year old, I remember odd things about the experience but (some would say thankfully) little about the actual football. I remember being utterly overwhelmed when entering the Main Stand. I had never seen so many people in one place. I can remember saying to my dad that there must be “At least a thousand people” in the ground. Given that I was six and a thousand was the biggest number I could imagine, you get the idea that the place was pretty full! I also remember the great sweeping noise of a stadium full of people roaring on a football match. It was enough to make you think you could take off and float away just on the noise itself. I even remember the lads my dad sat with (who must’ve been regulars) making a right fuss of me and making sure that I could see what was going on. Out of everything though, my most enduring memory was of the scoreboard. At the time it used to play several animations when certain things happened on the pitch. The one I remember seeing that day was every time a player missed by miles when shooting on goal, the scoreboard would play a little animation of a tank blasting a football over the crossbar and off into the distance. To this day there has never been a more apt display on a scoreboard anywhere! Needless to say the experience was enough to bring me back time and time and time again.

That was the first City game I attended at Maine Road. As a young lad of 8 years old it was my first memory of big league football. Going to the ground was amazingly exciting and an adventure in itself. Seeing the imposing height of the main stand and hundreds, no thousands of people milling around the gates was awe inspiring. Going through the gates and into Maine Road for the first time was a joy. I can still remember the unique smell of that ground which I experienced for the first time that day.

The most breathtaking element of my first game was walking up the flights of stairs and seeing the glorious Maine Road pitch for the first time. It literally took my breath away. All my dreams had come true. This was only topped when the crowd went wild with singing and chanting when we scored. With a mixture of slight fear and delight this 8 year old was hooked on football for life. I saw many fans carrying big inflatable bananas and I instantly knew I wanted one as soon as I got out of the ground. I was already part of the unique breed that is the quirky and loyal city support after 90 minutes.

As for the game itself, well I was so consumed with everything that was going on around me that the game is difficult to remember. I know that Paul Lake swallowed his tongue and lie motionless for a long time. As for the result. I know we hammered them – was it 4-2 or 5-2? I can’t remember!

My first game was against Watford at home in the old Division 2. I was sat on my dad’s knee in the Maine Stand with my brother. I must have been 5 at the time and my favorite player was Wayne Biggins. City won but I can’t remember the score it was either 3-2 or 4-2. Tony Coton was in goal for Watford that day.

I cant remember my first games at maine road as i was far too young, i remember the pies and the distinct smell of the old kippax wall by fences seperating the supporters from the pitch. however in the 88-89 season city, handed out 9 big thumpings to teams in div 2. my memory is the 4-0 win against bradford. paul moulden scoring two and ian brightwell scoring the other two, all scrappy but memorable all the same. fate would match the two last game of the season…trevor morley and that last minute goal….i got a fat lip during the celebrations as some guy decked me with a stray elbow…promoted….i didnt care.

I was seven when I went to my first match, it was an awful nil – nil draw on a wet and cold Saturday and was instantly forgettable. Which is why I can’t for the life of me remember who we played? I was a blue born and breed so the result wasn’t import to me but the atmosphere was electric. My Dad took me to the match, I remember how excited and nervous I was when we walked down the back cobbled paths of Kippax street with my Dad navigating me around the piles of dog poo. He always blamed that on United fans. We got in the ground and my Dad got me a city scarf which I still wear to matches now and the iconic inflatable banana. I remember walking down the tunnels to the Kippax, Bluemoon echoing all around me and it felt like I was going to walk out onto the pitch. Dad stood me at the wall with the rest of the kids and went to stand with the lads further back. I lost interest quite quickly and when the half time whistle went I walked over to him and asking if we we’re going home now, He just laughed and told me that I would have plenty more days like this while watching city but we never leave before the end. I spent the next 45 minutes sat on my inflatable banana on the Kippax steps. My dad sadly past away this year and like me he was always “City Till I Die” . Alan Garside 1957/2008

I was 9 years old when Uncle Tommy took me to Maine Road. U until then I had not really followed much football. We walked through the turn styles and I remember walking into the Kippax and he sat me on the standing rail and held me rather tight. As the stadium filled I reember the atmosphere gav me Goose pimples on m neck and arms. We played against Walsall to be honest I cant remember the result but it was the electrifing atmosphere that got me. I remember getting the findlands bus from moss side to town and as we were getting on the doors closed on me and I was bloody terified.. Didn’t stop me going back though. Love City throug and through. A week later my child minder gave me boys in blue on vinyl, I play it to my children now. – Greg