My first game was Ciry v Sunderland at Maine Road 1980. My dad took me and we sat on the woodern seats in the Platt Lane end. The one thing i remember was what a great atmosphere and noise generated by the Kippax and i ask my dad for a cup of tea as it was so cold, by the time he got back City had scored 2 goals and he wasn’t too pleased he missed them! But we won and that was all that mattered.

One of my first games, still watch the highlights now, what a game!! According to my Dad I would always be at the front of the Kippax playing football with the other kids around there being 5 at the time I can’t remember much from then. Could’nt beat the Kippax for atmosphere and standing up always knowing where your place would be, huddled up with the fans, walking through the tunnel with rubbish at your feet and the smell of beer and fags and wee!!!! Wish we could go back to then!!!

The game that confirmed City’s promotion. I was 8 years old when my uncle took me. Stood at the front of the Kippax. I had never heard noise like it. Goals flying in. I can still remember Dave Phillips hitting a screamer. It was a total carnival. I was hooked during the game. I learnt a few songs so near the end i was joining in. I really loved it and have ever since

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

First visit to Maine Road in December 1985, (visiting from South Africa), and City weren’t looking so good near the foot of the table, and we had to play the mighty Liverpool! Caught an early morning bus from Cheltenham along with my cousin Chris, and ate a great steaming hot dog outside the gorund in the freezing weather, taking in all the excitement and atmosphere for the first time – standing in the Kippax stand, witnessed great close game, with Nixon a star in goal, and we knicked a 1-0 win, (Wilson scored I think?), to start a run that would confirm our safety that season!!!! Followed them to Villa Park, & Walsall away in the FA Cup, as well on that visit in 1985, and witnessed 3 wins out of 3 for a 100% win/attendance record!!!! (Maybe you need to get me to more of our games?!!!) – Neil

I was 6 years old when my Dad decided I was old enough to attend my first City game. It was against Bristol City on April 19th. We went with our next door neighbour Ron, in his old Talbot Sunbeam. I had been supplied with an enormous bag of swwets to keep me occupied incase I was bored. It was a warm, sunny day and we sat in the North Stand, quite close to the front. To be honest, I remember very little of the game, but I am reliably informed that we won 3-1 with goals from Michael Robinson, Kaz Deyna and Dennis Tueart.
I loved the atmosphere more than the football at that age and I remember watching the Kippax rather than the football most of the time. – Anthony

John Bond was manager and kevin Bond had just been signed. City came to Leyland Motors to offiially open their new floodlights.
i haven’t a clue what the score was, I was about 10 years old and had pestered my Dad to take me.
City sent out a strong side , and I remember asking John Bond for his autograph whilst he was sat on the bench.
After the game I hung about outside the changing room, autograph hunting, and the kit man gave me a sock tie that had been left on the floor!!! Some things are magical to kids!

I was 9 years old, and all through the Summer I had been bugging my Dad, previously a Red, to take me to see City play. Almost everyone else at school was a Red and, like my Dad, couldn’t understand why I wanted to watch second tier football. But even then I know there was something special about City that I just had to be part of.

So, first home game of the season 1987/88 season, after just being relegated from Division One, there me and my Dad were in the Family Stand, cheering on the Blues against Plymouth Argyle. We won 2-1, Perry Suckling dropped a howler for their goal I remember, but that was it – I was hooked for life. McNab’s tenacious tackling, Kenny Clement’s immaculate perm and ‘tash, Paul Lake’s grace, Moulden, Stewart, Varadi and White forming a deadly and quick forward line, and the sound of The Kippax ringing proud across Manchester regardless of the result – City were obviously something very special. My Dad immediately dropped all ideas of taking me to the other side of Manchester, realising also that only City could offer such a special experience (and at half the price too…)

In the next few games that followed we saw a 10-1 win against Huddersfield (then got beat by them 0-1 in the return leg!), the inflatable banana craze and the emergence of a young City side that the following season would deservedly regain top flight status.

Sat 21st November 1981. We won 4 nil against Swansea at Maine road. I was 10. My dad had promised to take me to a first team game although I had been to loads of reserve games with him as he used to help out by taking the elderly to either city or united reseve games (they were free admission).

He was a red too!! This was it. From memory Tuert scored a hat trick and thats it. I sat in the Main stand and had bovril at half time. Sometimes the memories come flooding back as a faint whiff of bovril fills the air I can still see Dennis wheeling away scoring another.

Aston Villa at Maine Road on 23rd August 1980. I was 7 years old.
Driving to the ground with a City scarf flying from the car window.
A gang of kids asking my Grandad to ‘mind his car’.
The hustle and bustle of going through the turnstiles and being asked by some young kid if he could ‘double up’ with me.
My Grandad buying me a programme.
Walking up the steps of the North Stand and being gobsmacked by the size of the pitch.
Being given sweets by my Grandad’s mates.
The singing.
Peter Withe scoring at my end to put Villa ahead.
Looking up at all the grown ups around me stood up cheering when City scored.
Getting home and reading my programme over and over again whilst ‘Jim’ll fix it’ was on the tele.
Happy days.
Nearly 700 games later and I’m still going strong and have just taken my son to his first game. My late Grandad has a lot to answer for ! Rest in Peace ‘Big Friend’.