I was 16 and just started earning my own money, i’d never had the money to go until then. We were playing Derby County and i remember the buzz from just walking from the A6, down Dickinson Road and Claremont Road, hearing the fans before i could see Maine Road. Feeling the atmosphere building as i walked up the steps to emerge at the back of the old Kippax. Niall Quinn scored early in the game and it was him that replaced Tony Coton in goal after he brought down Saunders. Quinny saved Saunders penalty and to me became an idol in that moment. We won 2-1 and Derby were relegated on that result.

I’ll always remember this game as the first time I fell in love with Manchester City at the age of 11.

I was mesmerised by the ramshackled homeliness of Maine Road, of the rattle of Big Helen Turner’s bell and of my dads infectious enthusiasm, but nothing could prepare me for the comical situation City found themselves in when Tony Coton brought down the ever dangerous Dean Saunders and saw red. Without a sub keeper, Quinny had to go in goal. He couldnt look less like a goalkeeper – and his face was a picture! The Quinn snarl we called it!

He’d already scored in the game and now he was donning the gloves. We’d be lucky to get a draw now I thought.

Nope…none of it. Like the legend he was the great man flung himself to his left and saved the penalty like he was Dino Zoff!

The game had everything, emotion, ecstacy and the prevailing feeling of ‘we’ve blown it’ only for City to make us feel stupid for ever doubting them. We went on to win 2.1, despite Quinny blundering a late cross to let Mick Harford pull one back and ensure the final ten minutes were the customary nail biting panic stricken purgatory!

These moments of insanity, of desperate measures and of ultimate joy in the face of despair are what being a City fan is all about. And on that day, for me, there was no looking back.

….The seeds were well and truly sewn!

the first game i went to was QPR awy in 1991. Wow what a game, a Tuesday night, freezing cold!
Lots of beer, there must have been at least 200 of us there, wow we were brilliant, 1-1 draw what a result, i love city me were mad!

I was eight year’s old. I cant remember the exact date or even what night of the week my first game was on but I know we where playing Liverpool and I was sitting with my Mam in The North Stand. I was a long way from home being born and bread in Newcastle and the trip down although routine now, seemed to take forever. The first thing that springs to my mind when I think back was the smell and the hustle and bustle as people snaked along roads and allyways making there way to the ground. I can remember seeing the flood lights and I knew that lights that big had to be for something special something very important. I regret that i cant remember many details of the game that followed I know we 2-1 and was some what bemused at all the excitement when we scored. The one single thing that sticks in my mind the most about that evening was being sat on a wall on a walkway in the Noth Stand by my Mam and people walking past smiling at me and patting my head everybody laughing and sininging. I had never seen so many happy people in one place at one time. I felt like i belonged, even though i’m a geordie i’m one of the family and always will be i know i am i’m sure i am C.T.I.D. One Love.

My 1st game was city v derby in april 1991, what a quality day. I was a 10 year old boy coming from a family of utd fans,and always havick the mick taken out of me by my friends for being a city fan. There was just my grandad and i supporting city, We started out in plenty of time from my grandads house in shropshire , with a box full of honey sandwiches , but the time we got to the ground all were gone , an i was getting very nervouse , he mannaged to buy to tickets in the family stand , all i can remember are all the inflatable bannana`s across in the kippax. and witnessing city romp to a 5-1 win and also see the great niall quin go into goal and save a penalty . !!! what a 1st game and what a memorey .

Its Saturday 20th April 1991, the Suns beaming down on Maine rd and my dad , myself aged 8 and my brother 10 at the time, were getting squashed by thousands of extatic city fans in the good old Kippax stand (when you could stand).
Niall Quinn had already scored for City that afternoon then i heared a massive roar come from my right. It was the away fans screaming for a penalty. Tony Coton had brought down Dean Saunders to give Derby a vital penalty. Coton was sent off as a result whom then gave the gloves to Niall Quinn , which was rare then for a striker to take over in net.
Dean Saunders stepped up to take the penalty , I was at this time on my dads shoulders because i wanted to see all the drama.
And Niall Quinn has saved it ! The crowd are going wild cheering and screaming. ‘Blue Moon’ it was so loud it could have been heared from as far away as Wythenshawe !
As a result, Derby were relegated.
I told all my friends about that amazin save for weeks.
I will probably remember
that afternnon for the rest of my life !

Chris Rafferty,
Northern Moor
Manchester

April 1991. City are on their way to fifth place in Division One. Peter Reid is the next big thing in English management and I was seven.
I remember when I was a toddler, I’d see my dad leaving to go and se City play. I desperately wanted to go with him, but not until then did he think I was old enough.
For some reason, we sat in with the Palace fans, but that didn’t diminish my support. (Much to my fathers concern) It was a fantastic game with Niall Quinn scoring a fantastic hat-trick and David White tearing down the wing. I even think Quinn managed to kick one in! I was amazed at his celebration spinning his arm around as he ran to the side.
After the game, dad bought me a cheap scarf from a vendor outside the ground. It is still something I treasure and still wear to CIty games whenever I can get to them.

My dad took me to my first city game against Derby county at maine road. In truth he only took me so he could see Peter Shilton! As it happens Shilton didn’t play but what a game. TC was sent off for a trip in the box. This was the days before 25 substitutes so Niall Quinn went in net and saved the penalty. i think Dean saunders took the penalty, but not 100 % sure.Can’t wait for my 2 and 3 year old to go to their first games.

After 5 or 6 years of supporting City from afar in a country domintated by Liverpool and United fans, my first pilgrimage to Maine Road came at the start of the 1991-1992 season, August 24th, for the visit of Crystal Palace. We’d won our first two matches, beating Coventry and Liverpool, and after grinding out a battling 3-2 win, we were top of the old First Division. I recall some goals from Mark Brennan, and I think one from SWP’ dad. To round it all off, a huge haul of autographs was crowned by the addition of the immortal Colin Bell. Amazing

Maine Road on a Wednesday night in August as a ten year old. I was on school holidays and my Dad and I flew over from Dublin in the afternoon for this game.

I remember arriving on Wilmslow Rd curry houses walking towards Maine Road with hundreds of heads bobbling towards the ground as we walked down Claremont Rd.

When we got into the Maine Stand I remember reading all the adverts across on the Kippax for ages.

Of the match I remember one of David Whites goals not sure which one it was but I always modeled the run he made after that night. It was an awkward lean towards the ball.

Since then I’ve been hundreds of times and I know one day all of the Manchester City family will be clebrating that elusive major trophy we so deserve.