I was never really into football when I was at school, but at Uni I got into it through some friends who are City fans. They had a spare ticket for the play-off final in May 99 and I couldn’t resist when they offered it to me – a trip to Wembley for my first game! I wore my new City shirt with pride and outside the ground I bought one of those big polystyrene hands to cheer on Andy Morrison (he was my fav player), Weaver, Dickov and the boys! After that game (what a comeback!) I was hooked and started to go to games more regularly. Soon Tiatto became my favourite player and I got his name on my shirt when I went travelling around Australia! I don’t go as much these days as I live in London but I always make it back for the big games (when the missus lets me!) – especially when we play United!

I was 10 days old when I went to my first City game. 17-08-94, West Ham. I was told I slept through the whole game, which is a shame! It just feels good to know that I’ve always been a fan, even from the youngest age possible. I wonder if it’s some sort of record..

My life started at the age of five, this was the time I attended my first ever match… and what a day. As soon I entered Maine Road with my dad on that cold windy day I was hooked. By now the result and apposition may no longer be a memory of mine, but that day I sat opposite the Kippax and I felt the buzz as they released their mighty roar and that will never be forgotten that noise that feeling will be with me all my life.

Three years ago my father died, this meant that I was unable to attend matches anymore, I was left fatherless and in some sense homeless. But now that I’m older I get the train into Manchester and attend every game without fault. When I sit there watching my beloved team I know my dad would be proud.

So was that first game the day I became a city fan? No, because as my dad once told me “you don’t choose to be city fan you’re born a city fan”. And I for one was born a blue.

Thomas Szalk (age 15)

I was only 4 but i could feel the atmosphere until the second half where i fell asleep but i was only 4

My first game was the coca cola cup fourth round against Newcastle, November 1994. I was gripped from the minute i walked into the umbro stand. The game was 1-1 and Rosler scored our equaliser. What I remember most was Keith Curle and Andy Cole having abit of an altercation and my memory maybe abit hazy but I am sure Cole kicked Curle up the bum…fond memories!! Once a blue always a blue!!

My path to City took me (I am a little ashamed to say) through Old Trafford. I had moved to Manchester a couple of years earlier, with my initial football affiliation being to Aberdeen. The links to Manchester football were, I’m afraid, more to the Red half of the city, and the people I was living with were leaning that way. I went a couple of times, but never really got the atmosphere – agressive “we’re better than you” attitudes when playing Bury in the League cup etc. A new member of teh shared house was a Blue, and one day sugegsted coming to Maine Road – a match against Bolton, in October, and City had yet to win a match. I went, and was bitten. Famous self-depreciating humour: none of the aggressive attitudes, and Kinkladze lightening up the game. He was quickly becoming the dominant force in the team, directing players all round the pitch, and City won. I never looked back, despite relegation that season and the next, and when crying my eyes out at Wembley in 1999, I realised something had changed for life.

I don’t remember much about the match itself because I was 4 (almost 5) years old. All I remember was we were in division 2, Danny Tiatto was sent off about 15 minutes into the match and we lost 1-0. Why I chose City after watching that I’m not quite sure, it must just be in my genes. But I don’t regret it one bit!

My first City match was against Southampton in March of 96, the one where Georgi Kinkladze burned four defenders before chipping the keeper for a goal. It was absolutely glorious, and it further affirmed my love for the club. CTID!

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.