Being born in 1956 while we owned a shop in Kippax Street probably meant I was always destined to be a Blue. We moved away to Ardwick and returned to Rusholme in the early 60s. I used to sneak into Maine Road when the gates opened about 15 mins from the end but could never usually see anything.
Then my Dad told me he was going to take me to the Huddersfield game on New Years Day in 1966. We went and I sat on the wall at the front of the Kippax. What a fantastic feeling! The only other thing I can remember was we won (1-0 I think). However that was the beginning of 42 years and counting.
CTID

It was Easter Monday, 2nd April 1945. My friends were all with their families; I, a 13 year old only child, found myself at a loose end so decided to get an all day bus ticket on the number 50 departing from Sale. Football was certainly not on my mind. Sale was a rugby union stronghold and soccer, as it was contemptuously called at my school, was a dirty word. My parents, neighbours and friends had no interest in the game so City, United, etc. were just words on the sports pages of the Manchester Evening News.

I carried an A to Z of Manchester to identify the buildings that I passed and my habit was to get off and investigate anything that I thought to be of interest. Travelling along Princess Parkway and approaching Moss Side I noticed masses of people arriving and converging to a point before disappearing between the buildings. “This is exciting”, I thought, “better find out what is going on”. I alighted and was immediately accosted by a seller beating off his competitors for my one (old) penny programme which screamed, from its editorial front page, “Stockport’s Advantage”. Yes indeed, a football match featuring Manchester City v Stockport County with, apparently, a number of key players not available. The prediction was correct; City lost 1 – 5!

Following the throng, I passed sights long since gone. Some were tragic, ex professional footballers with placards around their necks detailing their clubs and histories begging for a few coppers, others more pleasant with traders selling rosettes and souvenirs from their barrows. There was no segregation with all supporters intermingling and approaching the ground together. Then I saw it standing before me, Maine Road! Never had I seen anything so big The grandstand towered above me, I entered through the turnstile an took the steps to the very top and the stadium opened up before me. I can still feel the awe that I expeienced that day; If this is football I want to be part of it!

As for the match itself, all I can remember is my first idol – Frank Swift. A charismatic showman who enchanted all. City may have seen better goalkeepers but none had the charm of big Frank. He was particularly loved by the kids and in those days, when keepers stayed on their line, he kept up a constant chatter with the boys behind his goal who would arrive 3 hours early to ensure their spot.

Now, 63 seasons later, I am enjoying my football more than ever. I have experienced good times and bad but there is nothing that beats being a City fan. I often think back to this eventful day that started me on this long journey and, bearing in mind that United shared the ground, I give thanks that it was City playing on this eventful day otherwise, horrors of horrors – I might have ended up a red!

My Dad had got us into a box at Maine Road for my 5th birthday and although I was very young, it was so memorable. I remember being given a signed ball by the team and when we were eating our meals, the legend that is Mike Summerbee walked in to meet us, and I also remember he kept pinching my chips!! I also remember sitting in our seats about an hour after the game and seeing Garry Flitcroft leaving the ground, we shouted to him and he waved back at us! 1-1 wasn’t the greatest result in the world, but it was of my greatest days, City ‘Til I Die!!

My first ever City game was against Plymouth Argyle in August 1987. City had just been relegated from division 1, along with Villa and Leicester and Mel Machin was in charge. The team contained the likes of Paul Stewart, Andy Hinchcliffe, Steve Redmond, Ian Brightwell, David White and a certain, very talented Mr Paul Lake.

It cost me £1.50 to stand on the Kippax and my brother and I were one of the first in, taking our place above an entrance tunnel in the Kippax. The players came out to warm up and I didn’t have a clue who they were, but I clapped them anyway. As the ground began to fill, I felt the atmosphere building. Songs started and the few Plymouth fans in the Platt Lane end just sat there, silent.

Finally, the team emerged to an electric welcome. I had never clapped so much for so long. My hands were killing me when we’d finished The game got under way and I expected a goal almost immediately, but it was Plymouth who scored first and by half time it was they who led one nil. I looked downcast. My brother asked me if I regretted coming. I said no, but secretly thought yes. The bloke next to me, some strange guy wearing all blue was listening to the half time scores on his 1950’s radio. He told us he was really a Spurs fan, but preferred watching City. If I wasn’t already a confused teenager, that comment would have sent me in the right direction.

The second half got under way and City toiled away without reward and the fans were getting restless. You could sense defeat in the air. Then, on 82 minutes, I don’t know how it happened, but Paul Stewart equalised, sending usabsolutely nuts, but almost immediately from the kick off, Plymouth scored again. I couldn’t believe it. Then the Kippax gave a rousing cheer as the ref disallowed it (offside I think).

The minutes ticked away adn in the 90th minute, Imre Varadi knocked the ball past the Plymouth keeper. I couldn’t believe it as the fulltime whistle went. City had won 2-1. I went home unable to wait until the next home match. Blackburn. Stood next to the weird bloke in blue. We lost 2-1.
That’s City for you.
-Pete

The home Central League match against Coventry City in 1979, will always mark, for one three year old who was in the crowd, a seminal life changing event.
The tightly packed streets that surrounded Maine Road, disguised a huge stadium, who’s floodlight reached further than I could see. In the ground the maze of corridors, and the smell of Bovril greeted me. I then climbed the steps to be met by an ocean of luscious green, and a huge bowl of terraces and seats. I don’t know what the score was or what players played that day, but what I do know is that I instantly fell in love, with a team that could infuriate me, put me in ecstacy, make me laugh, make me cry-but a team I could never leave, I would always be a blue.

My first ever Man City game was back in 1999 at Wembley Stadium for the Division 2 Playoff final Vs Gillingham. What A first game? I always wanted to go to Wembley after being glued to the TV during Euro96 and was given the chance to 3 years later.

I don’t think anyone could have asked for a better game! Coming back from behind at the stroke of full time taking it to extra time and then penalties. Some City fans were leaving in the last few minutes and then when news came through that City had equalised they came running back in.

It was a day of firsts for me:
First City Game
First Time on TV
First Time (and sadly last time to Old Wembley)
First Radio Interview
First experiences of a Penalty Shootout (not on TV)
First time in a crowd bigger than 15,000
Was also a record breaking attendence for a div 2 playoff final with some 79,000+

Still to this day been my favourite game. This was the awakening of a footballing giant

I am 2 nearly 3. My daddy took me to the game and bought me the kit. It was great I met Moonbeam and Moonchester when City scored the first I cried a little but as then goals went in I got more used to it so by the time 3 4 5 and 6 went in I was cheering with my daddy an Brother I love Robinho SWP Jo Elano in fact everyone in the Blue of MCFC!

My first City game was when I was 8 watching us play out a 0-0 draw down on the south coast at Dean Court. The ground was so old we had to lean on rusting gates and squint a bit so we could see the pitch which seemed to have a hill around about the centre-spot mark, making it quite difficult to adjudge what was actually going on! Nevertheless, being there after hearing so many stories from family about City was something else- it didn’t matter that we played pretty badly, or that we had two sent off, and we couldn’t see the other goal- it was a City match and nothing can beat that!

As a fresh faced Seventeen year old, with two other friends in the car I headed to Manchester from Bath, a mere 355 mile round trip. It was a game which would change me forever. On arriving at Maine Road we were met by the City legend and true gentleman, Tony Book (Sir Tony Book). Coming from Bath himself, he’s good friends with my friend’s dad and had arranged tickets for us. That day he went out of his way to be there early so he could give us a guided tour of the stadium. Changing Room, Warm up area and I was pretty much hooked in already. We were later ushered into a supporters bar for a cheeky pre match drink and the atmosphere was electric. Well I thought it was until the game itself.
I think Sunderland needed to win and other games to go there way to stay up. I remember being in the main stand and when they scored, pockets of Mackems jumped up everywhere, without the hint of any trouble. Credit their away support that day. I don’t remember much about the game itself but have since watched it on You Tube with a lump in my throat. We eventually ran out 3-2 winners, courtesy of the great Niall Quinn. We also had the opportunity to go into the Players Lounge after the game but unfortunately the others weren’t so keen on staying. The high I was on I could have stayed there all night and then flew home….The long journey home was full of chat about the day and made it seem only a few miles away. I remember having a cheeky pint of Triple Crown on my return to Bath… and there a blue was born, City Till I Die!!

It was an incredible experience, one of the special days in my life. To witness that performance in my first game was incredible. If you had asked what my wildest dream would be, my best-case scenario for that game, there’s no way it would have never have been 6-0! It was fantastic, I will never forget that day but I see more days like that coming ahead. City fans are special, I have been to many Premier League games before but there is no question that there is something very special about our fans here at City. That hit me the moment I walked into the stadium that day, it is something I hold very dearly.

- Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak