Very true.. and The Red Filth over the road have been just as bad down the recent years.
From being a kid first attending Maine Road I remember how City fans at either end of the ground would always applaud opposition goalkeepers as they made their way into the penalty area. This was especially so of Gordon Banks and also Everton’s Gordon West. The same happened all over the country. I think part of the reason was that everyone identified with the crazy gang that was the ‘Goalkeeper’s Union’.. you had to admire anyone who was barmpot enough to join that particular club! You’d get the occasional catcalls from kids near the front or a few bog-rolls being lobbed but, by and large, most goalkeepers were treated with respect.
The first time I ever witnessed poor behaviour to a ’keeper was in early 1973 when at OT for the game against Everton. I think that was the game Lou Macari made his debut for them. I was only there because as a student, I’d travelled back to Manchester to play against Manchester University and one of my teammates, who was the brother of Mick Lyons of Everton, had got us all tickets to go to the game that night.
On running towards the Stretford End, Everton’s ‘keeper David Lawson was met by the whole stand applauding him, as I said above in common with how crowds reacted to opposition goalkeepers. As soon as he raised an arm in acknowledgement, cue 10000 ‘v-signs’ and a chorus of ‘Who the f-ing hell are you?’ and belly-laughter all round from the United contingent.. (bit like P G Wodehouse’s phrase that ‘Aunt Augusta’s laugh was so loud, had there been an aisle available, it would have rolled in it..’)
From then on it was a slippery slope, I’m afraid..!
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