A personal perspective - I grew up in a suburb of Stockport, Manchester City was my team of choice, the team my parents supported and the first game i went to was at Maine road. However as a football fan and having Edgeley park a easy bus ride away, when fixtures didn't clash usually on a Friday night i used to go and stand in the Popular Side and support County, even went on the odd away day, i remember going to Blackburn in the FA cup which is showing you how long ago it was. There was often banter between City and un@@@d fans and quite often chants of City and un@@@d , i dont recall it ever getting violent between them though. We were i suppose a bit of a family and there didn't seem any divisions on the terraces. (most seemed to have a affinty with either City or U@@@@d ). Not to say they didn't give the away fans a hard time though.
These were the days when County yoyoed between the old 3rd and 4th divisions, and we were a good top flight team, so there wasn't any real rivalry on the pitch to worry about, It always felt safe to have them as a second team. Things changed when we dropped and they actually became serious opposition on the pitch, it then didn't feel right to have them as a second team. Games between us became hostile and there was no love lost between the rival fans with numerous incidents, who's to say which fans started it. We always had our boys and County for a lower league team certainly had there own firm who were always up for it. Some City fans going to Edgeley park probably got a rude awakening, maybe a meat pie in the face, a coin on the head or something worse. Im probably right in saying they were probably the most inhospitable fans amongst are lower league neighbours and so hostilities have grown between us. I don't think there is so much animosity between a lot of City fans and any of the other local teams but maybe someone can correct me on that. Personally i still have a soft spot for County and when i saw posters about them needing cash and wanting seats on bums i actually thought about going. However I really would feel intimidated at Edgeley Park, i can imagine all the grief i would get from guys who know me as a City fan, maybe even a pie in the face. So unfortunately i think County have lost me and no doubt others who share similar views as potential bums on seats. However having said all that i certainly wouldn't wish them to go broke. Now throwing money in a bucket ummmm thats a dilemma, there forum has certainly not encouraged me but should we be dissuaded by a few internet hot heads?