City and Religion

[Tolmie scores]

It's important to remember how much the world has changed. Sectarianism has not been a thing in Manchester for a very long time, but it used to exist. My mother used to talk about the hostility between Protestants and Catholics when she was young.

But this is pretty much outside living memory. The first office I ever worked in (1971) included a lad from Langley who was both a City fan and a Catholic.

It was never as prominent as Liverpool... they had catholic bans on jobs at the docks etc...pretty openly...Manchester didn't ..possibly one of the reasons why we overtook Liverpool. Also Liverpool's wealth...openly built on slave trade ...very selfish capitalist lot considering a lot now 'profess' to be a bastion of socialism...just a bunch of know nowts

 

[Tolmie scores]

My Mum always used to say City were the protestant team and the rags the catholic team. She grew up in Chorlton (born in 53) and my Grandad was a protestant Glaswegian who supported Rangers. She seemed to think it was quite definitive, but I don't think there's much evidence for it. My Dad who grew up in Whalley Range used to go and watch both teams in the 60s. It seems to generally come down to parts of Manchester more than anything and the demographics associated with those areas.

Nope My family all City..Moston and Collyhurst...loads of catholic blues in Moston..despite the myth

 

[Zabbasbeard]

There's absolutely loads of us, that's why I can't stand some having a sneaky go at aligning us with the likes of Chelsea and Rangers - so far away in values from most of my City pals from school days. Don't get me wrong I was not in favor of half city / half Celtic hats that were going around in the 80's or flying the tricolor ..Although Dunney deserved that for his huge efforts for us yar after year. but..this right wing sh*te doesn't sit well with many

I can't stand it too and I'm the son of an atheist Dad (he was born a Hindu), and Methodist liberal-minded Christian Mum. City are most definitely not a sectarian or Protestant club despite those snide attempts by a minority.

Like you say, in my experience is that there are many, many City fans of Irish Roman Catholic descent.

When we are away at Walsall once, a bigot gave Nicky Weaver dog's abuse for crossing himself, and I told the bigot in no uncertain terms that we won't have any of that here and that he should fuck off to Rangers. Other Blues backed me up. He shut up.

I'm not particularly religious though nominally Methodist but I much prefer Celtic to Rangers for many reasons despite not being a Catholic.

 

[Citi-leaks]

Not sure if mentioned on this thread, but Matt Busby was a devoted catholic, and used to attend St Johns, in Chorlton cum hardy. In the early 70's, he fiercely campaigned against matches being played on a Sunday.

 

[IrishBlueSince92]

We've had loads of Irish players over the years, probably as many as any other club in England.

McCarthy. Quinn, Phelan, Kernaghan, Dunne, McGoldrick, Kennedy, Flood, Conlon, Given, Ireland, Scully, Cunningham, Bazunu, Jon Macken!

Used to see the odd tricolour at Maine Road.

Was there much abuse of the Irish around the time of the IRA bombing of Manchester?

 

[Suffolk Blue]

Well I'm certainly praying more at the moment - and I'm an atheist, thank God

 

[Ste68]

I’m also a left footer, of Irish heritage (Though a Newton Heath lad). Dad’s parents were Irish and he was City too (He also born in Newton Heath). My mum was Irish and City due to Dad (Though she did date Alan Kelly of Preston NE as a teen)

I think Manchester is very mixed in terms of heritage. My Mums side - all city with Irish heritage were Catholic and my Dads side were protestant and a mix of city and united. We were all raised Catholic as my dad was not interested in religion but did join the local catholic club because the beer was cheap. Honestly can never remember it being an issue and never in the thinking of who I would or would not follow.

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

The North West is the home of what I call The Lazy Irish. I feel I can say this as the son of one of them. To be fair I think my Dad stole a bike and cycled to Huddersfield initially. Al the Irish with anything about them got off the ferry at Liverpool and thought “fuck this” and got an a ship to America or Australia. They then founded Irish bars and sung incomprehensible drunken songs about the mist of Galway etc.

I haven’t read all 18 pages so don’t know if this came up. Despite being a Catholic (by birth, I believe in God but religion is fucking nonsense), I recall wearing the Manchester City and Rangers half and half hat in the 80’s. Cringeworthy I know, but I was young. The Scum had a Celtic half and half hat.

Christian’s killing each other is just mental. Muslims do it too (Sunni v Shia). Glad it’s not really a thing anymore re sectarianism in the North West. Got no time for Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs etc. I seem to recall a piece I read decades ago that Partick Thistle became the club to support if you were rejecting sectarianism in Scotland.

 

[philiph20]

We've had loads of Irish players over the years, probably as many as any other club in England.

McCarthy. Quinn, Phelan, Kernaghan, Dunne, McGoldrick, Kennedy, Flood, Conlon, Given, Ireland, Scully, Cunningham, Bazunu, Jon Macken!

Used to see the odd tricolour at Maine Road.

Was there much abuse of the Irish around the time of the IRA bombing of Manchester?

Tony Scully the wing wizard, forgot about him.

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

I much prefer Rangers to Celtic but not really arsed about the religious side. I'm not a practising Christian though I do believe in a higher power.