I have read “Shindlers twist†a couple of times and it got me to thinking.
We the supporters are proud of our roots, our Mancunian roots and many of us still love our roots enough to continue to live and work here.
It was not Mancunians (the supporters) who sold the club to a man from Thailand it was the shareholders, the owners of the club. The very same shareholders also appointed David Bernstein as chairman. He himself was just a hired hand.
What choice did the fans have in deciding who bought the club, as always the fans have no say in the decision making process. Nobody ever asks us our opinions. The majority of clubs are owned by individuals or corporations. Very few are owned by the mere supporter.
It was not a case of too many fans looking no further than the money.
What are we supposed to do, walk away from the club that we have supported for generations, just because the shares change hands again and again?
Owners may come and go, (and it may be that one day our new owners will move on) but the true fans, the supporters live on for ever and ever.
As a boy in the 60s I fell in love with Man City, I enjoyed the talents of Francis Lee, Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee et al and their talents blended together brought us success on the pitch. Of course over the years I have still been mesmerised with the footballing gifts and skills some players have displayed and still, yet still I have longed and yearned for a repeat of those heady days and the seemingly elusive success.
I have seen other clubs succeed where we have failed, but could I honestly support any other team? Could I really contemplate turning my back on my team just because one rich man has sold his toy to another richer man, or because our trophy cupboard is bare?
Of course there may be times when I have been angry and down right furious with the decisions that owners or managers have taken, I may have been infuriated with the way the team has played, the lack of pride and passion displayed. But turn my back? Withdraw my love?
An owner may purchase the shares, the buildings, the players, the rights to the club name. He may buy all the physical assets. For all these can be bought at a price.
But you see supporting Manchester City is in my blood, it is blue blood, it is a part of me. It is part of my life. No one can ever buy the piece of Manchester City that I have owned in my heart for over 40 years. It has never been for sale and it cannot be purchased. I breathe in Manchester City air, I walk Manchester City streets.
How can anyone who has ever truly loved Manchester City say “I want to love Manchester City again... but I just can’t?â€
To have lost that love that person must have somehow died. They must have lost all feeling and passion. They must have at some point given their love to another!
No one else may determine that which I will love. It is a decision I make. What is this Manchester City that I love? It is that team that takes to the pitch on match day, the players who take the hopes and dreams of thousands of Manchester City supporters into battle with pride. That group of men who go by the name of Manchester City, who wear the colours of Manchester City. This is my beloved Manchester City.
