Comeing from a small village in derbyshire when going to my first game I had no connection to manchester it was just a case of a mate from school asking me if I wanted to go and watch a football game.
Was a few days before my 7th birthday and when told we where going to manchester and hang my head in shame because I got all excited thinking I was going to watch some other team from the outskirts of the city, I was even more confused when one team came running out in a horrible red colour.
I got a level headed start though we lost against sheff utd, the season ended ended well though it was 1974 and we all know who went down.
Not being local I've traveled by car,bus,train,motorbike and hitched to get the 70 miles to games.I'll even admit 1985 season after being a naughty boy and being on day release, my mate picked me up and we headed straight too manchester for the derby even though I knew wouldn't make it back in time and it cost me 4 extra weeks at her majes pleasure and just to maKe my extra stay worth while we lost that 2 or 3 nil.
Todays glory hunter/tourist/first football game may well turn out to be tomorrows die live for city fan for the rest of thier life.
Welcome them all with open arms,to the humour and banter you get at a City game which no other club can match.If the results are not going well this along with the passion for the club will keep them like many of us turning up year on year.
P.s I've wised up to the traveling and even after many warnings got myself a manc woman . I confess it wasn't the accent that was the attraction and after virtually moving there now I will over the next few years try and get her to speak correctly ;0)
