First game....

Z Z

Zabbasbeard

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Manchester City
Forty years ago today, on 1st November 1980, was my first visit to Maine Road. My parents were newly separated and Dad was looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon. I liked football but had been more into cricket so didn't have a team of my own as such, even at 15. City were bottom of the old First Division but the team played with great spirit. What grabbed me most was the fans, chanting "We love you City we do" to a team that was rock bottom in the league. Paul Power, Dave Bennett, Nicky Reid, Joe Corrigan and one Gerry Gow, making his debut, stood out to me. Particularly Gerry Gow. Dave Bennett missed a good chance but Paul Power scored the winner and everyone went home happy. The fans, the players, the ground, the aroma of soup, pies, beer and tobacco were a heady mix that I will never forget. I was bitten by the bug that day. I wanted more. I wanted to be one of those fans. Despite the mostly thin and thinner of the first 28 years, 5 relegations, 5 promotions and the latent success of the last 10 years, I've never regretted a moment. The lows, as painful as they were, have made the highs that bit better. Thanks Dad even if you're no longer with us. Here's to a few years more...

What was your first game? What grabbed you!? Maybe you were already a Blue.

Manchester City vs Norwich City, Division One (Old), Sat 01 November 1980

Details of every game played by Manchester City Football Club
bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk

Thanks Ric, Gary, Colin and co for this site. Love it.
 
Last edited:
Zabbasbeard said:
Forty years ago today, on 1st November 1980, was my first visit to Maine Road. My parents were newly separated and Dad was looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon. I liked football but had been more into cricket so didn't have a team of my own as such, even at 15. City were bottom of the old First Division but the team played with great spirit. What grabbed me most was the fans, chanting "We love you City we do" to a team that was rock bottom in the league. Paul Power, Dave Bennett, Nicky Reid, Joe Corrigan and one Gerry Gow, making his debut, stood out to me. Particularly Gerry Gow. Dave Bennett missed a good chance but Paul Power scored the winner and everyone went home happy. The fans, the players, the ground, the aroma of soup, pies, beer and tobacco were a heady mix that I will never forget. I was bitten by the big that day. I wanted more. I wanted to be one of those fans. Despite the mostly thin and thinner of the first 28 years, 5 relegations, 5 promotions and the latent success of the last 10 years, I've never regretted a moment. The lows, as painful as they were, have made the highs that bit better. Thanks Dad even if you're no longer with us. Here's to a few years more...

What was your first game? What grabbed you!? Maybe you were already a Blue.

Manchester City vs Norwich City, Division One (Old), Sat 01 November 1980

Details of every game played by Manchester City Football Club
bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk

Thanks Ric, Gary, Colin and co for this site. Love it.
Click to expand...

Great post mate.
 

This was mine and I was nearly 4. My old man took me and we sat in the bottom of the North Stand. Remember absolutely nothing about the game but remember City won and the noise overwhelmed me. Hooked ever since. Cheers Dad​

​

Manchester City vs Liverpool​

Division One (Old)
Sat 14 September 1974.

Score: W 2-0

Attendance: 45194

video-icon.png
View footage





Team​

  1. Keith MacRae
  2. Colin Barrett
  3. Willie Donachie
  4. Mike Doyle
  5. Jeff Clarke
  6. Alan Oakes
  7. Mike Summerbee
  8. Colin Bell
  9. Rodney Marsh
  10. Asa Hartford
  11. Dennis Tueart

Goals​

Subs​

 
nickmcfc1 said:

This was mine and I was nearly 4. My old man took me and we sat in the bottom of the North Stand. Remember absolutely nothing about the game but remember City won and the noise overwhelmed me. Hooked ever since. Cheers Dad​

​

Manchester City vs Liverpool​

Division One (Old)
Sat 14 September 1974.

Score: W 2-0

Attendance: 45194

video-icon.png
View footage





Team​

  1. Keith MacRae
  2. Colin Barrett
  3. Willie Donachie
  4. Mike Doyle
  5. Jeff Clarke
  6. Alan Oakes
  7. Mike Summerbee
  8. Colin Bell
  9. Rodney Marsh
  10. Asa Hartford
  11. Dennis Tueart

Goals​

Subs​

Click to expand...
That's some first match. Cheers mate.
 
My first home game was the 5-1 Charlton promotion game.
Dad drove me, mum and a couple of mates up from Devon in an old Ford Transit with a bus seat screwed to the floor in the back.
I was sick with nerves, the run in had been so stressful, and how many people were there that day?
Nerves were quickly settled and City romped to victory.
Leaving Maine Road, mum had a bad stomach and had a shit in a carry bag in the back of the van to top a memorable day.
 
Mine was 13 March 1970 (I think)

City 1

West Ham 5

What a welcome to The First Division

Bell Lee Sunnerbee etc

And Greaves Hurst Peters Moore etc

Beaten but hooked

50 years later still loving it !
 
bert38 said:
My first home game was the 5-1 Charlton promotion game.
Dad drove me, mum and a couple of mates up from Devon in an old Ford Transit with a bus seat screwed to the floor in the back.
I was sick with nerves, the run in had been so stressful, and how many people were there that day?
Nerves were quickly settled and City romped to victory.
Leaving Maine Road, mum had a bad stomach and had a shit in a carry bag in the back of the van to top a memorable day.
Click to expand...
I think I only saw one goal in that game cos the Kippax was that full it was hard to see as a 14 year old. I do recall being literally carried off my feet on the way out of the ground down the steps until I got to the concourse
 
My memory is really bad but i have it in my mind it was norwich at home ??? 1979

Fell in love with Nicky
 
Last edited:
Dec 8th 1989

City 1 liverpool 4

Couldnt see shit with a wall to my left, pillar ahead of me and being 9 years old.
 
bert38 said:
My first home game was the 5-1 Charlton promotion game.
Dad drove me, mum and a couple of mates up from Devon in an old Ford Transit with a bus seat screwed to the floor in the back.
I was sick with nerves, the run in had been so stressful, and how many people were there that day?
Nerves were quickly settled and City romped to victory.
Leaving Maine Road, mum had a bad stomach and had a shit in a carry bag in the back of the van to top a memorable day.
Click to expand...
Haha great end to the day
 
1978 and I think we played wba. Can't remember much about it apart from sitting in the platt lane on the wooden benches... Good days.
 
Very early 82/3 season, midweek game at home to Stoke which we won 1-0 with I think David Cross the scorer.
Stood at the white wall at the front of the Kippax and remember being impressed by the pace of Stoke's Mark Chamberlain.
After a good start we ended up being relegated by Luton leading to many character building years of failure.
 
This came into my memory the other day.. I remember it was v Wolves at home in 1974 and was 1-1 so googled it was I was right. Was nearly 8 at the time. I was in the North Stand and remembered the vivid blue and white and gold kits and the green grass the white walls of the Kippax the smell of Cigar smoke and Bovril..Still remember it as though it was yesterday!
 
City v QPR in 93. The blues won 3-0. Quinn, Sheron and Flitcroft with the goals.
There was no turning back after that. Still got my Swales out, Lee in badge they were handing out before the game.
Cheers Dad!
 
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