Age: Over 70!
First match: Blackpool at Maine Road in 1963 (0-3 defeat)
Initially in the Platt Lane Stand, then a move to the Scoreboard End until it was demolished. Then on to the Kippax until the new North Stand was opened. My first season ticket came, a year later, when the seats were installed in the North Stand.
Moved away from Manchester in 1977 to work in Birmingham living in Coventry and gave up my North Stand season ticket. Subsequently we moved to Leicester and then to Edinburgh. My attendance was limited by finance. I did make the Ipswich semi-final at Villa Park and matches in Coventry.
I made it to more matches in the 1990s including some dire home defeats. I do recall a League Cup win against Chelsea in 1993 (give or take). I was working and staying near the airport and struggled to get to the match after gridlock on the Parkway. I arrived at Maine Road five minutes before kickoff and got into the Kippax with the match having played for 25 minutes! That summed up the Swales era, a 16,000 crowd and a half hour queue to get in.
One match against Bolton ended in a 2-1 defeat after Kinkladze put City ahead. The worst was a dismal loss to Barnsley at Maine Road.
After the takeover I had paid off my mortgage and was better placed to travel to matches. I was at a Conference at Salford University and got a ticket for the match against Wigan, a few days later, where Sergio scored a hat trick.
The conference dinner was held at Old Trafford in the suite overlooking the pitch. Half way through, I changed into a new Black and Red City top and created some debate. The conference organiser was a Warrington Wolves fan and had a good laugh. It was my first visit to Old Trafford since 1974!
Two years later I managed to get a season ticket.
