Sorry, this will be long, for those of you with long-post-phobia...;)
Well...I am 50 years a Blue but I am not from Manchester. Born and raised in Ireland and now live outside Boston MA. So no, for those who think that you can only support your hometown team to be a real fan, I "chose" to follow City 50 years ago on my 8th birthday. That was the day that they beat United 3-1 at their place on the way to the title. Following year, FA Cup, year after that League Cup and Cup-Winners Cup. Yep I was nothing but a glory hunter. Not a real fan. Not a Manc.
Anyway, I still found myself growing up as the only City supporter in a sea of United, Arsenal, Liverpool and yes, Leeds fans - they were good then. Filthy, but good. But I also supported my local team down in Cork with as much fervour; Cork Hibernians were where it was at for me for my local club but everyone at home had a favourite English club as well. I was just the outlier following City, so I wore it like a badge of honour. I got more stubborn and loved them even more, the more abuse I got. I lamented 1972 as Rodney Marsh was my favourite player back then, but I know how the chemistry of that great side was affected by his arrival. I cheered as loudly as anyone when Law's backheel hit the net (of course it was over radio for me). I went fucking wild when Tueart's overhead went in; the only one in a roomful of other club's supporters to jump on a school desk (I was then 16 and in boarding school - with even more Liverpool/United/Leeds (and curiously, one fanatic Stoke supporter...;) This one was on TV though.) By then, I had prevailed upon my uncle (RIP) to take me to a game at Maine Road. We traveled by ferry to Liverpool and bus to Manchester and taxi to the old ground. I was in absolute awe. It was pissing rain as I recall and I was really sick. But I saw my hero Rodney score the only goal against Stoke and I traveled back to Ireland the following day with a 102 degree temperature but absolutely ecstatic. I just recall the huge mass of the Kippax heaving - or maybe it was the huge congestion and dizziness. I prefer to think of it as sheer ecstasy. That was November 1974.
Yeah the 70's were great; we were damn good. And almost won it all in '77. Not to be. Then the Allison years...Fast forward to '81 and Ricky Fucking Villa. Heartbroken. Saw City in Cork later that year. Met Joe Corrigan and said hello to Trevor Francis. Then relegation and Raddy Antic/Pleat and his stupid dance. Devastated. But ecstasy with Charlton in '85. After that, I left Ireland and although I celebrated promotion again with the Bradford game, I was traveling around and was really not as invested in City as I had been. That all changed when we went to the third tier. I was here in Boston when that happened. I couldn't believe it. That more than anything brought me "back" so to speak. The internet was well-established and I could follow again what was going on. I loved that team though (I was NOT at York away BTW...) and just happened to be back in Ireland for the '99 playoffs. I had two babies then and tried unsuccessfully to travel to London for the Gillingham match...my American missus was having none of it. So I contented myself with watching it on TV. Well we all know how that turned out. My 3 year old son turned around and asked his mother; "Why is Daddy crying?" As I later told the now 21-year old boy; "It's because the club was probably saved by this result. Oh yeah, and it completely outdid United's poxy "comeback" in the Cl final a few days before."
Then the takeover - Garry Cook - Leslie - Mancini - Yaya at Wembley. I cried again and made my kids do the Poznan. And then of course...Aguerrrrooooo. As I am sure many of you had, I had a moment with my City fanatic son that day. Still get choked up. "nuff said.
Oh boy, to make a long story short, I have been to the Etihad. 2005 to see Stuart Pearce's turgid side grind out a 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers. It is not a cheap journey for me. I made a lot of friends on the old TalkinCity messageboard and met up with many of them (some still on here) that first time. Had my name read out over the tannoy before the game too - thanks H. Boy what a time I had though. I have never been made more welcome anywhere. We drank long into the night. I will never forget and cannot believe that I haven't managed to be back since then. But I will. Financial constraints have really stopped me in my tracks - paying for college over here is a travesty - but also the incredible coverage of all the Prem games over here in the US is first-class. Take a bow, NBCSports - and for your fair reporting. So yeah, bit of an armchair supporter too.
So I have not been to Manchester since the takeover although traveled to see City when they come to the States. I dearly want to get back before all our legends retire or go elsewhere. I have promised my son that I will take him over once he graduates college. That's May 2019. We have seen City 4 times in the flesh over here but we need to get back over to see God's own in their own playground.
I envy and applaud the incredible fans who travel to away matches. They have spent much of their hard-earned money to follow a football club that mean so much to them. Heard you loud and clear at West Ham today. Best fans in the world. I am just a 58 year old gloryhunter from afar who took this club to my heart for no good reason as a callow 8 year old in West Cork than: "they wear sky blue; my favourite colour, and they just beat Manchester United. They must be good. I am following them now..."
Still here. Still a member of the Boston branch of the City Supporters club. Still have my blue pint glass that I drink from when we win and listen to Oasis "Masterplan" like I did today. Still get up at silly o' clock to watch them. Still hurt when they lose. (Still want fucking Liverpool to get their asses kicked in the CL so that our record-breakers will not be overshadowed.) Still want United to lose every game even if it was tiddleywinks. I despise them and the horse they rode in on. Still wear my City gear although it's tighter now.
Still and always will be a Blue, albeit from afar. Maybe not a born and raised Blue - God bless those who are. But a Blue. If you don't think so, that's your opinion and you are entitled to it. Wrong as it is...;)
CTID.
