I started following Manchester City when Keegan was manager. I love the sport, I love Manchester -- I feel it's almost my second home -- and I loved the fact that this was a club for fans -- the wittiest, most sardonic, most thoughtful fans. City weren't especially good. They certainly weren't a brand. In fact, they were the runt of the Prem litter, with a behemoth next door. How they played didn't really matter to me -- as long as they stayed up so I could watch them on TV early in the am when the rest of my young family was asleep. OK -- and maybe win a derby, or at least not get battered.
City were a club I fell in love with because . . . because I just did. I first came over in 06 to see a match and have pretty much every year since.
Never in a zillion years did I ever expect City would achieve what they have. I still sometimes can't believe it. Whether City won the lottery or not, I know I did as a fan because I've gotten to witness such remarkable, beautiful, exciting football.
But really, to me, this will always be a club about Manchester. The canals, the music that is my life's soundtrack, the bars, the railways, the neighborhoods -- and the people. That's really what I'm happiest about, it really is. Foreign ownership, new foreign fans -- it doesn't matter. This is your city's club.
A few of you I've gotten to know on my trips out, and it's been my great privilege to have a chance to do so. You have grown up with this club as wee ones, and as lifelong fans who have witnessed all the highs and lows and dedicated your time to this club, this has to be a crowning glory, a wonder -- something as special as you could imagine.
So live it up, you wonderful, friendly, funny blue Mancs. I'm raising a glass of Boddy's from a can to City but very much also to you tonight. Enjoy your summers! Catch you out there next season. I have to tell you -- I CANNOT wait.