Going to be unusual for me on Saturday (I've made no secret my past allegiance was with my hometown of blackburn between 97-04 and to some extent from 05-11 if you count attending games filled with apathy and constant bitterness) but there's no doubt who I'll be supporting. People say you should never change but the fact is my enthusiasm for football was virtually dead last October.
All I talked about on the Blackburn forums between 05 and 2010 was a takeover because it was the only hope I had (even if a successful takeover had happened the bitterness was probably too deep by that point to change anything) and before anyone suggests it I didn't have any bitterness towards City in the least when the takeover happened here. I thought you all deserved it after putting up with United taunts for so long as well as other things. Some of you do have a tendency to act like City are the only club that's suffered but most other clubs didn't have to put up with such scumbags as rivals during difficult periods.
I hated Leslie while he was at Ewood (because of his United links and the fact he's a smug, egotistical bastard) so had no problem when he left to join City. I honestly didn't know whether he would be a success of failure some people find it more difficult with greater resources than limited and that proved to be the case with him. Won't deny that I celebrated when he was sacked though many of you did the same and Mancini proved to be a far superior manager (and I've always liked him infact he apparently applied for the Rovers job in December 2008 and he was the one I wanted then)
It got to the point I had stopped watching football altogether until a combination of events led me here. It also helped that the very same day as the 6-1 game I discovered a friend of mine (another former blackburn fan who was sick of hypocrisy and lies by Rovers supporters) had started supporting City (by chance he was offered free tickets and things developed from there) and I knew then it was only a matter of time until I followed. Those events combined brought me here. My first game was against Bayern followed by United and Fulham and I'll be at the stadium tomorrow evening.
People talk about glory hunting but could it be said those who come from towns across Greater Manchester saw more appeal in supporting a big city club? It may not exactly be glory hunting but there's certainly a prestige factor that comes with a club like City compared to most lower league sides. Obviously there's no disputing that you stuck with the club through difficult times (I stuck with Rovers from 97-2000 when they went from potential title challengers to midtable D1 the negative issues with the Walker family/fans came later) but a club the stature of City always offers hope.
People say I should have switched further down but won't deny supporting someone like Stockport or Oldham wouldn't have appealed to me in the slightest. Got no problem admitting that or anything else. Look at some comments from previous pages on this thread its obvious others see no attraction in such clubs.
No matter what I say people will call me a glory hunter (my initial feelings were prompted by hatred of United but ironically enough it was my experience attending the FA Cup game and the second half near fightback that truly sealed my allegiance) but I could easily have switched to Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea years ago if it was that black and white. The fact is I don't respect the fans at those clubs and probably wouldn't have stayed. Imagining the guy I attend City games with had switched to Leeds I probably would have attended some games with him due to my hatred of Man U. Once again however I don't particularly care for Leeds fans (though the only club I really hate is Man Utd)
My negative feelings towards Rovers fans have dominated many of my football related thoughts for the last six or seven years. City fans and this club have made me a fan of football again. That isn't something I'm anything less than 100% thankful for. Its easy to say this now but I honestly wish something had prompted me to come to City six or seven years ago. That's the truth its an anonymous internet forum so there's nothing to gain by lying. Its not like I'm making a run as future head of the supporters association. Its not like I'll probably be as well known here as I was on Rovers forums and that's ok with me. The only reason I was so well known on Rovers forums was because of my anger level and outbursts (all of which were only ever aimed at improving the club) which prompted me to join in the first place. I couldn't quite manage to break the habit and if it wasn't for those events in October I would probably have returned to Ewood again and the same old negative pattern would have followed.
As far as Rovers are concerned I cleared my conscience (the only reason I put up with everything was because my respect for Jack Walker never diminished and never will) the last time I set foot in Ewood Park. You couldn't leave a club with a clearer conscience than I did.
I was back and forth from October until January (I hadn't truly separated myself from Rovers at that point out of habit) but I haven't looked back since the FA Cup game. Aside from Jack Walker there's nothing at Blackburn Rovers that gives me any enthusiasm. Years of hypocrisy and lies have that effect. I don't have any respect for Jack's ingrate family (the people who caused the ongoing rift in the first place its ironic that the fans now realise how little they gave a toss) current owners and especially their fans.
The fact that their current "materplan" is to take over the club themselves (but only if the club get relegated) shows how little they think of Rovers. You won't find anyone in this country who takes more pleasure in belittling and running down their club than Blackburn Rovers fans do. They probably treat their kids the same way. These are people who mocked me and called me unrealistic everytime I mentioned the word takeover. My hopes were a hell of a lot more realistic than the current plan they have. The fact the Qataris who own PSG and Malaga looked at buying the club (and apparently they may well buy Aston Villa) shows I wasn't unrealistic at all. I wasn't demanding a Sheik Mansour style takeover either all I wanted was someone who gave a toss. I supported venkys at first (such was my hatred for the walkers it was easy to accept anything that looked like a potential improvement) until it became obvious they are complete and utter idiots.
I'm not going to mock them (can barely stand speaking to the small minded sheep never mind mocking them) if City win this weekend though (one thing about them over the past year is they aren't boring or predictable on the field so you never know what could happen look at their win at Old Trafford) the important thing is 3 points.
Anyway I'm kind of ranting now and that's one of the things I try not to do these days so it will probably be my last response in this topic. Not looking for an argument (as stated my respect for the fans of this club is massive) but the facts are I'm not going anywhere and will be on this forum for a long time to come. The difference with me and other newcomers is I'll stick around as long as I respect the fans (unlike those who have switched clubs multiple times and will continue to do so)
