How could I forget my very first match on TV. We'd just moved to Glossop from Sheffield. Arsenal came from one down to beat Liverpool 2-1 in the 1971 FA Cup Final. Charlie George scored the winner and laid flat on the floor to celebrate. Frank McLintock lifted the cup on a hot sunny day. I confess I liked Arsenal for about a year or so after that. Well I was only five. Still a glory hunter though...
England v West Germany at Wembley in a European Championship (it had very different format then) and Gunter Netzer in his smart German away shirt (Germans often have the best kits or uniforms) absolutely schooled us. What a player.
First match I attended was on a visit to my Nana and Grandads in South Yorkshire....Sheffield United 2 Stoke City 0 in 1974-75....Blades had Tony Currie and Alan Woodward - two fabulous, talented players, and Stoke had Peter Shilton, Dennis Smith, Mike Pejic, the brilliant Alan Hudson, Jimmy Greenhoff, and, last but not least...one Geoff Hurst. As a 9 year old I was totally in awe...as Alan Hudson and Geoff Hurst came near me to take throw-ins. I vaguely remember Tony Currie exciting the crowd with some magic. Blades captain Eddie Colquhoun (who passed away recently) scored a penalty I recall. Two good teams who were fighting for Europe back then.
I was more into cricket but followed football without having a team but that all changed at my first City match on 1st November 1980...my parents had split...what should we do that day? City were bottom of the old 1st Division...Dad took us to Maine Road. A copper chuckled when Dad asked where the kop was, and helpfully directed us to what is still my spiritual home...The Kippax.
Johnny Bond had not long since taken charge...we went under the Kippax tunnel to reveal the vast expanse of grass...the air was a heavy intoxicating mix of hot dogs, pies and cigar smoke City were the better team in a tight match... I was grabbed by a few things that fateful day...the obvious love and passion City fans had for the team...I mean "We love you City, we do" repeatedly for a team at the very bottom of the league...there was a Klaxon in the crowd that helped set off one of those "clap, clap clap-clap-clap, clap-clap clap-cap CITY!" chants. Wonderful stuff. I loved Paul Power's passion and enthusiasm,
Dave Bennett's exciting pace and skill and the grit and feroucious tackling of a debutant that day, one Gerry Gow. Bennett should have scored but hit the keeper when clean through, Paul Power scored the only goal to win the game..."Here we go..." was chanted as well as "We love you City.."and everyone went home happy.
I was bitten by the bug and became a City supporter that day...
Thanks to my late Dad.