My wife’s first ever City game was on the Kippax. Had to make the pilgrimage from the States to meet my parents and hopefully get the nod from them. They were well pleased and we arranged a trip to Maine Road to see us play Villa!
Made sure we got there in good time so I could show her the sights, like where my Gran used to live at 173 Horton Road, the Croft where we played, the shops at Platt Lane where I used to go shopping with my Gran and buy our Lions Wine Gumd, the ice cream truck depot where I got caught on the roof and almost crippled myself jumping off trying to get away, and even taught her how to dance through the ginnels dodging dog shit!
Got inside, pointed out the different stands, where I used to sit, the Dave Watson Gap, you name it! Full immersion day!
We stood towards the front of the Kippax on the side we were kicking towards (Platt Lane End), then did the walk towards the North Stand at HT.
She seemed like she was enjoying it, soaking it in, and liked her new sky blue & white scarf.
Then during the Second Half something happened that made me know she was The One…
She was fairly quiet, reserved to the point of social anxiety at times, yet equally as anxious to fit in.
She is from a fairly well heeled family outside Chicago, went to Catholic School as a kid, and was taught from an early age to mind her n’s and o’s never mind her p’s and q’s! She was the kind of young lady who thought “damn” was swearing!
So, it brought a smile to my face and almost a tear to my eye as, midway through the Second Half, the Kippax rose in a chant of “Fuck Off, Villa! Fuck Off, Villa!” and I look to my right and my future bride is engaged in the most full-throated rendition of that classic, with double-fisted V’s included for good measure!
I could only beam with pride then laugh, realizing I was about to engage in the ride of a lifetime with an Honorary Manc and newly minted Blue.
We had been seeing each other for 3 years and I had never heard her say the F word before, yet here she was, on the steps of the Kippax, going hoarse shouting it at the top of her lungs, at Villa fans she didn’t even know she was supposed to hate an hour or two earlier!
A new, yet now true, Blue, born on the Kippax, not in Manchester Royal!
