I joined to thank City fans for their hospitality towards myself and my daughter on Tuesday night. We were two of those foreigners who invaded the City section, well the daughter is a Cockney so that is half English. I did manage four minutes incognito before Roberts uncovered my allegiance and my big mouth sold me out. In front of me was the epitome of sarcasm, a City fan who has had the same seat for 23 years, he didn't turn round or stand up, he very slowly and deliberately moved his head backwards and said slowly...... Tactful! It was an absolute classic comment and the humour had me laughing while confessing.....It's football....his hand was stretching out for me to shake it and a footballing friendship instantly sealed by his humour. We were talking football when a bit of fuss occurred opposite, my daughter got involved and extricated three Celtic fans and brought them to sit with us, meanwhile the City fans had apologised to her and asking why she supported a Scottish team and she explained about her mentally bankrupt father. Five minutes later we are all having a right good slagging match and the City boys were fantastic ambassadors for your club. Even the, so I am told, notorious lady steward, renowned for ejecting fans was down a few times laughing at the slagging going back and forward. The lads even took the time at the end of the game to ensure we were getting the right tram to go home to my daughter's as she now lives in Dukingfield and we were going to Ashton to get picked up. We were in section K B, hope that's right and we were near the front. You hear a lot about the people who ruin football and not enough about the good guys. I met the good guys on Tuesday, the boy with the same seat for twenty three years, the two lads opposite, beard, glasses and their mate behind, not forgetting the boy in front who I believe was driving a coach and had to leave early. Talking at half time, they asked if it would be different in Glasgow if they were in the Celtic end. I like to think most fans are like me, we want the fun of being with other fans and I know whenever opposing fans have been in our company we treat them as we would like treated. 1980 Pub in Madrid, we were five young dafties drinking with quite a few Spanish boys. Everything was okay until one big bear started getting very loud pointing to our drinks, rubbing fingers and shouting. We were trying to be a bit diplomatic and I asked if he wanted another drink, he continued shouting and we seriously thought we were getting a right good hiding that night. Two minutes later the barman brought five beers over saying......Gratias, Gratias......The big bear had clocked the fact that we were being overcharged and a Spanish boy explained that he was declaring to the pub that in his company we were adopted Madrid fans. I felt magic as my last few hundred pesetas had already been allocated to a Spanish funeral brought on by my demise at the hands of the bear, now I could afford to get pished and live. Great moments of football travel and to those City lads in K B section you made my night and my daughter's night and the memories will remain. Thank you boys for your hospitality,humour and football input. You were a credit to your Club and I thank you for your friendship and hope you go on and lift the Champions League trophy
