I was born in 1983. I have no memories of 'success'. I remember jumping into my brothers arms at Wembley in '99, and hugging my Dad (which we never did, he was a Wiganer, and a rugby league fan) when we won at Blackburn. I remember watching Kevin Keegan lift the First Division Trophy, and no-one celebrated, because we shouldn't have been there.
I remember a milkman laughing at me before we went down to the old division two. I was riding round near me wearing a City shirt on my bike and he pulled up alongside me. All he said was "City are going down again...ha ha ha".
If we win something, whether it be the Carling Cup, the FA Cup or in my wildest dreams, we're Premier League Champsions 2010, I will cry. Or even to hear the Champions League theme at COMS next year, I will cry.
My Dad has passed away since those days of hugging each other when SWP scored that goal in the first derby at COMS. The discussions of the games this season will never happen with him.
Sucess isn't the final for me, it's the journey I made to get here.
Whatever this season brings, I will be greateful. If the season carries on like these first 2 months have been, I will remember this season for the rest of my life.
I fear I may lose any respect I have amongst my Blue Brethren come May, because the opportunity may arise that I may weep a little. This is because I believe 'success' is within our grasp, or indeed, 'success' is in our hands.
But by 'eck, when it happens, that's when it will all make sense, those years of trying, those years of pain. That's when you'll realise what it means to me.