City has been a part of my life since the day i was born.
I have had the pleasure of being a part of a significant period of our evolvment in to potential European Champions.
If you had told me all those years ago,when i was sat in the Red Lion beer Garden literally in tears on a Sunday Mornning after another relegation.This time playing out a draw for the last few inutes at home against Livepool,not realisung we were down with that result.That we would go on to win 5 Titles,and go to a Champions League Final,i wouldnt have believed you in a Million years.
Growing up in Moss Side,City was always at the Heart of our communitty.Has always been more than just a Football Club to us die hards.City was a part of our life.A working Mans Club,and i still believe our core fan Base would self identify this way.
From starting life as a junior Blue,which was great fun as a Kid.Loved the Christmas parties,where you always got a "Fly away" Football,and got to meet the players.You felt part of the Club.
Then you become a Teenager and your life revovles around playing Football 2,3 times a week.Getting to go to football trainning at the old trainning ground once a week with your Club,and having the pleasure of being trained by Peter Barnes,and Gary Owen,great Guys by the way.Borh good for a laugh.
You have all this social side going on whilst following the Club you love.It ends up feeling more like a family member.Right up there in your list of loves.
The journey had had many ups and downs,relegations,promotions.I was not there for all of them,but when i wsnt i was there spiritually.I was lucky enough to do Bradford away promotion ,getting down early with other blues sneeking in,and hiding in the toilets until kick off.What a day that was.Promotions,relegations was literally our Season for a long time.And you wonder why older blues on the match thread are pessimistic.Poor fuckers are emotionally scarred :-)
I miss the old match days at the Park Side with all my mates from the Hospital,and all the Posties,great day we had there.
That Cup match against Spurs years ago when it kicked off,and there was pictures all over the Papers of Postmen still in full uniform scrapping.Not condonning it by the way.But i t was funny as fuck when everryone was worried about getting sacked.Picturesall over the paper.I was a passive observer wrongly photogaphed.Still hate Spurs with a vwngance.
All the Sons of us older fans are now City main crew.
I get embaressed about being reminded of my past sins following City.
There was a time being a Blue you had to have thick skin and be able to hold your own.
I have my own theory on why we are hated.I think we are secretly admired.When we were relegated to the third tier we broke records for crowds in that division.We didnt all fuck off and let the Club die.We stuck together,and it made us stronger.When Newcastle went the same way they nearly went out of exsistenze.
How can you not secretly admire a fan base like ours ?.If anyone deserves to be going to Istanbul at the end of May it is us.
Glory hunters we are not.