Your emotions/actions/whereabouts from 1-2 to 3-2

Great thread - read this for the longest time. Makes me love our fans even more.

For me, I was back in the US where I am working. Had spent a lot of the spring in Europe including during the run-in after the Arse debacle (being there at the Eastlands for the Wednesday match against the Albion when the news rippled through the stands about Wigan going 1-0 up on the filth might be my greatest "in-person" memory of the whole year. Our guys just picked up on this and were suddenly 5 yards faster.)

Anyway, I was 100% CONVINCED we would drop points to QPR during the week leading up. Have made some friends amongst new-ish American Blues (really good people, BTW, and all should welcome them) and they were all convinced the title was a formality.

No no, I said. City will drop points. That kind of thing is what City does.

So sure enough, it is 1-2 and I'm there at home just thinking - well, my new friends will understand now. They will understand what it means to follow our club. And in the end they will love it more for this. So I was undoubtedly sad, but had this weird tragic smile on my face. That's why we love City, I thought. If things needed to be easy we'd be rags or Chavski twats or whatever.

Still was hoping for Sunderland to equalise. Had this weird notion they would, so if we could just get one. We could always get one, right?

So we get one, and then it was sort of into this unreal period for about a minute up to Balotelli-Aguero where I really don't even remember a thing. I THINK I processed the rags celebrating up in the NE because I'm about certain that came on the screen before Aguero scored. Anyway, I know when the goal went in I actually fell over onto the floor and blacked out for a second. Next thing I knew Hart was kicking it away and it was over.

Okay, so after that it was time for about 10 hours of celebration. Have an mp3 mix of songs, highlights, etc going back to the '90s and that played on constant loop the rest of the day. My poor girlfriend had to eventually shut that off, but she's become a proper Blue herself and represents us well. Looking very good in so doing, I might add.

Have an American plastic rag neighbour - OF COURSE - and made certain to just BLAST "Blue Moon" from the car stereo every single time I pulled in or out for about a month thereafter.

Good times. Good times indeed.
 
The hardest part of that day was seeing my then 11yr old lad crying his eyes out and saying "united are hurting us again"...

When we equalised I was more upset because I'd rather have lost the game than draw bit when that goal went in as everyone did in the stadium we all went mental.I ended up 3 rows in front of my seat..

I will never ever ever forget that day for as long as I live. You know those days that live with you forever.

I said to my son walking back to the car that evening.."Mate,when I am long gone,you will remember days like this with such fondness"...His response..."Thanks for making me a blue dad".........

Just hope we have many more years like that one.
 
I was fifty the weekend it all happened.

I do not get get to many City games. Born a Manc I grew up in Liverpool. In a life of nomadic existence, City have been my one consistent point of reference.

My partner, a Geordie and part time football fan, had decided that as I was fifty in that last week of the season she would try and get me executive tickets as a surprise. She had really wanted to get tickets for the Untd match but they had sold out. She was gutted and apologised that it was 'only QPR'. At the time of purchase we looked liked we had dicked the chance of winning anything. At least I might see Barton and Hughes relegated I thought (some consolation at least).
Drove down to Manchester on the Friday night. Mancini scarf on display. Booked a posh hotel in Salford quays and met up with my brother (a Liverpool season ticket holder). We talked and drank into the small hours. He had been their and done it with his club and I had always lived in that shadow. BUT NOW IT WAS MY TURN! Or so I hoped. Saturday was spent at the ground, getting a feel for the place again, buying stuff from the shop. Wore lass was magic. She soaked it up and threw herself into the spirit of things. We took in a shite musical based on Sesame Street characters at the Lowery, ate, drank and celibrated my birthday with Family, but all I wanted was for the next day to begin. Went back to the hotel, logged onto Bluemoon for the umpteenth time that day and enjoyed the banter. Did not sleep.

Got to the ground at 11:15. First car in the car park. The place was just setting up. Was great to see the TV crews and interviews taking place. Grabbed a coffee and just watched it unfold. Bands rehearsing on the stage, Gary Owen stopping and having a chat, I was in heaven. Janet was great and loved every moment. The ticket included early entry into the ground and a meal. I had only ever been in the bog standard seats before.

Walked into the ground through the same entrance as the former players and executives used. Showed our tickets to the bouncer who allowed us through the cordon. The place was surrounded by supporters and TV crews. Cameras were trained on everyone going through. I felt a Gallagher moment come across me so I stopped and turned with my scarf above my head and screamed , come on City' A small cheer went up, whilst the rest of the gathering must have thought ' who was that prat' - Janet certainly did. Dickhead I heard her say under her breath.

The meal was smart. Met a couple of women there who had left their hubbies at home to watch the match on Telly. Then came Colin Bell and Joe Corrigan. Colin fkn Bell, my hero. They stopped and chatted, photos etc. Colin fkn Bell. What a birthday!

The rest as they say is History. I sat with my head in my hands for the last fifteen minutes. When that goal went in I collapsed to my knees. Janet was hugged and kissed by everyone around. I looked up and even she was in tears. A beautiful woman and a beautiful day.

Drove home to Newcastle that evening buzzing.

Photos of me and Colin Bell adorn the mantelpiece and every so often me and Jane sit and watch our favourite YouTube clip of that day. It always brings tears to our eyes and brings back memories of the best birthday present anyone could imagine.

Janet. You are a legend.
 
In my usual seat in 109 with my son, whose last match it was going to be before he went to the USA. My dad, who first took me to City had died suddenly 10 days earlier so winning the title was going to help get over it.

When Mackie scored I had a sinking feeling in my stomach and one of the girls who sits near me burst into tears. But I wasn't too bothered as they were down to 10 men and there was about 30 minutes to go. Kept saying "If we score in the next few minutes then we'll do it" but the minutes kept ticking away and we got to 90 minutes. We were attacking so much though, that I still wasn't panicking. Then Dzeko scored and I don't remember going mad or anything, just a feeling of relief that we'd got that goal we needed.

When the ball went out for that throw in, it was then I lost hope as I thought QPR would just waste the last minute or so. All I could think of that my son had seen a typical City fuck up in his last game and that we'd never hear the end of it from rags. Then De Jong had the ball and seemed to be standing still (although it was only 20 seconds from the throw in to the goal) and I remember screaming at the top of my voice "Do something, do something, FFS do something with it!"

From where I am, it's hard to get a full perspective on the North Stand goalmouth but I remember seeing the ball hit the back of the net and just trying to see if Mike Dean had disallowed it. When it was clear the goal was good, I just screamed and went to grab my lad but he'd gone down the steps. The guy in front of me turned round and picked me up in a bear hug and all I could think was that we were going to fall over and I was going to break something. When he finally put me down I'm told I went onto the concourse to see the goal on the TV screen but simply don't remember doing that. Then a few seconds after the whistle went the tears started and I said to my son "You've seen us win the league. You can go to the States happy now."
 
I was stood outside the Imperial Hotel (the place for City games in Melbourne) with 10 minutes to go having a ciggie!,watching thru the window thinking "fucking typical!".

With 5 minutes to go i went back inside to see the end of the game and commiserate with other blues, then bang, bang, we had won.

After lots of jumping about and hugging my nephew and friends, i went back outside for a moment on my own, tears in eyes, the Mrs rang me to tell me she stayed up and watched it (amazing for her, as she is a Aussie with fuck all interest in football), after a minute of talking she asked, "are you crying?".
What could i say but "yes, i fucking am".
One of the best nights of my night :)
 
Der Bomber said:
Great thread - read this for the longest time. Makes me love our fans even more.

For me, I was back in the US where I am working. Had spent a lot of the spring in Europe including during the run-in after the Arse debacle (being there at the Eastlands for the Wednesday match against the Albion when the news rippled through the stands about Wigan going 1-0 up on the filth might be my greatest "in-person" memory of the whole year. Our guys just picked up on this and were suddenly 5 yards faster.)

Anyway, I was 100% CONVINCED we would drop points to QPR during the week leading up. Have made some friends amongst new-ish American Blues (really good people, BTW, and all should welcome them) and they were all convinced the title was a formality.

No no, I said. City will drop points. That kind of thing is what City does.

So sure enough, it is 1-2 and I'm there at home just thinking - well, my new friends will understand now. They will understand what it means to follow our club. And in the end they will love it more for this. So I was undoubtedly sad, but had this weird tragic smile on my face. That's why we love City, I thought. If things needed to be easy we'd be rags or Chavski twats or whatever.

Still was hoping for Sunderland to equalise. Had this weird notion they would, so if we could just get one. We could always get one, right?

So we get one, and then it was sort of into this unreal period for about a minute up to Balotelli-Aguero where I really don't even remember a thing. I THINK I processed the rags celebrating up in the NE because I'm about certain that came on the screen before Aguero scored. Anyway, I know when the goal went in I actually fell over onto the floor and blacked out for a second. Next thing I knew Hart was kicking it away and it was over.

Okay, so after that it was time for about 10 hours of celebration. Have an mp3 mix of songs, highlights, etc going back to the '90s and that played on constant loop the rest of the day. My poor girlfriend had to eventually shut that off, but she's become a proper Blue herself and represents us well. Looking very good in so doing, I might add.

Have an American plastic rag neighbour - OF COURSE - and made certain to just BLAST "Blue Moon" from the car stereo every single time I pulled in or out for about a month thereafter.

Good times. Good times indeed.
Click to expand...

P I C S
 
I was working at the ground as a steward on the day,have been since 2003 and last 5 games at Maine Road.Reported for duty at 12.30 quite nervous,sat down for our pre-match briefing with the stand manager.Anyone caught celebrating on the day would be sacked on the spot and sent home,was the warning given to all stewards,most of who are keen City fans.Message duly noted.As is usual on last League game ,all stewards were to come down at 70 minutes to sit on the perimeter to deter any pitch invasion by fans.Nice day,weather wise,tension was palpable in the air,wanted to see the game started,however the interminal wait for the kick off only added to my nervous anxiety.Kept telling myself nothing is won yet,QPR were fighting for their Premiership survival.Positioned myself at block 241 in the family stand,as I had for most of my Etihad career,saw fans filtering into the ground,kids with a look of expectant excitement,their dads with that look only City fans can have,know and understand by looking at them.All this way to today,one more game,win it and win the title in front of your own fans,all set up nicely,against the team with the worst record away from home in the whole League.
Would typical City be buried forever,or come back to haunt us again today ?
The match kicked off and City looked tentative with few clear openings,QPR packing their half with bodies and trying to strangle our creative play.
Then Zaba calmed the nerves with a shot that Kenny couldn’t hold and it looped over his head,off the post and rolled in the net,1-0 City,half time approaching,Yaya limps off and replaced by Nigel de Jong.Rags 1-0 up at Sunderland,so far,so good.
Cisses goal from Lescotts header increases Blues fans worries,that wasn’t in the script.When Barton retaliated against Tevez and lashed out to Aguero and Kompany,his dismissal was extra reason to cheer,down to 10 men,surely City would go on to win…
65 minutes,deep cross from the left,diving header from Mackie into the ground and loops over Hart and Lescott on the line,my heart sunk,had to trudge down to the front of level 2 whenever a goal is scored to check nobody is drinking alcohol,smoking etc..felt thoroughly pissed off and drained of emotion at this stage.Went down to the perimeter on 70 minutes,sat at block 138,to the right of the goal,perfect position,for the last 20 minutes.
We were always being told not to watch the game,but the crowd only,well how could you not watch,plus watching the fans sat in front of me,and the anguish on their faces was torture enough as the clock ticked down and many chances were being wasted.I sat there feeling very let down again by City,why do they do this to us ?...its the hope that kills you eventually,someone once said…
Still 2-1 at 90 minutes,a roar went up at 5 minutes added time,Zabaletas cross was deflected into the crowd in front of me at exactly 91 minutes,about 10 rows up,I steeled myself for a miracle and silently prayed for my late Dad to come through and help City over the line…immediately got a very strong feeling that the ball would come to me,never had a feeling so sure before in my life,time stood still as the ball bobbled down and random hands pushed it down into my lap ! Wow !!A spooky feeling.I turned to throw the ball to Pablo Zabaleta,he kicked it to David Silva,who took the corner for Dzeko to head in,GAME ON….
At that stage I was caught up in the tension and heard a small roar go up in the crowd that Sunderland had equalised,then that died away as untrue…
For self preservation and sanity and keeping focussed on working,had in my mind given up on City winning,as the QPR defence stood firm and cleared the ball away again…then looked up and saw City on the attack again,and this time space opened up,heard the shrieks of the crowd as the ball made its way across the box,saw Balotelli on the floor scrape the ball away towards Sergio and time stood still as rode Taiwos desperate lunge,stayed on his feet and unleashed a bullet shot past Paddy Kenny,my first thought was he ought to have saved it (disbelief,this can’t be happening,waiting for the linesmans flag/referees whistle to blow disallowing the goal) stood up instinctively,opened my mouth wide in shock,walked towards Sergios celebrating,turned back after a few seconds and walked towards another steward and we hugged uncontrollably,with me screaming “we’ve won the league” to him.
Thoughts of being dismissed were irrelevant at that moment,I had waited all my 50 years for this to happen.The crowds scream was primal,ejecting many years of hurt and misery in one noise of joined relief,the clubs season long motto had been TOGETHER,well 47,000 fans were bound by the chains of being a City fan for life in that special moment.At the final whistle the expected pitch invasion happened,was told to not obstruct the fans for our own safety and the outpouring of relief and joy was unbridled.I actually entered the pitch to clear the last few stragglers away before the trophy presentation.
I felt honoured to be there in any capacity,was probably the closest person to Sergios goal,maybe apart from the SKY camera man in the pit.
If anything I was too close and my viewing angle was a bit skewed being so low sat on a small stool and once I saw the goal on tv realised the keeper had no chance.Such was my low feeling before the goal,I believed Kenny had let the ball go in for some reason,allowing myself to not believe what was going on in front of my eyes.To go from utter dejection to pure joy in such a short space of time is surely unhealthy,however it was an inverted microcosm of a lifetime of supporting City has become,with the right ending as was Gillingham.On fine margins are big results.If you consider Bartons antics led to the extra 5 minutes,Shaunie earnt their throw in,Onuoha took it and threw it to Lescott,then all 3 ex Blues played their part in the games result.Mark Hughes told his players they were safe and conceded possession after Dzekos goal from the kick off and again after our 3rd goal.I am seen with my orange jacket on,in many photos of Sergio wheeling away,in the background with my mouth wide open walking towards him,in shock.

Post script – The club didn’t sack me for celebrating openly,my Dad answered my prayers from sky Blue heaven,thanks Dad,I was the last person to touch the ball by hand before Dzeko scored,passed on some good luck with that touch.Oh and he passed away in July 1992,at the advent of the Premier league,I wrote to City at the time asking could they send a player to the hospice to present a cheque to St.Annes…David White turned up and had a good chat with my Dad just 3 weeks before he passed away………..

Forward 7 weeks later….first Monday night match on SKY

August 1992…Citys first game of the season in the new Premier League…

Opponents ? QPR

First City Goalscorer ? David White

The circle of life ?

You Bet !!
 
I remember having 4 texts when mackie scored off rags, saying "AHAHAHAHA YOU FUCKING BLUE CUNTS HAVE BOTTLED IT", one saying "ALWAYS IN OUR SHADOW CHAMP20NS"

remember screaming at the team saying use some proper fucking width and make the extra man count, Dzeko scored I said to my cousin, we scored 2 in 2 minutes we can do it,

remember nasri letting the ball go out and thinking you absolute tool, why do that, I was expecting the ref to blow and for my day to be a disaster, Then de jong runs and picks out sergio, I was screaming saying give it mario, for some reason i had it in my head despite all the negative headlines with him hed do something spectacular and win it, then he does the pass and when aguero took a touch i was thinking HIT THE FUCKING BALL

HE SHOOTS....HE SCORES, i remember jumping up and down going absolute fucking nuts, tears streaming, hugging strangers, just being in absolute ectasy, it was incredible, remember running on the pitch after the game trying to get to whatever city players i could.

Difference with us and rags, when we won the league we didnt use it to criticise them, rather just celebrate us, we showed our class.

Id also like to say that QPR's fans were absolute brilliant too, it was just the perfect day for all, except rags.
 
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