Your First Derby Game

JGL07 said:
y last visit to the Swamp was the 'Denis Law backheel' match. I was wearing my special City scarf. It was a college scarf with pale blue and white with a hint of maroon. A friend identified the scarf and took orders from a number of us. It turns out that the scarf was from a 'Ladies' College somewhere in London. I found this out when on the London Underground wearing it and saw a group of girls wearing the same.
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Well now, here's the thing. The City shop at the end of the sixties or the beginning of the seventies did those scarves, both in home colours, exactly as you describe, and the great AC Milan-style away colours (black and red). Good quality, spun wool scarves that were really smart and kept you warm (unlike the polyester junk today). The colours ran lengthwise along the scarf, i.e. college style. I know this for a fact, because I had both. Somewhere along the line, I lost or mislaid them. Of course, they were not cheap, even at the time. They might have been as much as £10, I can't remember. But I'd give a lot for City (or their subcontractors) to run that line of scarf again. Easily the best City scarves I ever had.
I'm intrigued about the ‘ladies college’, though. Was it by any chance one of the constituent colleges of the University of London? One or two of the colleges were still women only at that time.
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
Well now, here's the thing. The City shop at the end of the sixties or the beginning of the seventies did those scarves, both in home colours, exactly as you describe, and the great AC Milan-style away colours (black and red). Good quality, spun wool scarves that were really smart and kept you warm (unlike the polyester junk today). The colours ran lengthwise along the scarf, i.e. college style. I know this for a fact, because I had both. Somewhere along the line, I lost or mislaid them. Of course, they were not cheap, even at the time. They might have been as much as £10, I can't remember. But I'd give a lot for City (or their subcontractors) to run that line of scarf again. Easily the best City scarves I ever had.
I'm intrigued about the ‘ladies college’, though. Was it by any chance one of the constituent colleges of the University of London? One or two of the colleges were still women only at that time.
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Yes I remember the collage scarfs with the colour's lengthways,maroon,light blue and white.Me and my girlfriend back in late 60s early 70s had them.
 
I've never been to a city game but heard a funny first derby game story.
One of my coworker's husband and two sons, united/vidic fans, flew to Manchester, got tickets and managed to set up a meet&greet with Vidic before the game and had a jolly time. It was the Sick Swan derby and she said they returned devastated, sons crying and stuff. :)
 
Mick duxbury testimonial at the swamp in Aug 89 - city won 2-0. 1 month later at maine road for the 5-1. Then had to wait for the Goat in 2003 for next win.. Was in the pen directly behind the goal at the swamp when curle scored the penalty in 1-1 - beyond bedlam - still cant believe how white missed near the end. Lucky enough to get a freebie with work for benjani in 2008. Who would ever believe how times have changed?
 
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neilhb said:
0 - 0 at the swamp in April 1973, over 61000 on. Went with my red cousin, stood on Stretford End.
No queuing, paid on the day, no idea how much it cost. Poor game.
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My first one as well, went with a mate, his dad and his brother as a present for his birthday. We were in the Stretford end paddock, still have the ticket somewhere in the loft
You're right it was a poor game, went again the following season for the same reason but in the United Road paddock, now that was rough, first pitch invasion 30 minutes before kick off, great result though!
First Derby at Maine Road 2-2 in September 75, ground was full of them as City made the mistake of selling tickets on the day.
 
stehorts said:
Mick duxbury testimonial at the swamp in Aug 89 - city won 2-0. 1 month later at maine road for the 5-1. Then had to wait for the Goat in 2003 for next win.. Was in the pen directly behind the goal at the swamp when curle scored the penalty in 1-1 - beyond bedlam - still cant believe how white missed near the end. Lucky enough to get a freebie with work for benjani in 2008. Who would ever believe how times have changed?
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I remember the Mick Duxbury one, he came out carrying his two kids for a lap of honour at the end. Must have touched a lot of city fans seeing him with his kids and all that. Gave him a really big cheer and sang One Mick Duxbury, theres only one Mick Duxbury. His biggest round of applause was from the City fans there. Blue and Proud that night after that.
 
2006/07 at home, lost 1-0.

Ball stamped on Ronaldo, Ronaldo won and scored a penalty, Vassell won and missed a penalty.
 
November 1994 old toilet. Manure 5 us 0

I was thirteen sat in the Stratford end and it was a night match. Tickets off of my dads mate, Absolutely horrible.

The result was as bad as it gets but the awful cold ‘champions pie’ at half time washed down with ‘champions pop’ was excruciating.

I wore my city bobble hat with pride though. And I’ve got the last laugh :-) life is a funny thing.
 
Can't remember my first Maine Road derby, my old man took me regularly in the 70s.

My first swamp derby was 1980 drew 2 each, loved it when they opened pen after pen in the scoreboard, we ran through each one towards the United road till you could see the whites of their eyes, loved the hatred, still do, each set of fans going for each other.
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
Well now, here's the thing. The City shop at the end of the sixties or the beginning of the seventies did those scarves, both in home colours, exactly as you describe, and the great AC Milan-style away colours (black and red). Good quality, spun wool scarves that were really smart and kept you warm (unlike the polyester junk today). The colours ran lengthwise along the scarf, i.e. college style. I know this for a fact, because I had both. Somewhere along the line, I lost or mislaid them. Of course, they were not cheap, even at the time. They might have been as much as £10, I can't remember. But I'd give a lot for City (or their subcontractors) to run that line of scarf again. Easily the best City scarves I ever had.
I'm intrigued about the ‘ladies college’, though. Was it by any chance one of the constituent colleges of the University of London? One or two of the colleges were still women only at that time.
Click to expand...
I think it may have been from a School rather than a College. However there were a large number of colleges that were not University level then but might have been merged into current Universities over the years. I just wish I could replace the scarf.

My pal Chris, who obtained them, died very young (at 28).
 
1962. Rag cousins took me to Old Toilet hoping to turn me from a Blue family to change to the dark side. Unfortunately for them Peter Dobing scored the winner in a 3-2 City win. I'll never forget it. Shame we got relegated at the end of the season
 
It was not my first derby, but certainly my favourite. It was in 1968 in the latter stages of City's title win. I was working in Sunlight House on Deansgate at the time and a fair group of us went to the match together. We were in the stand next to the Stetford End in the paddock below the seating. The group I went with included some City supporters some for United and some (maybe?) neutrals. Back then with pay-at-the -gate and no segregation, this was possible.

United had an implausible big lead in the table at the turn of the year. Malcolm Allison responded by declaring that 'United were rubbish'. This provoked derision on the press but may have stimulated doubts within United and City closed in.

This Old Trafford derby was arguably the turning point of the season, United went ahead very early on through George Best but City were not phased and pressed on and Colin Bell equalised. City took the lead through George Heslop before Francis Lee settled things at 1-3.

That match flushed out the United supporters I had worked with for some years but had always denied their partisanship. City winning opened up the championship race that season. City took full advantage and (eventually) won the title at Newcastle.
 
1996. Got beat 3-2.
Kavalashvilla made his debut I believe and knocked Schmeichel out with a shot.
Ball dropped rosler who came on and scored then ran to the bench pointing to the name on the back of his shirt.

That's how I remember it anyway.
 
The 5-1 was my derby debut. Early criss, chance at the far post, Hinchcliffe, thats just marvelous stuff. Also went to the 1-1 at old toilet when Brightwell scored an absolute better.

On a sour not I was also at old toilet for the 5 nil defeat & FA cup 2-1 defeat stitch up. Probably my worst experience was throwing away a 2 goal lead at Maine Road when Quinn scored and we got beat 3-2.

I 8 rags
 
JGL07 said:
It was not my first derby, but certainly my favourite. It was in 1968 in the latter stages of City's title win. I was working in Sunlight House on Deansgate at the time and a fair group of us went to the match together. We were in the stand next to the Stetford End in the paddock below the seating. The group I went with included some City supporters some for United and some (maybe?) neutrals. Back then with pay-at-the -gate and no segregation, this was possible.

United had an implausible big lead in the table at the turn of the year. Malcolm Allison responded by declaring that 'United were rubbish'. This provoked derision on the press but may have stimulated doubts within United and City closed in.

This Old Trafford derby was arguably the turning point of the season, United went ahead very early on through George Best but City were not phased and pressed on and Colin Bell equalised. City took the lead through George Heslop before Francis Lee settled things at 1-3.

That match flushed out the United supporters I had worked with for some years but had always denied their partisanship. City winning opened up the championship race that season. City took full advantage and (eventually) won the title at Newcastle.
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This was my 2nd derby, aged 7 I was in the cantilever seats close to the Stretford end with my uncle, I will never forget that night looking across at the scoreboard end at a mass of sky blue haze.....even then I remember not feeling completely safe surrounded by unpleasant rags when we jumped in the air after we scored.
Memorable night indeed.
 
JGL07 said:
I think it may have been from a School rather than a College. However there were a large number of colleges that were not University level then but might have been merged into current Universities over the years. I just wish I could replace the scarf.

My pal Chris, who obtained them, died very young (at 28).
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Must have been a very smart school — private, obviously — if it could produce its own college-style scarves.
I only ask because there are quite a lot of colleges that make up the federation that is the University of London. My own — Goldsmiths — had a smart black and yellow scarf (which I also bloody lost!). It might be worth dropping in to the university shop which used to be in the ULU building (now Student Central) on Malet Street. There would be quite a range of colours there, and it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that you'd find sky blue, white and maroon for one of the colleges. I'll look in myself next time I'm in London. Whenever I'm in Oxford or Cambridge I always keep a look out for City colours home or away in the shops that supply college clothing. But basically I'd like City to get their act together and bring out those scarves again. I'm absolutely certain that there'd be a niche market for them, although they'd probably retail at a good £60 and upward these days.
Anyhooo… this thread is theoretically supposed to be about first derbies! Derailing over.
 
bluwes said:
1962. Rag cousins took me to Old Toilet hoping to turn me from a Blue family to change to the dark side. Unfortunately for them Peter Dobing scored the winner in a 3-2 City win. I'll never forget it. Shame we got relegated at the end of the season
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I think you have forgotten it! Dobing scored the first two, Alex Harley scored the winner. My first derby too.
 
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