Ian Thompson

Why Blue?

I’ve just read Ian Thompson’s article (why blue) in MCIVTA and I couldn’t agree more with his sentiments. I think I started the ball rolling on ‘why a blue’ in MCIVTA but it looks like us fans actually from Manchester (no offence intended to those farther afield Blues) have the same opinion of our club. They always seem to have been impressed with the club and above all the fans and that’s what’s got under the skin and made them a Blue. Like you say (Ian), how many other clubs could still rely on a hardcore of around 20k after 19 years of mediocrity? There have been many occasions were I’ve said enough’s enough and no more so that the previous two seasons. I had promised that I wouldn’t get another season ticket (in my tenth year now) because the lack of success had gotten to me. However, come renewal time I was there pledging myself and my cash to the cause of City. In my case it might have been the fact that those rags from down the road had won nearly everything. Strange that even in the depths of such despair it would have been easy to refuse to hand over my money and not renew my allegience, but I thought that this was not the time to desert the club. I suppose we all live in the hope that City will come good. My concern is for the future; will the Junior Blues continue to be a strong supporters base if the lack of success continues? How many kids will still come to Maine Road when the Bandwagon that is Old Trafford can so easily lure them away with the promises of trophies and success?

Just some of my thoughts.

Why Blue?

Memories

Being a Blue, it’s impossible to conclude without mentioning some experiences that are forever etched in my memory, to which any City fan could themselves relate and which highlight the uniqueness of being a City supporter:

Good

Beating AC Milan 3-0 at Maine Road in the 78-79 UEFA Cup (quarter finals?). After a 2-2 away draw, 3-0 up at half time, it seemed we were destined for European success but alas it was not to be.

Bad

Losing 0-3 at home to the Rags in the same season, my first derby match, and having to watch Colin Bell continue his comeback in this game, completely out of position as sweeper behind Dave Watson (and Tommy Booth or Mick Doyle), not exactly a pacey central defence.

Good

Circa 79, beat Chelsea 6-2 at Maine Road (really pleased my best mate!).

Bad

Same game, arrive 9 minutes late with City already 2-0 up, just in time to see Chelsea score 2 quick goals to make it 2-2 after 15 minutes.

Good

Villa Park, April 1981 – watching Paul Power’s scorching shot fly in against Ipswich (to set up FAC final with Spurs) from the top stand opposite the Holte End – I can still see it flying in now, the ball is passed to Power from a free kick, he lets fly and the ball hammers past the Ipswich wall and Paul Cooper their keeper, the Ipswich net bulges and City fans on 3 sides of the ground go wild.

Bad

1. FAC final against Spurs in ’81 – City dominate the game, see Steve Mackenzie miss a near open goal towards the end when we were 1-0 up, then seeing Tommy Hutchie’s own goal.
2. The replay, missing Steve Mack’s cracking equaliser because of City fans decking some Spurs fans in front of us – I think these Spurs fans had bought tickets on open sale at Wembley, in front of the City fans. Watch with bewilderment as a Spurs’ mohican-haired fan is punched seemingly over the tunnel entrance and falls 20-30 feet, then crowd erupts as I miss ‘live’, the best goal in my opinion, ever scored at Wembley (best goal I missed at wembley and had to watch at home on TV)

Good

Trevor Francis’ City début away against Stoke City, won 3-1 and Trev scores twice (why oh why did we sell him, and for only 900,000?). Same season, 1-0 home win over Wolves, Trev scores a cracker, City top of the league.

Bad

Same season (I think!), Luton Town at Maine Road, May 1983. City do just about everything but score, then the unthinkable happens and we concede a late goal that sees City relegated. Kippax started in fine voice (Luton Town, going down, etc.) but worst atmosphere I’ve experienced at Maine Road – not the level of chanting, but the niggle between the City supporters in the Kippax – at one point, the crowd opened up to the side of us and I just about managed to get out of the way of an enormous City fan, shirtless and clutching a blood-soaked head, legging it after a much smaller City fan. I also shouted loads of abuse at Luton players Paul Walsh and Brian Horton. Seemed at one point to be a mass brawl in the north stand uncovered section – Luton vs. City or City vs City, no-one seemed to know.

Good

Move to South Wales and miss those great games against the likes of Carlisle, Grimsby and Plymouth, etc. in the 2nd division.

Bad

Come home one weekend towards end of season for my 5th home game that season, against Huddersfield Town when City are still very much in the promotion running. Get jumped outside Victoria station by City fans and nearly again by the same City fans in Piccadilly. City lose 2-3, I think Mark Lillis scored one of their goals, and blow all hope of immediate return to 1st division (as it was in those uncomplicated days). To finish off for this season, can’t bear to watch any more run-in games and end up watching Cardiff City’s last home game of the season against Sheff. Wed. Seemed to spend the whole game watching about 12,000 Wed. fans battling with about 6,000 Cardiff fans in almost every area of the ground. The result seems co-incidental, 0-0 and Sheff Wed. promoted as runners up to title winners Chelsea – City miss out.

Good

Almost 12 months later, hammer Charlton 5-1 at Maine Road and it’s promotion along with Brum City and Oxford at the expense of unlucky Pompey. Great atmosphere at this game, Kippax in full voice, even loads singing where we were at the front/middle of the Kippax – also seemed to be groups of hundreds of City fans in Platt Lane, the North and even Main Stand singing their hearts out – cauldron of noise. On the pitch at the end of the game, we’re going up!! Afterwards, spotted City and Charlton fans in the Kippax struggling and straining to get at one another to shake hands, exchange greetings, shirts, programmes, etc. (Reminiscent of Palace at end of ’90 season at Selhurst Park, I reckon cockneys south of the Thames are much less likely to jump on you than those north or east of said river, even those that bear Cantona’s stud marks on their chest). Also, in the same season, watched City win 3-0 at Ninian Park from the Cardiff End and live to tell the tale, and also was at Blackburn when we won 1-0 to knock them off and put us at top of the table at the time – best away match I can remember, out of a crowd of 22,000 at least 12,000 from City, City fans in every part of the ground.

Bad

May 1987, City relegated (again).

Good

June 1987, successfully finish college (no thanks to you City).

Bad

In the promotion season ’89, watch City lose 1-2 at home to relegation hopefuls Charlton – possibly the (and there have been many) worst ever performance from City I saw at Maine Road.

Good

Don’t go to any of the promotion run-in games (forced to take up playing rugby!!!!) with our kid, and thus avoid heart failure.

Bad

Miss the 5-1 home win – can’t remember what I was doing (Will Carling was then breathing a sigh of relief since my rugby career ended due to injury!)

Good

End of the ’91 season, watch City beat Sunderland 3-2 at Maine Road to finish above the Rags – probably the most away fans I’ve ever seen at Maine Road (10,000 at least), in the Kippax, Platt Lane full and maybe several thousand dotted around Main and North stands – they go down and Luton stay up – sat next to a Sunderland fan in the North Stand, we communicate with the aid of an interpreter.

Bad

Rags handed ECWC by Barcelona and claim they are Champions of Europe.

Good

End of ’92 season and Leeds win the league, some team in red eventually come 2nd.

Bad

See City lose 2-4 at home to Spurs in the Cup; I’m on telly for a whole minute close up with our kid when MOTD cameras do a close-up on fans in the Kippax while other fans rampage over the pitch. Subsequent delay and late finish means I don’t eventually get back to South Wales until the early hours of Monday morning, and Rags win the league.

Good

Or so I think, City draw Cardiff in Cup and look forward to watching City play locally.

Bad

City lose 1-0 to Cardiff, I stand in crappy, open, uncovered Grangetown End, and the game is broadcast ‘live’ to a laughing Welsh (Rag) nation on BBC Wales. After ugly confrontation with Cardiff fans on the pitch at the end of the game, stewards and police do well to keep City fans behind their fence. Amazingly, both sets of fans are let out at same time from adjacent gates, get home in one piece – no trouble?

Some of the dates and events may be slightly inaccurate, but after 19 years no-one is perfect! Whatever happened to Helen with the bell, and anyone remember City’s appearance in the final of ITV’s ‘all in the game’ @1976?

First printed in: MCIVTA Newsletter #57 on