Simon Hill

Why Blue?

I’ve been a Blue as long as I can remember… all thanks to the dreaded family disease. Dad is a Blue (season ticket not renewed this year for the first time in donkey’s years), grandad was a Blue of sixty years, and (now here’s a thing!) great grandad William Taylor played for City in 1887 when they were Gorton or Gorton Athletic (if anyone has any stats, photos etc I’d be very interested by the way).

I saw my first match in April 1973 when City were beaten 3-1 at home by Ipswich. I seem to remember dad telling me Mike Summerbee scored our goal, but to be honest, so disinterested was I in the action that I played with my dinky cars on the old Platt Lane seats, and even thought they started again at half-time with the score at nil-nil!

Second match was home vs. West Ham, opening day of the 74/5 season when I really got the bug – we won 4-0 and complete with gleaming new City rosette (what happened to them?). I was smiling all the way back to Irlam where nan was cooking the egg and chips which was to become customary fare after our routine pilgrimage to Maine Road. Three generations continued to watch City throughout the seventies, when we were virtually unbeatable at home… I can barely remember anyone bar Liverpool ever winning at the Academy, and my City obsession was further helped by membership of the Junior Blues. I was one of the four thousand (mentioned in Gary James’s excellent Manchester – the Greatest City book) who went to Belle Vue for the convention around 1978… I even made a banner which I think read “Futcher the Butcher” in honour of our latest signing (Paul… not Ron) Quite why I was surprised I didn’t win any prizes for my ingenuity I’ve no idea.

Mid 80’s I took to going to away games with the Travel Club… lots of near-kickings at Blackburn, Sheffield etc. with hooliganism still rife, but plenty of memories too of big gruff Helen Turner informing us youngsters quite categorically that there was to be “no alcohol… and no bloody swearing neither!” I was also on the old “Special” train the day it ploughed into a horse en route to Barnsley – 15 minutes late to the match but I’ll never forget the cheers of the Blues already in the ground as we rushed down the hill to Oakwell from the station… they were reassured that the away end, as ever, was going to be full!

The 90’s of course have been depressing… but the joy of watching the lads hasn’t diminished. Although I have to say that I was as close as I’ve ever been to saying “stuff it” after travelling to York last December on a rare Saturday off. No parking places… 1-nil down before I got into the ground… freezing cold… last minute sub getting the winner… four and a half hour drive home. Boll**ks.

Anyway, we’ve only lost to Oldham since, so no complaints. I think Joe’s getting it right and here’s to a trip to Wembley.

First printed in: MCIVTA Newsletter #487 on