Niall Dry

Why Blue?

Born on the 14th May 1977 in Orkney to a Scottish mother and Mancunian father, I was brainwashed from birth by my dad into the ways of being a Blue.

My first real memory of Man City is being relegated, surprise surprise. It must have been 1983 and the last day of the season fell on my birthday (this may not be 100% accurate as I was only 6 at the time, any stattos out there could confirm this, but I’m pretty sure I’m right) and my grandmother had sent me my first City kit as a birthday present. So there I was well chuffed and wearing the kit with pride, I still have the kit – team sponsered by SAAB, when my dad came home from the pub. “Daddy, daddy what does relegation mean?”, I asked after hearing the term on the radio. Obviously not wanting to upset me on my birthday he replied “Nothing son, it doesn’t mean a bloody thing, now go and sod off and enjoy your birthday.” or words to that effect. I knew it was a bad thing.

My next memory is going to my first football match. We were staying with my grandparents, on my mum’s side, near Dumfries and City were playing at Carlisle Utd so my dad and my uncle (my mum’s sister had also married a Man City fan) took me down to see them. This must have been the season after we got relegated, see above, and although memories of the game are very vague I’m pretty certain we got beaten.

Despite these two setbacks I’m still a Blue and although the majority of Saturdays would have been more fun had I got out early I have no regrets. Seeing 5-1 appear on the vidiprinter at full time made all the heartache worthwhile.

Hope it’s not too long till it’s repeated.

First printed in: MCIVTA Newsletter #494 on