John Shearer

Why Blue?

OK the purists amongst you will notice 2 things very quickly –

1. this bloke is very old
2. he wasn’t born in Manchester

My first recollection of City was in the 1955 Cup Final when as a small lad I watched the game on a small black and white tele. Lost 1-3. And again in 1956 – same tele, same score but this time in City’s favour. At this time I used to go and watch the local team – Leyton Orient. Whilst in those days a small lad could go to the game on his own, a trip to Manchester was, well, impossible. Cars were virtually non-existent for your working class bod. There was one car in our street at that time. I wrote off to City at this time as Bert Trautmann was now marginally in front of Stanley Matthews in the popularity stakes. A sheet containing all the players’ autographs came back – and yes I’ve still got it. It must have been about this time when I declared to my street urchin friends that I was a Manchester City supporter. I can’t remember the first game I actually watched where City were playing but I would guess it would be away to Spurs, probably around 1960. I didn’t go to many football matches between the years 1966 – 1976, I was too busy playing myself. Only village football but it was on Saturdays, and sometimes Sundays, and occasionally on a Wednesday. And then there were the kids to bring up. None of these things were insurmountable and then we moved up North – to Rotherham. Yes, I then supported my local team, with occasional visits over the Pennines to watch City. And then divorce, and I was working in Manchester on contract so, I moved to Fallowfield and then to Northenden. OK, I’m more southerly now, in Milton Keynes, and my interest in football had lapsed a little of late, but then a job with PCs and Internet and thanks Ashley it really regenerates the interest again.

Memorable games that I’ve attended:

• West Ham (A), last game of the 1963 season. City had to win and Birmingham had to lose for City to stay up. City lost 6-1. Alan Oakes was playing.
• Palace (A), 1972. lost 1-O, Got Colin Bell’s autograph. The only footballer’s autograph I ever got. What a privilege for that man Bell. The one and only.
• Spurs (A), 1968. Penultimate game of the league championship season. Won 3-1.
• Newcastle (A). The game following Spurs. Won 4-3 to lift the league title.
• Wembley Cup Final, 1969. Neil Young’s only goal to beat Leicester 1-0.
• Luton (H), needing a draw to stay up. Lost 1-0.
• Charlton (H). Last game of the season. A win (or was it a draw) required to win promotion. Won 5-1. Took the kids and had to explain to them afterwards that not all games are like this.
• Liverpool (A) a few seasons ago. Drew 2-2. Went with a load of Liverpool fans, but cheered like hell when the last minute Quinn equaliser went in.

First printed in: MCIVTA Newsletter #78 on