Ray Williamson

Why Blue?

When all is said and done I don’t know if I will be as devastated as I thought I would be should City not go up. This is not about us not being good enough to stay up, once we get there etc. (I think we will attract some good players, more so than Charlton or Watford). Of course I understand the implications of missing out on the Premiership windfall, the disappointment of being so close to the top and not getting to the land of the golden fleece. I am as desperate as the next Blue to see us play in the most exciting league in the world (unfortunately we are an English side not Italian – humor attack!).

This is more of a Why Blue Still than a Why Blue. I’ve done one of those. What I am getting at is that that nagging, pulling feeling in the stomach that has been so long part and parcel of a City fan that tells you “What A F!?*ing mess we are in: iffy team, crap manager, rubbish back room staff, bobbins Chairman, no money etc.” is slowly turning into a dull cramp. I think the term used is “turning the corner”. We all know that we are a long way from the finished article but things are getting better. They are for me anyway. We know where we have been, for those of us who had one had on the Cup in ’81, that was our last kiss with the goddess of shiny silver things (last season not included). And for a good, long time we have known where we are going – up sh*t creek without a paddle. Is that why we have been so loyal, ’cause we have know that it’s not as easy as choosing a winning team or a glamorous one. Are we safe in the knowledge that no matter how bad it gets, we are still going to be there for them, and we know it is going to get worse or at least it was? For the first time in years, and here is my point, I think that sometime soon City are going to do something alternative to just surviving. I don’t get that feeling of utter despair that I used to get. We didn’t win for 7 or 8 games and although I was gutted, I still felt we had some more in our tanks. We can still go up second. Not like years past when when one of the wheels came off you could bet your house on the rest of them following suit. Not now. We actually have the stomach for it. And so do I. cutmethroughanditi’llsayblue.

Why Blue?

I am 44 years old and live in Seattle, USA. When I was a kid looking for direction, boy did my dad show me the way. Any of my brothers who liked football, of course liked Utd. I remember when we lived in Rhodesia (69) my dad saying “what about City, I used to play for them”. Of course he didn’t, but City became my team, my dad, my hero. A short time later after watching my other hero Colin Bell play for England in the 70 world cup we moved to South Africa. I kept scrapbooks with all the City players and who could forget them, we all know who they are.

When we moved back to England, the very first day, my dad took me to Maine Road. To me it was like Mecca. I walked in and the first time I saw the field, I was just in awe. We got there pretty early and I savoured every second of City thrashing Southampton 3-0. Even through the bad times, although it wasn’t always easy to keep up on the information from here, my support has never waivered. I still argue with my brother who now lives in Philly. In fact I saw him last week, and for the first time in his life he agreed that City have the most loyal fans in England, including me. He does not understand how I could continue to support a team that was so recently in the second division (I’m afraid he is somewhat “Americanized”). Of course it’s always been easy for him with all their success. City’s resurgence has coincided with the inception of digital cable in Seattle, Fox Sports Northwest and Sky Sports News picked up locally. It’s been a joy to watch after all the years of mediocrity. Last week my brother asked if I thought that City owed me something. I told him no, it’s the other way round. After all any goof could support a winner all the time, it doesn’t take loyalty. City have taught me over the years that even though things get bad, greatness is just around the corner and I’ll live longer just waiting for it to happen. I love City and have for as long as I can remember. I really believe they are the team of the future. Hey wait a minute, I have always believed that too (as long as I can remember), but only City could keep me believing!

First printed in: MCIVTA Newsletter #594 on