Mark Barratt

Why Blue?

I sadly cannot be alone in having grown up in a Cheshire family where Blue was definitely a minority colour, and that during the heady days of the late ’60s/early 70s. My father, uncle, sister and brother all took the easy option, the latter two some years on, leaving me (still) as the sole Blue. A splendid photo of Mick Doyle from ‘Shoot’ is my earliest momento from those days and possibly marks the start of my obsession. Things were a little better at school (mixed loyalty amongst the bullies invariably meant that you got thumped whichever way you responded to the eternal question “City or United?”).

Since moving away from Manchester, visits home have seen some great moments (the 5-1 being one) but more dread whilst waiting for half and full time scores on the telly. More recently it’s been a diet of away fixtures in the South as I am now living in Bristol.

Any fellow Bristol Blues can contact me on: 0117 974 1873.

First printed in: MCIVTA Newsletter #493 on