Bob Krug

Why Blue?

Congratulations to Chris Wiseman on his epic (both in size and quality) Why Blue. Despite the historical backdrop to his memories and the recollections of seeing CIty win trophies, I can assure him that the over-riding experience of being a City fan remains completely unchanged. In any case, they gave us a cup for finishing third in Division 2, and trips to Luton and Wycombe were a bit like time travel, so I kind of understand…

By the way Chris: “I’ve been back to MR several times in the past 8 years, but have always missed City or not been able to get a ticket when I’ve been there.” Next time, leave a message here and between us I’m sure we’ll be able to secure you a seat. Maybe you could try the Gene Kelly stand – that might represent a new City experience to add to your extensive collection. All the best!

Why Blue?

Commencing my City life around the mid-fifties, I derived great enjoyment reading Chris Wiseman’s serialised ‘Why Blue’ and all the memories it provoked. This was a truly well written piece and in his final summary he managed to explain why we City supporters are what we are. For me he caught the essence beautifully.

What a book that would make, if one of our City ‘anoraks’ could attack the ‘Why Blues’ file and re-mould it into a City history through the eyes of the fans. I know it’s been done before, by Colin Schindler, but a true City story wouldn’t need a reference to the wrong side of town in its title to aid its sales.

Well done Chris.

Why Blue?

I’ve toyed with the idea of submitting a Why Blue, but my story is pretty humdrum. I first developed a minor interest in English football during a trip to London. It was in May of ’98 – the week of the FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Newcastle United. The evening before the match, I purchased several cans of Caffreys, ignited a Montecristo Tubos and walked over to Trafalgar Square to watch the Gunners and Magpies taunt each other. I sat on the massive pigeon sh!t-encrusted wall surrounding the square. It was a pretty cool experience (watching the lads – not sitting in bird sh!te). The pubs along the Strand all had “No Team Colours” signs in front. For whatever reason, I found that amusing. Everyone was buying walk-aways and drinking them on the sidewalk. Several drunks decided to run nude through the fountains. Circumcision is apparently not offered in the UK.

Anyway, I left London with a new appreciation for the EPL. However, I did not yet have a team to follow. Jumping on the Arsenal bandwagon didn’t seem right. And Newcastle’s kit was too damn ugly. Thank God for superficial thoughts. About 10 months later I was in Cayman, snorkelling around Captain Marvin’s boat in the North Sound with a group of doctors and insurance brokers from Chicago. Brother Ian, a Cayman-based Mancunian, was also on the boat. He wasn’t swimming due to a recent sex injury. Ian and I talked a bit about the FA Cup final. He was kind not to correct me when I said I had been in London during the “Arsenal / Man U” final. Ian ignored my blunder and mentioned that he was from Manchester. He pointed out that there were actually two clubs in Manchester. His team was the one the locals supported. The team Liam and Noel Gallagher supported. The “form team” (I had no idea what he meant by that). Brother Ian was obviously passionate about City (although, he was anxious to get back to shore to watch a Man U match… but, in Ian’s defence, it was only to take the p!ss out of a Red mate of his). In any event, Ian’s enthusiasm impressed me and City became my club. Besides, I was already a fan of Boddingtons and the trippy “Manchester sound”, so what the hell.

When I returned to Chicago, I discovered the Blues were not in the Premiership, they were in something called Nationwide Division Two. I figured that must be the level directly below the EPL. So young, so na