What qualifies you as a football fan? Anybody can say they follow a team. What do you have to do to be allowed to bathe in the reflected glory of 'your' team's success? When are you a proper fan?
I haven't been to a City match in years. The last time was for my one and only visit to the Etihad/City of Manchester Stadium/Eastlands once for a rather dour goalless draw against Birmingham City. A bit of googling has filled in the details - it was on the 8 February 2004. I remember now, I took my dad for his birthday.
Ah, dad. With your tales of Bell, Summerbee and Lee. You painted me blue in a town of red devils (Salford RLFC being the original Red Devils, of course...) I can't blame you entirely - going against the popular tide appealed to my outsider mentality. But it was a bit rough at times. Losing the FA Cup. Losing the pigging Full Members Cup (remember that?) Relegation to the third tier of English football.
But it's ace being a City fan. It's funny and strange and stupid. Football might not be a huge thing in my life, but funny, strange and stupid are, so City are a perfect fit. This blog isn't about my experiences with the men in sky blue, though. It's about my claim to the glory of the fact that Manchester City are the 2011/12 league champions.
I had a chance to go to the FA cup semi-final last year (you know, the one against United, that we won on our way to winning our first trophy in 35 years) but turned it down as I had a long standing family commitment. There were more important things in my life than football.
So am I a fan? What right have I to wave my inflatable banana in triumph eight years after going to my last game? Is it enough to say I stood in the Kippax in front of Curly Watts 25 years ago?
Yes, and I'll tell you for why.
I never gave up.
I kept on listening and hoping until the final whistle. I couldn't believe the reports of people who were leaving the ground while there was still five minutes to play! I watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on Sunday for the first time in years. There's a line in there where Charlie says he should have a golden ticket because he wants it more than anyone else in the world. Didn't these people want the championship? Why did they give up? I know nothing about football - tactics and all that - but I know that. I really, really wanted it, and that is why, after all these years, I can have it.
There's a lot I don't like about football - the money, the corruption, the homophobia, the thugs like Joey Barton - to the point where I considered giving up on it now that the pain of my childhood had been erased. But that would be throwing the baby out with the bath water - you can't just ignore the joy that comes when those negatives are overcome. So I'm afraid I'm City 'til I die.
Hmm, too much introspection. Let's have a fashion parade. Way back last year I detailed two of the City kits I had as a boy. Here are the kits currently in my possession:
Ah, this is an old favourite of mine - the replica of the 1969 FA cup winning shirt. Had this years. Was a lot thinner when I first got it. Little bit tight now (harrumph).
Hmm, not sure what season this one's from, but at least it still fits.
Kappa away kit from 1999. I think they must have worn this twice at most because (and I'm not an expert here) having blue in your home and away kit means it's not much use as a change strip. Most of the time they used that blue and fluorescent yellow striped thing that starred in the play-off final against Gillingham. You know, this one:
Yes, my friends. Never forget that Sergio Aguero is the modern day Paul Dickov!
More soonliest
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