Man City News

Highs & Lows Of Being A Man City Fan

|
Image for Highs & Lows Of Being A Man City Fan

Vital Manchester City newest recruit, Tom CTID aka Tom Edwards sent us the following.

In my ‘career’ as a Manchester City fan I, like many of you, have experienced few highs and many lows. Seeing as I’m only a relatively young 23-year-old means I have ‘suffered’ more often than not. I can’t imagine many people have grown up with a club that has suffered three relegations and three promotions in eight years and been through more managers than hot dinners, and all this while his friends football club are winning every trophy that is put in front of them (no prizes for guessing who that is).

Although people would view this as ‘suffering’, I can’t help remembering all the good times we went through. I still watch the Play Off Final of 1999 on Youtube, and remember where I was and what I was doing when Paul Dickov equalised and the same applies to Nicky Weaver’s run around the Wembley pitch (My grandma’s house trying to get my head around facing another long season in Division 2). Only a year later I’m watching Blackburn hitting every bit of goal frame possible, only for us to turn on the style in the 2nd half and win 4-1 to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Of course we haven’t suffered a low for two years so relegation duly follows but that rewards us with the appointment of Kevin Keegan, 99 points, 108 goals and the wonderful Ali Benarbia. Even though we storm the then called Division 1 we still feel a little disappointed by missing out on 100 points, missing out on a record 109 goals and Stuart Pearce missing a last minute penalty to get his 100th career goal.

So this brings me to our return to the Premier League. The highs of beating them lot from Salford for the first time in 13 years. It was the first time I actually had bragging rights over my friend’s and I made sure I made the most of it! Another highlight is winning at Anfield for the first time since I can remember. Naturally as its City we have to balance the scales, and therefore suffer our regular early round cup exit to a lesser team, this time it’s Wigan Athletic’s turn, and who can forget losing the final ever game at Maine Road. The familiar words ‘Typical City’ are muttered by everyone, and all this while another League title is gained by the neighbours.

The next season provides us with a platform to become a bigger club. A brand new stadium, international signings and European Football. With optimism high, we get off to a great start with a 6-2 thrashing of Bolton a particular highlight. Things finally seem to be going our way until we suddenly forget how to win for 14 long games or so. Even during this dreadful run we still manage to find a fantastic moment with an astonishing 4-3 win at Tottenham in the FA Cup. Again I still remember where I was and what I was doing while watching this game (my grandma’s house again, maybe I should watch all our games there). This also provides me with another classic Youtube clip. Eventually what promised to be a successful season ends up being a relegation battle with particular memories of giving Wolves their first premier league win, a stunning Michael Tarnat free-kick against Blackburn and a brawl on the Walkers Stadium pitch just before a controversial penalty for Leicester is missed by our one time hero Paul Dickov.

The following year brings the unusual mid-table mediocre for us. Apart from inflicting a certain Jose Mourinho with his first defeat in English football not much happens apart from KK’s resignation and brings us yet another new manager in Stuart Pearce. Surprisingly come the last game of the season were only a win away from clinching the final European spot, and were playing our only rivals Middlesbrough. Naturally with the scores level at 1-1 and David James up front we win a last minute penalty! This is it! The script has been written. We haven’t missed a penalty for years, but of course Robbie Fowler misses it and there goes our hopes with it. Typical City.

The next two years under Stuart Pearce were dreadful. There was a Manchester Derby victory in there but that’s all I care to remember. Suddenly were taken over by a Thai Prime Minister and Sven Goran Eriksson is in charge, I’m in dreamland.

Again were off to a great start, and we’ve just done the double over Utd for the first time in my life time, but the end of the season turns into a farce. Sven knows he’s a goner at the end of the season, Thaksin is wanted by the Thai government for corruption, rumours are around that were on the brink of bankruptcy and we and we lose 8-1 to an average Middlesbrough team, and the league title has gone to its usual place.

Season 2008/2009 is upon us and Mark Hughes has arrived, but the rumours are still around about our financial problems. I sit down in front of Sky Sports News waiting for the drama to unfold on the final day of the transfer window. I couldn’t have dreamed about what was going to happen on that day. Suddenly were the richest club in the world and were making bids for every player we possibly can. I’m in dreamland. I stay up until 2 in the morning, we have just signed Robinho, were going to win everything, apparently. The season as usual is inconsistent, brilliant at home, terrible away, but we did beat Portsmouth 6-0. But that doesn’t matter because next season is the season where we rise to the top.

This season, as expected, we dominate all the back pages with our spending spree, and we put one over Utd by poaching a certain Carlos Tevez. Again were off to a great start but we hit our usual mid season problems and end up with another new manager. Surprisingly as I write this we currently occupy the desired 4th spot. This could be the start of a brand new exciting era, or once again it could be another excuse for us to utter our most famous words, Typical City.

As you can tell I have been through a rollercoaster of a ride following my beloved City, but would I change anything? Not a chance! Strap me in tight because I’m here for the ride. Hopefully I’ll be experiencing more highs than lows for these next few years.

CITY TIL I DIE!

Tom Edwards



Share this article

We're still in the hunt for CL football