In 1979 Ian Dury and the Blockheads reached number three in the UK Singles Chart with a 7′ vinyl called ‘Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3’.
Nearly 40 years later and for some bizarre reason Ian Dury’s song title has found itself embedded in my head.
Four decades ago compared to the here and now
Manchester City finished the 1978/79 season in the bottom half of the old First Division – 15th to be precise.
In 1979 the club left the FA Cup at the Fourth Round stage.
In the same season we were dumped out of the League Cup in the Fifth Round.
UEFA Cup Quarter-Finals.
Borussia Monchengladbach, who went onto lift the trophy beat us 4-2 over two legs.
Mick Channon won City’s golden boot, netting 15 times.
Season 2017/18
Reasons to be cheerful part 1
To win this seasons Premier League City need to win six out of their remaining 11 fixtures.
MCFC face Arsenal in the League Cup Final.
FA Cup Fifth Round – League One leaders Wigan Athletic host Pep Guardiola’s side.
Champions League – the lads have one foot in the Quarter-Finals having thumped Basel 4-0 in the first leg.
Reasons to be cheerful part 2
In 1979 I was a teenage spotty faced skinny rebel. In 2018 I find I’ve lost most of my hair, (where did it go?) somehow created myself a reasonable sized beer belly (rather proud of it) and now I look in the mirror and see a middle aged bloke with five grandchildren.
Changed times
Back in the day and by the time we were half way through February just about every football pitch was like a quagmire. Now we see pristine snooker table like pin-precision pitches.
In the good old days football grounds were crumbling around our heads, terraced and uninviting with hooliganism prevalent the length and breadth of the country. Now we see multi-million pound stadia with gastro restaurants dotted around the place. Players earn more in a week than many of the old-timers received during a 20 year playing career. All good, right?
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
The word ‘quadruple’ is sort of a heathen phrase and should not be uttered under any circumstances. In fact Pep will not hear of it.
We have a first team squad who play ‘poetry in motion’ football. In fact, I doubt England has ever seen the like. I know I haven’t.
I feel so lucky to be alive and at the same time witnessing my team who, incidentally have not won jot this season, on the verge of becoming the best City team EVER.
Chalk and cheese
Smoke ridden wet-led pubs, three TV channels and a Saturday night Jimmy Hill Match of the Day programme with around three 20 minute highlights per game have all been resigned into the history books, while smoke free three star Michelin pub / restaurants, hundreds of TV channels, the Internet, mobile phones and more than enough live televised games to wet anyone’s taste buds are something we take for granted.
Rose tinted glasses…
Not a chance!
Oh and by the way, I couldn’t end the article without…
Come on CITY!
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