Archives for: February 2010, 01
A History of City in 100 Objects
February 1st, 2010Something that you own and particularly cherish,
It doesn't have to be valuable, old, it doesn't even have to be match related just something that says 'City' to you.
I'll start with a ticket from the 8th May 1999, City v York at Maine Road. It's in a small frame alongside my Play Off ticket hanging on a wall in my office and it's there not because we won 4 nil, or because I had a fiver on the correct score at 25/1; it's the ticket from the first match I took my daughter to, she was 6 and we got in the ground early for a good look round, I took her picture and she looked so tiny sitting in the Main Stand surrounded by empty seats holding the scarf her Nana had knitted her.
As a club we're barely recognisable from even such a short time ago as 1999, players come and players go but this really is 'Our City' and it's a wonderful place to be.
What object will you choose? (Ian Guildford)
SPIKE
A coin from a Texaco petrol station with Colin Bell's head on it. I was about ten at the time it was given to me by my dad who was a lorry driver. He'd got it for me by saving up his petrol vouchers. I've always cherished it.
A brass coaster, with the club emblem on, that City sent out to the first junior season ticket holders. I was 14 at the time. It still has pride of place on my desk at home.
ALANHARMER442
1956 F A Cup Final programme-not cos I was there but because it was the end of the season during which I was born.
TFS
The photo of my Grandad playing bowls with Tony Book. I must get a decent frame for it one day and put it up somewhere. Right now its in a box along with programmes and a stub kindly sent by Citizen Ian. Theres a load of 50s 60s and 70s rugby programmes in there too, Mostly Pontypool, some international and a very nice signed Barbarians v All Black from 1973 when Gareth Edwards scored that try, my Dad was there and he reminded me (À la Max Boyce) every time that try was shown on tele. I don't half go off on a tangent sometimes.
The second one is my 1999 playoff shirt, my Dad bought it from somewhere and I have no idea where and probably never will. Were they widely avaliable at the time?
SIR KENNETH
My contribution is my much prized enamel 'first generation' City round badge - bought for me by my parents c.1971

As no doubt most of you know, it is a little unusual and perhaps even rare because it is the first version of the classic round badge, with the 'three rivers of Manchester' heraldic device on the lower half of the shield. This was worn on the shirts for just two seasons I think (1970-72) after which the design was changed for the more familiar red rose of Lancashire version which then remained our club badge until 1997.
Apart from representing part of a wonderful period in our club's history, this badge has wrapped up in it some great personal memories for me. I used to wear it on my jacket ALL the time, but a few months ago I went within a whisker of losing it and scared myself so much it's stayed safely in a draw since then - only to be worn on special occasions.
I actually prefer this version of the badge to the more famous red rose one. For me it has more connection with Manchester - the city (rather than the whole of Lancashire) and of course, 1970-1972 when it was worn represent a good chunk of the glory years (as opposed to what came after 1972 - for the most part). If we ever went back to the old round badge this is the version I'd love us to go to.
WILHELMHAND
I had a 1999 anfield ticket
but I let it go last year
still have a maine road badge
that attracts unwanted attention
WOOBURN BLUE
A 1955 Fa Cup Final city v Newcastle tea cup/mug.....left to me by my Red Grandmother in Law.....fck knows why she kept it, she hated City with a Passion.
I love it.
FATBOYSLIMMING
The small blue and white bar scarf with maroon tassles that my mum knitted for me in the 60s when I was a nipper. It's been too short for me to wear for nearly 40 years but it's tucked in a drawer as I can't bear to throw it away.
PILGRIM
I'll have to choose something I no longer own. My City scrapbooks.
Growing up in Ireland in the 60's and 70's meant that the chances of getting to Manchester to see my heroes in the flesh were about the same as man landing on the moon and finding it was made of Double Gloucester. So too feed my City habit I collected everything I could find and put it in a scrapbook. Photo's, newspaper cuttings, badges even my own match reports on City games I'd seen on Match of the Day or The Big Match. Sadly they were all lost in a house move in 1978 never to be seen again.
Thirteen so far, anybody else have treasured City items?

