My kid blues and me!

Some of you may well know me I'm the writer of this blog Robert Allen I'm 34 years old and am a Manchester City fan always have been always will be.  That love for the club despite me now living in Chester has passed on to my two sons Connor aged 11 and Lucas aged 6 we proudly sit together in Block 134 of the Family Stand.  We enjoy going to games and cheering on City.

Bar the fact both boys do look a lot like me that's where the similarities end.  You may ask why so I'll explain.  Aged 8 I started attending games at Maine Road on a regular basis, I loved being stood on the Kippax about 15 yards past half way towards the North Stand End peering through the railings was my spot and most games it would be the same faces stood round me cheering on the likes of Kenny Clements and Paul Power etc... I even went away a fair few times back in them days going away was an experience the abuse hurled from the home team fans and the "modest facilities" most away ends had were a sight to behold.  I've endured 4 relegation's I've celebrated one 3rd tier playoff win and one 2nd tier title.  I've seen many managers come and go some did well some well lets just not got there! 

I've even seen 2 club saviours come and go in the board room.  Through it all my love for City didn't diminish any excuse to go to a game and I'd take it even if amazingly in the 3rd tier getting tickets to Maine Road wasn't that easy.   I saw us roll over 4-2 at Sheffield United as Brian Gayle did what a lot of ex blues always seemed to do and score against us. I saw Christian Negouai punch the ball into the net V Rotherham.  Following City played a part in making me the man I am truly believing try your best and if it doesn't work out just keep trying no matter how low you go.

My boys well they are well use to the facilities modern stadia give them.  True there is still the banter with opposition fans when you go away but the chances of a fight are a heck of a lot less, true we see a  lot of the same faces sat next to us week on week. They've seen 3 managers and 2 chairmen.  Connor started coming to watch with me on a regular basis during Svens season in charge City were still City 2 steps forward 3 back then 1 forward again but then things began to change.  It began with Thaksin and although City finished 10th there were definite signs things were improving till the last weeks when it was clear Sven was a goner . Little did we realise our saviour was infact broke there had been rumours but they were always flatly denied in the media by Thaksin.  To be fair knowing he was in trouble who he sold to the Club to was the key.  HH Shiekh Mansour and his chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak did get behind then manager Mark Hughes and despite improvements it wasn't happening fast enough,  Hughes got the push and in came Roberto Mancini.  I don't think anyone could have foreseen what was coming.

 Narrowly missing out on the Champions League in his first half a season Mancini in his first full season clinched Champions League Football and won the FA Cup the first major trophy I'd seen us win.  In his 2nd full season despite getting the "magic" 10 points City dropped out of the Champions League in the group stages City had dominated in the league.  Then a huge drop off and suddenly United were clear....then amazingly City not only pulled it back but clinched the title in the last minute of the season.  So to the boys their outlook being shaped by the club is keep striving to be the best and with effort and commitment you will get rewarded so different to my own above.

They've only known a club on the up, its doubtful they will suffer so many relegation's in the same time as I did and seeing a City captain lifting a trophy could well become a sight we and the rest of the world have to get used to!  I am a tad envious cheering on the likes of Aguero and Kompany, but am enjoying the journey with them that's why they were delighted to go and see the Premier League trophy as much as me it meant every bit as much to them.  It's a great time to be a kid blue but you know I wouldn't swap it as I do see this current period as reward for my love of the club and I'm glad I have my boys with me.  What an amazing time to be a kid blue though!

 

Match day experience at Manchester City

City fans have become very accustomed to the words "match day experience" Indeed the club on a regular basis get fans to do online questionnaires about their experiences whilst visiting the Etihad Stadium.  These have been used to introduce various facilities and features.  Since Shiekh Mansour bought the club the changes have been swift making the Stadium a much better place to go and have a day out, instead of just turning up seeing the game and leaving.

It first started with the changes to the North Stand which became the Family Stand. It's the end where my seasoncard is along with my two sons.  I got my first taste of it when City played Valencia in a pre season friendly and was impressed the whilst well lit plain lobby area had been transformed.  There were player height charts so the kids could see how big they were along side their heroes, as well as a kids food bar and sweet shop.

There was also face painters and during the season various forms of entertainment ranging from a robot chasing the kids around to pantomime dames.  Balloon animals were also popular seeing the speed those guys could make them really is a sight to behold and of course it gets your child's attention as they watch every twist and knot.  For me the best entertainment was a magician that came up to us and started performing he was brilliant and given chance I'm sure Connor would have stayed there all evening but there was a game to watch.

Then along came CitySquare now from what I know this is a fairly unique part of the Stadium Complex comprising of 3 large screens a stage a bar and cafe area.  Summerbee and Star Bar are the main meeting points for a lot of blues alongside Bluemoon Cafe on the other side of the CityStore.  Pre kick off there is usually things for kids to do be it being a keeper in the huge blow up goals as demonstrated by Lucas! or shooting through a giant picture of Joe Hart, to having your shot speed measured. On stage "Fanzone" Danny, Natalie Pike and Hugh Ferris interview various former players and celeb blues fans and stage competitions for upgraded tickets.  As well as this there have been "battle of the bands" etc...  It's all designed to make fans get there early have a beer or food and then not have to worry about rushing to get to the stadium and it's working normally CitySquare is packed an hour before kick off.  The bars are also open after the match so you can have a drink and a bite to eat whilst letting the traffic go and listen to a review of the 90 minutes.

This is where I do have a slight moan.  Things have ground to a halt in the family stand there is now no longer any entertainment there is rarely any face painters it seems the emphasis is purely on CitySquare.  If you go into the Stadium early you end up seeing whats going on on CitySquare on the big screens though the audio can be bad depending on the elements outside and in my opinion perhaps should be left for the people who are out there on the Square.  CitySquare is great but for me if you have younger children having things to do inside should still happen.  I have mentioned this in the last fan questionnaire I received so yes I am not just blogging without attempting to make my views clear to the club.

Things have changed The Etihad is a place to head to long before kick off and mix with fellow fans well before the game, things have been a bit trial and error as the club do strive to create a great "match day experience"  They are getting there and it made me change my habits that's for sure and I know other blues have said similar.