Maine Road (NWCFL Premier Division)

Maine Road FC were formed in the mid fifties by a group of blues who wanted to play football. I caught up with Macca, a time-served Salford blue, for a chat

What have the past five years been like and were you sad to see the back of Mancini?
‘Sad’ is probably the wrong word – I will always be grateful for what he did for us but I’d been hearing a lot of stories from behind the scenes for a while which made me doubt if he could be in place long-term.

He seems to have a ‘one size fits all’ approach to man management and appears incapable of realising not every player can be treated in the same way. We all know Premier League players are precious but you won’t change that and you have to adapt accordingly. He seemed unwilling to change and some of his public tantrums regarding Marwood (no matter how justified) and others were far from great.

The last five years have obviously been a bit odd for someone born a month after we won the League Cup in 1976 – going from absolutely nowt in my lifetime to an FA Cup and Premier League title in successive yearstakes some adjusting to. As I always say though, we got lucky, simple as that. I don’t look back on the bad times with fondness because they were bloody awful. Anyone who yearns for those days wasn’t actually there.
I like the idea of this kindly old chap with the sharp brain replacing the nowty young manager who was causing friction, but I’ve not formed a real opinion on him yet. We were excellent against Newcastle, awful against Cardiff and pretty average against Hull so I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little worried. Early days though – I know.

What have been your highest and lowest points as a blue?
Highest is not what you’d expect. I don’t think I’ll ever top the feeling of when that ball hit the net at Wembleyfrom Dickov’s boot in 1999. It’s dead easy to sneer because it was a third tier play off final but if we’d lost that game everything would have changed – we were screwed. I was at University at the time and my dissertation was on the new ground and City at the time and, believe me, if that goal hadn’t have gone in there’dhave been no new ground, and there might not even be a Manchester City now. Things were that bad.  

Aguero’s goal left me euphoric but Dickov’s goal resulted in a cocktail of emotions I don’t think I’ll ever experience again – unless I’m pulled from the burning wreckage of a plane before it explodes in later years.

And the worst?

1996-1999.

What was your first City game?
Crystal Palace at home in 1984. All my family are reds and I’d been taken to Old Trafford before but just didn’t take to it. Within five minutes of being at Maine Rd for a second tier game as an eight year old I knew it was more to my liking. I’ve always been an awkward get.

Do you miss Maine Road (the ground)?

Terribly. I know we had to leave and I know it was a ramshackle old imbalanced mess in the end but it was great. Loads of my red mates miss it as well because there was nothing like a Maine Road derby.  All those little rat runs and that uneasy feeling in your stomach that the next blind corner could lead to a whole load of trouble – loved it.

Get to many non league games?

I go to none and I’m not proud of that. I’ve been threatening to tag along with my FC United mates for a mooch when City haven’t a game now and again but never have done as yet. No reason why I shouldn’t pop down to Salford City though in fairness. 

Ever seen Maine Road FC play and what’s the perception of them among the blues you know?

I’ve a story about Maine Road FC. During Pearce’s last season in charge which, in all fairness, was hell on earth, a few fanzine people and other blues had a meeting about the possibility of a ‘breakaway’ club (a la FC) such was the depressing atmosphere at City at the time. Not only was the football abysmal but the stewarding was heavy handed and the prices were higher than they are now. I attended more out of interest than anything but the meeting finished with it more or less decided that; rather than start a new club, people would commit more to Maine Road FC. Perhaps some people in that room did but, I have to admit, I’ve never seen them play, but I’ve not heard a bad word about them at the match. I think it isrecognised there is an established link there.

My Dad (who I still sit next to at the game to this day) got released by United at 16 years of age and had a good non-league career – Prestwich Heys and Runcorn being his main clubs when they were in the upper echelons of the non-league world (he’s 71 now bless him – but still quicker than me). So I really should make the effort.

What’s the best thing about Manchester?

The Northern Quarter.

And the worst?

The Northern Quarter.

How do you think the derby on Sunday will go?

I don’t even want to think about it. Worst days of my year. 3-0 City.