TAXI FOR HUGHES??

Manchester City will make a statement at 7.30 pm this evening. Surely this is the end of the mission for Agent Hughes. If it is, old red nose across at the Theatre of Excuses will surely be looking over his shoulder after todays piss poor showing at Fulham.

BACK TO BUSINESS- CITY v. HULL AND BURNLEY AWAY AT WEST HAM

Got a bit distracted in last couple of weeks but now keenly anticpiating the visit of Hull to COMS and the visit of the Clarets to the Boleyn Ground to take on another team in claret and blue. When I was a kid, I used to listen out for the results of the other teams that played in claret and blue. It would be around 1970 so as I recall the league teams that used to divert me on a Saturday tea time were West Ham United, Aston Villa and Aldershot. Aldershot unfortunately went out of business in 1992 and dropped out of the league. The funny thing about the claret and blue kit attraction for me is that I must have read about Aldershot playing in claret and blue in some football history book because they actually stopped wearing the colours in 1939.

A long time before I was bothered about teams playing in claret and blue but obviously good enough for me at the time. More here on Aldershot's kit history should you wish to know more.

Anway the City match against Hull surely won't see a repeat of last seasons on-pitch half time bollocking of the team by manager Phil Brown.

Priceless really. His man management skills are hilarious. Each one of the players looks like he is thinking "what a cock this bloke is. I know we 're shit but at least we're not orange". Anyway, if you haven't seen it it's here...City were 4-0 up at this point by the way so the Hull players really needed a motivating 5 minute public bollocking in front of their own fans. I wonder what the fans thought of it . I bet they thought..."this Premiership lark is brilliant. You travel 150 miles to be 4-0 down at half time and instead of letting you go and get a balti pie at half time the orange headed manager subjects you to the vision of 11 grown men on £30k a week being treated as if they are naughty nine year olds at a primary school five-a-side tournament. We are in the big time now..."

My predictions for tomorrow, 4-0 to City and 1-1 for the Clarets.

IS ROBINHO A GENIUS OR AN ARSE? - OR BOTH?

Its hard to judge a man by what other people say he has said but if the press reports about Robhino's alleged comments on his position at Manchester City are true he is something of an ungrateful arse. If not then he is probably mis-represented and we should wait to see what he does, not what someone else says he is going to do.

If you haven't been following this he has allegedly spat his dummy out and wants away to Barca. Given that his return for the approximately £14 million in wages that City have paid him since he arrived in August 2008 has been bordering on f*** all we should probably be glad to see the back of him.

Given that he appears to be ready to play for Brazil on Saturday while he is still allegedly injured and hasn't turned out for the Blues since 27th August, then the calls for him to "do one" will surely grow.

On the flip side successful teams don't get successful by getting rid of players of the calibre of Robhino without a fight.

But if he wants away then it will be hard to keep him. We should make sure we get our money back though.

If you are in any doubt about how good he is watch this video : Robhino's Skills

ROBERT ENKE RIP

I know this site is about Burnley and Man City but it is also about football, and today football suffered a terrible personal tragedy with the suicide of German national keeper Robert Enke. Enke had suffered terrible personal tragedy in his life, the greatest of which was the loss of his 2 year old daughter in 2006. It appears this was something he never recovered from and yesterday he tragically and sadly took his own life. My thoughts are with his family. His current club Hanover 96 have cleared their website and replaced it with a black screen with the simple words "We are mourning Robert Enke". So very sad.

BILLY INGHAM RIP

This very sad news has been posted in various places in the last 24 hours.

This extract is from This Is Lancashire website:

CLARETS cult hero Billy Ingham - affectionately known as the Ginger Pele - has died following a long battle with illness. The tenacious midfielder, who played 266 times for Burnley between 1972 and 1980, scoring 31 goals, died on Saturday, aged 57. Yesterday tributes poured in from Clarets legends who played alongside Billy at the peak of his football career. And messages of support were sent to the Northumberland born player’s family, including his widow, Diane. According to those who played with Billy, he was a versatile player, who could fill a number of midfield roles. He etched his way into Burnley folklore when he scored an individual winning goal against Chelsea at Turf Moor in April 1977.

Former winger Leighton James said he shared digs with Billy for five years when the pair played for Burnley. He said: “I’ve never heard anybody say anything bad about Billy. He was a great bloke and a real top man who would do anything for you. “He was a very good professional and a very good player, better than he was given credit for.

“It’s a tragedy and a sad loss. I’ve lost a good friend and a man that I had nothing but the utmost love and respect for. “Burnley will be a a sad town, certainly amongst the football fraternity, this week.” Billy was admitted to hospital last year due to illness and was given the last rites. Despite returning home he never fully recovered. Ex-Burnley forward Pete Noble, who said he was shocked to hear the news, also paid tribute to Billy. He said: “Billy came from the North East like me and he was a right nice lad and a great little player as well. “He was one of the players who loved playing football and loved helping people. He wasn’t appreciated as much as he should have been.” After ending his footbball career at Bradford FC, Billy returned to Burnley to work as a driver for BCN buses. A spokesman for Burnley FC said: “Burnley Football Club is saddened to learn of the death of former midfielder Billy Ingham. “The thoughts of everyone at Turf Moor are with Billy's family and friends at this very sad time.”

TYPICAL CITY - UNTYPICAL BURNLEY

November 7th - Manchester City 3 v. Burnley 3

Well that went well!!

The match reports probably don't tell the full story. Anyone who has watched Manchester City over the last 3 decades would not be suprised either by the result or the manner in which it came. This is City after all. Burnley however demonstrated a resilient streak which will surely stand them in good stead in the months to come. I am not going to comment on the events of the match. They are part of football history now. I will however comment on what this result might mean for the two clubs. If City continue to throw points away like this then any dreams of a top four (or even top 6 ) finish will surely remain as dreams. I know it is early doors but 5 draws on the bounce is not top four form. Burnley on the other hand can take heart from the perfomance. Not just going 2-0 up but not crumbling when City drew back to 3-2. It's the first away point of the campaign and I suppose I could have predicted it would be at COMS.

Match reports here and here

THE BIG ONE

Tomorrow sees the first of the two scheduled Premier League meetings this year between City and the Clarets and the first at the City of Manchester Stadium. This will be the 91st meeting between the two clubs in all competitions and the first in the top flight since the 13th March 1976 when the two teams shared the points 0-0 at Turf Moor.

A particular meeting I remember attending was the 1973 Charity Shield Final at Maine Road when Colin Waldron scored the only goal to secure the trophy for the first and only time for the Clarets. Incidentally until a few weeks ago Colin Waldron the goalscorer in 1973 ran a bookies about a quarter of a mile from my mum and dads house. Colin Waldron was a key part of the Burnley team of the early '70s until he along with Jimmy Adamson the manager and other players left the club in 1976. An event which coincided with a very barren spell for the club which apart from the odd moment, arguably lasted for 33 years. Waldron left Burnely for Manchester United where he made 3 appearances before setting off on a tour of several clubs including some in North America. He finished his professional football career at Rochdale. More about him here

The picture shows Martin Dobson with the trophy.

If current Clarets away form is anything to go by the Blues can look forward to 3 points although last weeks victory over Hull has taken a bit of pressure off, but defeat would put it straight back on I think. City on the other hand can't really think past 3 points tomorrow. They should have the fire power to see off Burnley although I think my favoured result would be a City win here and a Burnely win at the Turf. 3 points each should aid both clubs respective different campaigns.

TWO ENDS OF A NINETY YEAR GAP

Hull City are the visitors to Turf Moor tomorrow. a curious co-incidence surrounds this fixture.

On the 16th September 1905 Burnley played out a 1-1 draw against Hull in the first ever meeting between the two clubs. Exactly 90 years later to the day on the 16th September 1995 Hull were the visitors to Turf Moor for the last game where fans could stand on the iconic Longside before it was demolished to make way for the James Hargreaves Stand. I stood on there many a time, mostly at the front because it meant I could see and it also meant that I was far enough away from the more ahem! " enthusiastic " "fans" (hooligans) at the back of the Longside for my dad to be able to watch the game in peace.

Well nearly in peace as we always seemed to manage to position ourselves in ear (splitting) shot of a very tall thin man who used to shout , without warning, three of four times each half, the phrase "Get it up the park", which while it didn't last long it did have the decibel level of a DC 10 and a pitch that could shatter a chandelier in the Kierby Hotel.

Anyway if you are nostalgic for the Longside here is a link to a site and a video

SECOND STRINGERS

While the big guns blast away in the Premier League the two clubs second teams are in the same division and met in Manchester last week with Burnley taking the honours 2-1.

A match report is here .

Another match report here from the website Clarets Mad which can be accessed by clicking here

For your information and edification here are the two teams:

Manchester City: Gunnar Neilson, Kieran Trippier, Greg Cunningham, Dedryck Boyata, Ben Mee, Michael Johnson (Andrew Tutte 68), Robert Mak, Adam Clayton (Paul Marshall 68), David Ball, Alex Nimely (Abdisalam Ibrahim 68), James Poole. Subs not used: Tobias Johansen, Jack Redshaw.

Burnley: Diego Penny, Ben Hoskin, Nik Kudiersky, David Edgar, Christian Kalvenes (Michael King), Richard Eckersley, Alex-Ray Harvey, Brian Easton, Joe McKee (Dom Knowles 75), Fernando Guerrero, Wes Fletcher. Subs not used: Jonathan Lund, Jake McEneaney, Oliver
Devenney.

Eagle eyed Blues will spot Michael Johnson among the City line up. He played 68 minutes and its good to see him on the way back to fitness.

ITS THE LEAGUE CUP TO ME......

Ahead of City's game against Scunthorpe in the nose bleed inducing 4th Round of the Carling Cup I post the winning goal from Dennis Tuert in the 1976 Final against Newcastle. I hope this acts as a good omen. It was the league Cup by the way, back then. Since then its been allsorts. Milk Cup. Littlewoods Cup. Coca- Cola Cup. Anyone remember any other incarnations.

Anyway the link is here

MANC (UTD) BUSTERS

I know its a bit childish but here's me modelling a T-Shirt my pal Martin gave me. He makes T-Shirts for footie fans to buy and this was is a limited edition he made for some Clarets celebrating Burnley's home win against Man Utd at the start of the season. If you click on the picture then it should enlarge. Its funny - childish- but funny.

HERE...THIS WILL CHEER US UP?

Some pics and a video from The Play Off Final in May. Video has my daughter, nephew, cousin, brother in law and my dad, giving the thumbs up at the end.

THAT DIDN'T GO SO WELL

Blackburn 3 v. Burnley 2

Wigan 1 v. City 1

Not the weekend I was hoping for although the early Burnley goal and the fact that City got a point with 10 men were some crumb of comfort.

The Burnley game was exciting though the result didn't really look much in doubt after Blackburn equalised. Match report here What was more suprising perhaps was the size of the crowd. The capacity is 31,367 and the attendance was 26,689. Surely segregation didn't account for the missing 4678 fans. It's a poor do if Blackburn can't sell out for a derby against Burnley. I bet its a sell out at the Turf. OK we lost so I'm just clutching at straws, but it a fair point nonetheless.

The City match was bloody awful. A point is a point I suppose but City really should be sweeping past teams like Wigan if we have any pretentions to the top four let alone winning the damn thing. I know we went down to 10 men but that was partly because of a first yellow for Zabaleta for a stupid challenge which gained us nothing. City will have to up their performance if this season isn't going to be another let down. De Jong was slow, Richards has gone shit and Adebayour just had a bad day at the office. All told the passing was woeful and without the snap and bite of Bellamy they don't look as sharp up front. Better days ahead I'm sure. Match report here

UPPING THE ANTE

Ahead of Sundays derby with Rovers it seems some Clarets fans have been getting themselves a bit giddy and have been upping ante.

Dressing up Jack Walkers statue is either

a) disrespectful to a fine man

b Funny

Discuss.

Anyway here's the link. Judge for yourself.

Jack Walker is a Claret

CAN'T LET THIS GO BY

Been busy of late and so blogging been a bit lite.

However Sunday 18th October is High Noon for a lot of Clarets fans (well Half Past High Noon to be more precise).

It's the meeting of Blackburn and Burnley at Ewood Park. Lets hope level heads prevails and the day is remembered for a famous Burnley victory rather than the Battle of Ewood Park. Rumours about away fans getting tickets in the Blackburn end do not bode well though.

It's funny but when I was a young boy watching Burnley the Blackburn match, which more often than not seemed to be on Boxing Day, wasn't the big deal it is today.

The real rivals then were Man Utd and to a lesser extent Leeds.

This might be because from 1966 to 1976 Blackburn weren't in the same (higher) division as Burnley. This was the time when I was watching Burnley most, so maybe my perception of the rivalry is coloured by my own personal experience.

There are full head to head stats here

Any way its 39 wins to Blackburn 38 wins to Burnley and 18 draws in all competitions so far.

The last league meeting between the two teams (old Division 1) in 2001 ended in a 5-0 drubbing for the Clarets at Ewood. So let hope there's no repeat of that on Sunday.

Given Burnley's current away goal trajectory it will be 6-0.

Picture shows a tussle at the Turf in the FA Cup quarter final in March 1960. Blackburn won 2-0 by the way.

WHAT TIME IS IT?

Still posts to come on the weekends antics and the disappointment at Barnsley last night. In the meantime I was sent this pic which I think is funny.

Copyright hat tip to whoever did it.

FOOTBALL!! BOOODY HELL!!

I will blog on the mad goings on over the weekend as soon as I get some time, and my breath back!

In the meantime it would be wrong to let an amazing anniversary go by without mention. I can hardly believe it but it is 20 years this Wednesday since the famous 5-1 City derby victory.

I was there that day and can still remember being at the bar in the Main Stand at half time when City were 3-0 up already. It was mad. People were bordering between stunned silence and hysteria. I got back to my seat just in time to see Mark Hughes score what was in fairness the best goal of the game. How ironic is that?

A great scissor/bicycle kick. It was a gloriously sunny day and the few days afterwards were some of the best examples of City bragging rights there have been in the last 30 odd years or so. There were plenty of jokes too. Why is snooker like a Manchester derby? Because you get 5 for a blue and 1 for a red. Boom Boom!!

Anyway, for those of you who weren't there, or those of you who were and want to relive it, here it is MANCHESTER CITY 5 v. MANCHESTER UNITED 1 - September 23rd 1989.

For a very detailed blow by blow match report , go here

DID I FORGET TO MENTION...!!

Liverpool 4 v. Burnley 0 - 12th September 2009

I have had a comment that I didn't post a match report about Burnley's 4-0 defeat at Liverpool last Saturday. Well I don't want to give the impression that I was ignoring it just 'cos the Clarets got thumped, so here it is - Liverpool v. Burnley Match Report

Incidentally the last time I saw Burnley at Anfield it was on the 16th January 1973. All I remember is our coach getting stoned as we pulled away from the ground after the game. And that was after we had lost 3-0. Christ only knows what would have happened if we had won. Always a warm welcome for visiting fans at Anfield. It was a FA Cup 3rd Round replay (after a 0-0 draw at Turf Moor). It was the season that Sunderland beat Leeds in the final at Wembley.

It was also the season that Lancshire clubs topped all four English divisions. Liverpool the first, Burnley the second, Bolton the third and Southport the fourth.

I KNOW ITS WRONG BUT!!!

Man City 4 v. Arsenal 2 - 12th September 2009

Oh dear! Adebayor runs the full length of the pitch to slide on his knees (Peter Kay 'kid at a wedding style' as it happens) and the travelling Gooner army lose it completely and start throwing chairs ,bottles, security men, pearly kings, whatever.

My first reaction is "Oh my god Emmanuel, how could you be so insensitive?"

My second reaction is "Fucking hell you soft southern wendys. Get a grip of yourselves. Jesus Christ. When the might of the Luftwaffe were throwing everything they had at your grandads all they did in response to this provocation was sing songs about Hitler having one ball and carried on as normal. Almost 70 years later to the day a bloke who used to play football for you slides 5 metres on his knees 50 yards away from you and you react like a bunch of howler monkeys on crystal meth!! Fucking get over yourselves. He was provoked and harrassed and stuffed one back up you. Not unreasonably he was pleased with himself and wanted to share his pleasure with you. Anyway he'll probably get a ban anyway.

As far as the stamping incident is concerned how much better a reply could you get than Mark Hughes' surely deliberate Wengeresque "I can't comment on the incident because I didn't see it." Genius.

If you missed it its here

ACCRINGTON STANLEY? - WHO ARE THEY?

One of the founder members of the Football League thats who. Along with Burnley of course.

They are a bit strapped for cash so big hearted Burnley are stepping in to help out their East Lancs neighbours.

See here and here for details

And if you don't understand the heading to this post, go here

HOW THE CLARETS GOT TO HEAVEN

Back in May this year the impossible happened.


A small club from a small town in Lancashire made it to the most lucrative, most powerful league in the world.

And I was there when they did it! Throughout the course of this year I will keep reminding myself of the day by posting a few pics every now and then.

The day was exhausting, not least because we drove down. Well, I drove down, my hungover daughter dozed next to me in the car. Just as well anyway as she can't drive!! We set off about 8 am and got to London about 12.30. We parked up at a school and got the tube from Kingsbury station and went the 1 stop to Wembley Park. We had made it. And in good time.

The pics show me and my daughter Rachel on route.

More to follow.

ONE GOOD.ONE BAD

Chelsea 3 v Burnley 0

Portsmouth 0 v City 1

Well after the giddy highs of beating Manchester Utd and Everton it was back to earth with a bump for the Clarets. A trip to Stamford Bridge never looked like 3 points in the bag to be honest but a spirited 40 mins when Burnley gave as good as they got was hope for the future. Martin Patersons balloon of a miss in the 9th minute was perhaps a turning point but generally the Clarets were outclassed on the day, as will be most teams who visit the Bridge this season. So no shame in the end. Onwards to the scousers!! I smell a point there!! Full Chelsea match report here

City on the other hand made it 3 out of 3 in the Premier League. A 3rd goal in 3 games for Adebayour saw the Blues take the points. Probably caught Pompey at a good time, just before their Middle East millions kick in. This is the sort of game City would normally lose and last season they did with one of the most woeful City performances in living memory. And thats saying something!! You get the feeling that things are changing at Eastlands. I don't buy all this "they will need to bond" rubbish. They are top quality players. if you give them a job, and be clear about how you want them to do it, they will go and perform. No need for all this 'love in' rubbish. Anyway the full match report is here

CITY IN PALACE COUP

After the Clarets less than glorious march North its time for the Blues to head South to take on Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup 2nd Round. A straighforward enough tie you would think. But then this is City and my guess is that all the billions of quid won't have got rid of our ability to fling ourself onto the nearest banana skin. My prediction anyway? 3-0 to the Blues.

Preview here

SPANKING THE MONKEY HANGERS...MMM>>WELL NOT QUITE

Hartlepool 1 v. Burnley 2 (AET)

Having breezed past Man Utd and Everton the Clarets decided, in a parody of City, to make heavy weather of a trip to Hartlepool. After going a goal down they eventually won 2-1 after extra time. I think both the Metropolitan Police and Lancashire Constabulary are hoping to avoid a Bunley/West Ham tie in the next round, though after last nights result a tie against Blackburn is now also on the cards. Tin hats everyone!!

Hartlepool match report here

SPANKING THE MONKEY HANGERS

Burnley travel north to Victoria Park tonight for a 2nd Round Carling Cup tie against Hartlepool United. The last time the Clarets met the Monkey Hangers was in 2006 , ironically in the League Cup as well. A 1-0 home defeat for the Clarets in Round 1 is a sharp reminder of the not too glorious recent past. A good Cup run would be good. The first step on another Clarets Wembley invasion?

NOU CAMP 2

Seems like Sparky did a bit more in the Nou Camp in Barcelona last week that met the eye. City announced today the signing of out of contract left back Sylvinho who played in last seasons European Champions League final against United. Thats the spirit Sparky. Now you are getting the hang of this Blue/Red thing!!

Full story here

NOU MOON - BARCELONA v. CITY 19TH AUGUST 2009

Barcelona 0 v. City 1

Taking time out from the exciting Premier League schedule City popped over to Barcelona to do what United failed to do and give the Catalans a good hiding, and in their own back yard as well.

An amazing 94,123 fans turned up for what was for Barca a pre-season friendly. Martin Petrov gave Sparky a reminder of his class as he scored the only goal of the night.

Quite a big contingent of Blues there by all accounts.

Match report at this link Barcelona v. City

LESCOTT DEAL AGREED

Ok. I know I said this blog is not a news service but I just happened to be on the City website 10 minutes ago and at 8.03 pm a post announced that subject to a medical Lescott was now in effect a City player. Good player , no doubt.

Bit of doubt about the way this has been gone about I think. City need to be careful not to look too much like big money, billy big biscuits every time we fancy a player. hard though in the modern world of mad football deals. Especially when you are big money billy big biscuits.

Link to breaking news here

OH! WHAT A NIGHT - BURNLEY 1 - MANCHESTER UNITED 0

No time just now to put up a full post and anyway this blog isn't a news service. Will put full report on the night up soon along with pics and video.

For now full match report at this link Burnley 1- Manchester United 0

Enjoy Robbie Blakes goal for Burnley here

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND

Burnley have completed the signing of Andre Bikey from Reading for an undisclosed fee. Fuller details by clicking link (Andre Bikey Move)

The last time I saw this guy was when he was throwing one at Turf moor on 9th May 09 in the first leg play off semi-final. He really lost the plot and took his shirt off and threw it on the ground before being ushered down the tunnel by slightly less mad Reading teeam officials.

Fuller details of that impressive display of self-control here

And another example of his impressive anger management skills here from a game for Cameroon against Ghana in February 2008 when he clattered over a medic who was tending to his team mate.

This looks like future fireworks.

BITS AND BOBS

As promised this blog will also have some bits and bobs of trivia and memorabilia and such stuff.

These are photos of three important match tickets from last season.

This is a ticket from the Stoke match at Eastlands in October '08. The keen eyed amongst you will notice it is a ticket for the directors box. Well actually I was in the Chairman's lounge thanks to a kind man who has influence over this sort of thing at the club. I was treated very well and City won 3-0 and Robhino scored a hat-trick!!

Next is one from the Coca-Cola Championship Play-Off Semi Final first leg at Turf Moor on 9th May 2009. Burnley won 1-0 and the dream was alive!

This next one is the big one. The Play-Off Final at Wembley on 25th May. What a day. I will post pics from the day in due course. And a couple of videos which which prove that there can be atmosphere at Wembley Stadium if you get the right fans in. For now just savour the memories from this picture. First trip to new Wembley as well.

OPENING DAY- 15TH AUGUST 2009

STOKE 2 - BURNLEY 0

BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 - MANCHESTER CITY 2

Well, the opening day of the season has been and gone.

I think the Burnley and City results were probably fairly predictable. Didn't see either game but made do with MOTD highlights.

Match report from official club website here Stoke City 2 v Burnley 0

Burnley worked hard, as they always do, missed Caldwell and were probably unlucky to be beaten by 2 goals. Its gonna be a long season. I was at my dads when the game was on. No real suprise when Stoke scored but a real sense of dissapointment when they got the second. I think this season is all about expectation. I don't think any Burnley fans really expect it to be anything other than a massive struggle against relegation. They just hope against hope that there will be some good news along the way. And so do I.

Nice match report from Alastair Campbell who makes an interesting if not entirely convincing case as to why Burnley are not in the bottom 3. Alastair Campbell's Turf Moor Diaries

City were put to the test by Blackburn who never let City settle and were probably a bit unlucky not to get something out of the game. However City found two great finishes and won a match which in previous seasons they would easily have lost. The performance was good and Mark Hughes falling over at the end when he went to shake Allardyce's hand was a corker. It actually looks like Allardyce has found some kind of martial arts move which can throw a man just by shaking his hand. You can see Sparky's breakdance routine here. Sparky's Fall

Full match report here Blackburn Rovers 0 v Manchester City 2

THE SOLUTION

The dilemma explained in the first post on this blog called The backstory only has one solution. I will have to follow both teams for the season as closely as I can. I have had a suggestion from one reader that when City play Burnley I could support City in one half and Burnley in the other.

I think that might be going a bit far but its still an idea.

I think in reality my two teams are going to have two different seasons while still being in the same division. Burnley I reckon are going to find the Premier League "challenging" , which is a euphemism for relegation battle. City on the other hand have a real prospect of making a move to the next level and knocking on the door of the top four.

Of course this could be completely wrong. Burnley could find mid-table comfort and City's billions could be the kiss of death.

Anyway, time will tell.

So, this blog will try and follow the fortunes of the two clubs. from my point of view.

Will try to get to live games where I can and post reports and pictures.

Will add tittle tattle, gossip, speculation and news where I can.

Might also throw in some old memorabilia and memories and stories from my 40 odd years of supporting these two teams.

THE BACK STORY

This blog is essentially about me and football.Sorry about the "me" bit that but it's probably best to get that out of the way early doors (or "early doorssh") as Ruud Gullit once famously said on a MOTD post match interview. His daft Dutch accent is almost as convincing as Steve Maclarens. Anyway I digress. That will probably be another feature of this blog.

Lets cut to the quick. In footballing terms my wife and my mistress have just met at a party and have decided to be pals. Let me explain. Ok let me explain after I explain to my wife (which I do have one of) that the bit about wife/mistress was a metaphor and that the mistress (which I don't have one of) referred to previously is therefore metaphorical.

On the 8th April 1969 I went to my first match at Turf Moor to watch Burnley get beaten 2-1 by Everton. It was a night match and I sat with my dad in a wooden stand which is where the Bob Lord Stand is now. For approximately the next 9 years , from the age of 9 to 18 I watched Burnley home and away in good times and bad.

When I was 18 I came to Manchester as a student. Well I didn't actually come here as a student I became a student after I enrolled at Manchester university. I came to Manchester as a lad from a small northern industrial town (Nelson) who supported Burnley and liked beer and had never seen a green pepper. More of the green pepper thing later maybe. I liked football and I supported Burnley. I didn't hold out much prospect of seeing much of Burnley. As a student there wasn't much chance of getting to many Burnley games as travel back in 1978 (even the 35 miles to Burnley) was something of a mission, and expensive.

I hatched a plan to fuel my football lust. I would watch out for Burnley's results, follow them in the papers and on the telly and generally talk about them on the phone with family and friends. In order to satisfy the lust for live football I would go and watch one of the Manchester teams. I couldn't possibly contemplate watching Manchester United, as every non- Manchester United fan will understand.

So, on the 6th December 1978 I went to my first game at Manchester City. It was a UEFA cup night match and City won 3-0 against AC Milan beating them 5-2 on aggregate. It's pretty much been an anti climax since then!!

As the years went by and life moved on, and so did I, to a house a quarter of a mile away from Maine Road, the attachment to City grew and the bonds with Burnley weakened but were never severed, quite.

I went to Maine Road, and occasionally to away games, as often as time and money allowed. This varied over the years but my attachment to City grew stronger with each season and as I passed the point at which I'd lived in Manchester longer than I'd lived anywhere else I began to feel like a Blue. My eldest daughter was a Blue and some of my fondest memories of her is going to Maine Road with her and my mate Chris. We would hand her over the turnstile (sorry City, but she was only 2) and she would sit on Chris's or my knee. For a good number of years my daughter held an enviable record. She had never seen City lose at Maine Road. Admittedley she didn't go that often but her presence was re-assuring when she did.

Some great memories and hardly any success (Division 2 play- off final victory anyone?). You could say that I supported City through thin and thin.

All this went on evolving happily for 30 years or so with only a few minor collisions. There have actually been 7 meetings of the two teams in all competitions in the last 33 years. 2 of these were in Division 1 and 2 in Division 2 when City were doing their promotion/relegation pogoing in the lates 90's early 00's. I largely ignored this as a minor discomfort that would surely given City's record, soon pass. I once avoided one such meeting by staying in bed until the match was over!!

Then in the summer of 2008 a new regime at Eastlands...new money...new manager...new players. What would the future hold. My adopted team were about to step up a gear.

And then....on Monday 25th May 2009...disaster...joyous disaster...the Championship Play- Off at Wembley. Burnley FC versus Sheffield United FC for a place in the Barclays Premier League. Football Valhalla, the home of the football gods.

What to do now? My boyhood team in with the gods. My adopted team, my mistress, in the same divine division.

This was different. The previous minor collisions didn't involve my dad and my cousins and my nephew and my brother-in-law almost shaking with excitement at the thought of watching Ronaldo (spoilt that dream didn't you United - thanks), and Gerrard and Torres and Rooney and Lampard and , and, oh god...Robhino. And watching them at Turf Moor. Every week. For a whole year at least. I couldn't help sharing the excitement. Days and nights down the Turf that my dad thought he might never see again and my nephew had never seen at all.

I kissed my dad at Wembley, that barmy, balmy spring Monday and he kissed me back.

This was different. The allegiance stakes had been raised.

What to do?

...more soon...