A Boy, His Brother, A Band & A City

Vital Manchester City regular, mcfcirish sent us the following.

Growing up in the official middle of nowhere in Ireland was never going to be easy. Having a sister who I never got along with probably didn't help matters either however, my brother and I always got along.

It was the mid 90's and grunge had died a loud and the sudden death with Cobain's suicide. My brother, just as much an outcast as you could find, (a tall lanky guy, even from an early age) stood out. It was my brothers taste in music that brought a certain team into his life in late 1994, the band was of course Oasis and that certain team was Manchester City.

Looking back on it I realise how my brother was drawn to not only City but to Oasis themselves. Being so tall and clumsy looking, my brother, then and now bore a striking resemblance to a certain Liam Gallagher!

Back then we had no Sky TV so he used to dress up in his oversized City shirt and head to a neighbours house, me in tow to watch the mighty Blues. Even then there was something that drew me to the club. Was it the fact that they seemed to lose the whole time or maybe the fact that they were 'un-cool'?

Was it the colour of their shirts? Maybe, however it was the fact that my dad had tried to force Manchester United on my brother (he abruptly turned him down) perhaps I saw a similar fate awaiting me.

Our first trip to see City at Maine Road was a memorable, and one to forget as it was against a certain Merseyside team (we drew 2-2).......hello Division One!! Our first trip over the Irish Sea was to be the last of Premier League football for City until 2000. Some memorable trips included York City and of course THAT '99 game vs. Gillingham.

The summer of 2003 brought with it the end of Maine Road and a sad day for my brother and I as the stadium that became our home away from home closed its doors.

However, a new home awaited and Eastlands was a huge step up. The highlights that stood out were the derby wins....and lows, especially in 06/07 when City couldn't seem to score.....even if the entire team had been given a free pass into a brothel and a days supply of contraceptives.

As the seasons passed by our love and support only grew. My brother, hardy ever at home (we only see each other at weekends) and the trips to Manchester have slowed to a trickle with me travelling over on my own more often than not. Nevertheless, the one thing that keeps us together are the highs, the lows, the laughs & the tears, the goals and the glory that is Manchester City FC.

Ironic thing is, the one set of City supporting brothers (Oasis) have spilt while two others remain apart - but always bound by the club we dearly love.

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