Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
In fact, 30 to 40 City fans HAD managed to find their way into the ground, blending in with the locals, desperate not to miss a match which would prove to be a turning point in the season. When we scored, it was the easiest thing in the world not to celebrate, because it was about surviving. The sound of the ball hitting the net will live with me, because you could hear it hit the nylon, it was that quiet.” But what happened that night, as fans racially abused City players Shaun Wright-Phillips, Shaun Goater, Ali Benarbia and Eyal Berjovic, helped to cement the team together and spark a winning run which sent the Blues careering to the Football League title.
The striker finished neatly, and then set off for the empty away stand, where the City fans should have been. The journalist and his daughter were so upset by the constant racial abuse being dished out to the City players that he asked a steward if they could leave their seats and go to the family stand. Things had not improved a great deal when Manchester City went to the new Den, just down the road, at a crossroads moment in their history. I didn't cry... I only told the truth": The strange and confused day Manchester City signed 'the new Pele' It was a terrible atmosphere – it wasn’t the entire crowd but it was bad. They probably thought it gave their team an edge but I’m not sure it did, it just wound up the City players a bit more.”
The first time we scored, there were people turning round and staring at me – some of them with F Troop masks on, trying to intimidate me.” I knew a City fan who was a postman in south-east London, so he had the right postcode and was able to go to the ground and buy four over the counter. He sent them up by registered post. The City fans who quietly made their way out of the game managed to contain their joy – for a while. Keegan made changes when he came to the club. There was investment, and the training ground was updated. We had the feeling that with him in charge, anything was possible – he did the same thing at Newcastle.
I’ve been watching football for ages and seen some bad stuff – following England abroad was bad enough – but this was a whole different world.” We came in on the team coach with very heavy police protection. The hostility and aggression was at a much higher level than usual,” he said. After Palace, City went on a remarkable run, winning 19 of the remaining 24 games, winning the league by ten points and scoring 108 goals, with the brilliant Goater netting 32 of them. Shaun Wright-Phillips of Manchester City beats Ryan Green of Millwall to score the winning goal (Image: ALLSPORT)
Every game was a bit of them against us for City at that time – the Blues were a scalp. And they had the former England manager and European Footballer of the Year in charge, so no matter where they were, everyone wanted to take them down.” Read More Related Articles A London-based City fan who also managed to get in, along with his 15-year-old daughter and a friend, was appalled at the levels of racist abuse. Up in the stand, Sean Riley was busy containing his glee: “It was Shaun's first goal, so I can say I was there to see that. They returned in triumph to the Premier League a year ahead of the vital move to the new City of Manchester stadium, now known as the Etihad.
But the drama was not over, and when the referee controversially decided Danny Tiatto had handled the ball, and gave the home side a penalty, City boss Keegan erupted.How Taylor Swift, a bad bus journey and a goldfish bowl intensified Liverpool's modern Manchester rivalry
Great Deal 
New Comment