This is How it Feels to be City: Supporting Manchester City

This book captures the dramas and the emotion of Manchester City's victories and losses, as witnessed through the eyes of two lifelong City fans, 40 something Will and nephew Martyn, 17 years his junior. Feel their hopes, fears, nerves, disappointment, resignation, exultation and final relief. Forty-four years since their last top league title, City were crowned champions of England in 2012 for only the 3rd time in their history, pipping local rivals Manchester United on goal difference in the process. In 1999 they won a far less coveted trophy awarded for winning the Division Two promotion play-off final and thus propelling the club back up to the heights of English football s 2nd tier (at about the same time, the aforementioned local rivals were completing an unprecedented treble of the English Title & Cup as well as being crowned champions of Europe). Without City s 99 victory, it is highly likely that 2012 triumph would never have happened. Modern City may be light years away from the humble outfit of just over a decade ago, but there are plenty of parallels to be drawn alongside all of the contrasts.

WILL 
Will is frequently asked why he supports City. Raised in Devon, no connections to Manchester, no parental pressure certainly not a glory hunter. So why? Will likes to think that City choose you. It was not until 1975 that a real liking for football developed. Inspired by his Dad's beloved Hammers blowing victory bubbles at Wembley, one of the very few games to be shown live on TV those days, Will subconsciously decided to take a proper interest. A few days later, the TV showed another live game, this time the Home International between England and Scotland. The home side thrashed the Scots 5-1, including a wonderful strike by Colin Bell of.......... Manchester City. The marriage was consummated. That was it, City til I die! 

MARTYN 
His first City game came as a 6 year old in 1989, but it took several more games over the next few years for Martyn to fall in love with football, although he enjoyed the road trips and days out with his uncle Will, the actual football itself passed him by. Football and City were just concepts that he knew he liked,even if he couldnt tell you why. Will told him he was a City fan, so he was one. The World Cup summer 1994 was his first real window into how much potential for drama there was in this sport. The fact that England weren't present probably made it better, as he was able to watch the tournament unfold without partisan blinkers on, and just enjoy it. After Roberto Baggio's penalty had sailed over the bar in Pasadena, gifting Brazil an unprecedented 4th World Cup win, Martyn was completely sold on the sport. Now he had to make up for lost time!