This week

This week
Friday night was the ‘do’ for the 60th Anniversary of the Official Supporters Club, held at COMS in the marquee in the Commonwealth Suite, which was a bit cold and dark at our end. We were invited guests, which was touching, and found ourselves on a table with Hazel Grove Blues which was very nice. It was a massive ‘do’ attended by ex players and Supporters Clubs from all over, including branches from the south, Ireland, Sweden, Scandanavia, etc etc, a truly magnificent occasion. Gary Owen was MC and Uwe Rosler the guest speaker. The meal was absolutely first class and Garry Cook gave a presentation on the exciting things that have been happening in the past twelve months or so and special mention was given to the splendid work of Alex Williams and his team with regard to City in The Community. Mark Hughes was conspicuous by his absence, a short video being shown to supposedly compensate, and thus missed an opportunity to win over some of his doubters, as Brian Horton, who, (despite his Hull City duties the next day) WAS present, often used to do when he was City manager.

Uwe Rosler was then welcomed by Garry into the Manchester united Hall Of Fame and the whole night fell apart amongst loud booing, name calling and a couple of fans had to be ejected for becoming violent. As ‘Cups For Cock Ups’ go it was one of European proportions, and with no explanation, excuse, cover up, the evening was then left totally flat for the vast majority of Blues present.
Saturday dawned and amazingly it was bright and sunny. So here it was, the match where we’d get back on track and put all our woes behind us. Not to be. Some lovely football first half, then going one up. Penalty on SWP turned down then one given for nothing – again. Time we got some big four decisions eh (rags got TWO pens at Pompey!)? Hull’s goal celebration was hilarious, we’re told, had ‘em laughing in the aisles Paul Hince said, even the ref had a smile. I bet he fuckin’ did.
I’m told that this week is make or break for Hughes, well what’s new? Leslie apparently didn’t endear himself to Sheik Mansour over in Abu Dhabi and results are worrying. Also it was noticeable that the Sheik didn’t respond to Garry Cook’s goal celebration at COMS and after the game I was told that MH didn’t attend an executive luncheon earlier in the week when the video didn’t even work. So not doing himself any favours.

Saturday night it was the Blue Moon ‘do’, again at COMS, organised by Nikki and Sue (not KK Sue!) and to his credit Garry Cook did attend and mingled with City supporters, some of whom gave him some stick and others passed off last night’s aberration as a slip of the tongue. Anyway, for a first attempt it was a great ‘do’ I thought. Always good to mix with fellow Blues, and if it’s repeated at the end of the season will be well worth attending for those of us always up for a good City ‘do’. I did ask Garry, who I’ve found to be a decent bloke with the best intentions for moving City forward, as to how on earth did that one slip out. He said he’d had a sleepless night about it (so did I!), has spoken to supporters club representatives to apologise, and the slip was because he’d been talking to Uwe all night about the goals he’d scored, in particular those against united hence the gaffe. I reminded him that at City ‘do’s’ we are City, not Manchester City, or Man City, but City?
There are rays of hope though. I was advised that this sort of thing is in our DNA, but that was also true in the sixties before Joe and Malc came in and they, along with the players of character at the time turned it round.
There are also people at the club working hard and sensibly and whilst I’m a bit biased here, having taken the lad as he was then to a Manchester derby at O/T, and shown him how to deal with gobby rags (though I wouldn’t recommend that course of action to be taken in the present day!) Danny Wilson is proving to be a shining light.

On Tuesday it’s the funeral of Steve Kay and thanks for all the messages posted on the blog which have proved a great comfort to Steve’s wife Karen, kids Ash and Abi and his family.
The arrangement is to meet at the Stadium/Mancunian Suite where tea and coffee will be provided, or at the house (17, Kershaw Road, Failsworth, M35 9PU) at 10.30 am, travel to COMS for a celebration on Steve’s life. Around midday travel to the Crem for a very short reading and then back to COMS for chatter and memories where food will be provided and the bar will be open. All are welcome and City colours should be worn, we are told as opposed to black.

Wednesday it’s the BIG one, Arsenal at home. C’mon City.
Dave