91Èȱ¬

As a young lad, I used to wish that one day I'd be the Manchester City commentator. So it felt right somehow to be told I’d landed my dream job on 17th October 2001 for 91Èȱ¬ Radio Manchester. And a month later, on 17th November, I did my first commentary in my new role at Portsmouth.

So why am I a City fan? Well there's no particular history of family support for the Blues - I suppose it's because I related to City as a club with great fans, who didn't always take themselves too seriously. Life's too short to not be able to laugh at yourself sometimes!

Colin Bell: supreme athlete

My boyhood hero was Colin Bell - as near to a perfect English footballer I've seen - tough tackling, athletic, great passer, two footed, loyal and honourable. He seemed shy too - like I was as a child. Sometimes, it felt like I was living my dreams on the pitch through him.

A couple of years ago, I had the great pleasure of writing Colin's life story in "Reluctant Hero" his autobiography - I never expected to be doing that when I first met him before a charity cricket match - I was 12 or 13 at the time. I'll have to check up on whether it was on the 17th of the month!Ìý

The first time I saw City was in the semi-final of the European Cup Winners' Cup back in April 1970 - a 5-1 second leg victory against Schalke 04 of Germany - by coincidence my second team, since my Mum was born in Gelsenkirchen, the town in which Schalke plays. As well as seeing every City game each season, I usually go and see up to half a dozen Schalke games.

Football special: City fans on the train

Football specials

Since 1970, I’ve seen City play almost 1500 competitive games, following them home and away as a fan and reporter. For many years, I was a travel steward on the "football specials" - the supporters’ club trains that carried fans to away games. I have many fond memories of selling pork pies, ham sandwiches, crisps, chocolate and cans of drink from the "cage" - the post section of the rear carriage of the train.

One trip I'll never forget was to Brighton's Goldstone Ground when it rained all afternoon. I was lucky enough to have a seat in the "Mechano Stand" - a temporary structure built to accommodate away fans. Most of the City fans didn't get any shelter and on the way home (a four hour trip) stripped down to their pants to dry out their clothes on the heaters and exposed piping on the train. It was quite a sight!

When the football specials ended - BR re-organisation made it too difficult and expensive for the supporters club to run - I moved into the car, travelling up and down the country with my pal Charlie, who's been watching City since the 50's.

These days I travel with the one and only Fred Eyre - best known for his million selling book "Kicked Into Touch" - who showed such early promise in City's Youth team, until injury sent him into the lower reaches of football. For home games I've been joined by a number of former players in the commentary box. This season it's Nigel Gleghorn - a very knowledgeable (and funny) former City player.

As I write this City's start to the season has caught many by surprise - four wins in six games - stealing the thunder of those journalists who'd decided they would criticise Sven-Goran Eriksson, come what may, because they'd decided he wasn't good enough with England.

It's never dull watching City, that's for sure. More from me on 17th October - my Dad's birthday!