Over the last few years, since the takeover of the club, Manchester City fans have had to endure taunts of ‘lacking class and history.’ The second taunt is beyond laughable, especially as it generally came from Spurs fans, who support a club that has won precisely the same number of league titles as City – two.
In any case, history can not be defined merely by trophies won. Who can honestly say that clubs such as Fulham, the oldest club in London lest we forget, have no history simply because they have not won a trophy? This argument is specious and patronising.
But class? That’s harder to quantify. However, class was what was on display on Saturday at the FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Stoke City and during Tuesday’s league game between the two sides at Eastlands. At Wembley there was mutual respect – in contrast to the aftermath of City’s semi-final against Manchester United there were no roving groups of losing fans targeting young and elderly Manchester City fans after the game.
And prior to the match on Tuesday, Manchester City announced they would not be parading the FA Cup in deference to Stoke City’s feelings. It was a magnanimous gesture and one mirrored before and after the game by City fans not only applauding Stoke City’s travelling contingent but their team too. There was no rubbing Stoke’s fans noses in the dirt of defeat.
Contrast this with Manchester United’s fans obsession with THAT banner, numbering the years Manchester City went without a trophy. Now they have to remove it, there are rumours that it will be replaced with one counting the years since City last won the league. Such class. And United fans have the nerve to call City fans bitter.
City fans, however, couldn’t give a hoot. Put it up, lads – because it certainly won’t be long before you’ll be taking it down again. Class? United wouldn’t recognise it if it bit Fergie on his big, bulbous red nose.

