Summary
Overview
Comedian Jason Manford joins the podcast to discuss his lifelong passion for Manchester City during their tumultuous 1990s period, from watching matches from the terraces at Maine Road to his Championship Manager obsession. The conversation covers City's decline from competitive mid-table finishes to relegation battles, featuring memories of the 5-1 derby victory, controversial chairman Peter Swales, and the arrival of Georgi Kinkladze.
Championship Manager Obsession and Virtual Vindication
Jason reveals his deep addiction to Championship Manager, which led to him being featured in the game itself after discussing it on Live at the Apollo. He shares the legendary story of fining Micah Richards for being late to training in the game, which created an in-game status of 'Micah Richards hates Jason Manford' - a grudge that followed him into real life until recently being resolved on social media.
- Jason was put into Football Manager and listed in the game's credits after discussing it on Live at the Apollo, which was getting 6-7 million viewers at the time
- He would wear a shirt and tie for Championship Manager cup finals and set up tactics on the wall like a real manager
- In the game, he fined Micah Richards three times for being late to training, resulting in the player's description changing to 'Micah Richards hates Jason Manford'
- When Jason met the real Micah Richards at a charity event, he was noticeably aloof - his dad pointed out he seemed cold toward Richards
- Recently Micah Richards responded to Jason's praise on social media with 'about time, gaffer' - a 20-year callback
" I'd genuinely put a shirt and tie on for the cup final. Like, I really went for it. "
" Micah Richards had turned up late for training three times on Football Manager and I'd had to fine him and now his description was, Micah Richards hates Jason Manford. "
The Great Championship Manager Betrayal
Jason recounts an intense summer at age 16 when he and two friends played Championship Manager non-stop, even contemplating making it their full-time occupation. The friendship was tested when Jason, controlling Grimsby, used the mouse to reject a striker's acceptance to his friend Paul's Bolton, redirecting him to his own team instead - a betrayal that Paul still brings up decades later when drunk.
- Jason and friends spent an entire summer after finishing school at 16 playing Championship Manager together at Paul's house
- They seriously discussed whether they could live together on the dole and just play Championship Manager full-time
- Players had to turn away while others made transfer bids to keep it realistic
- Jason intercepted a striker who had accepted a position at his friend Paul's Bolton and redirected him to Grimsby instead
- Paul still brings up the betrayal 25 years later when he's had too much to drink
" I remember I actually spoilt it. And it even comes up now, like every so often if Paul's had a drink, it comes up now where me and him were after the same striker. "
" I remember clicking no. And then he came to Grimsby instead. And that was the moment. I can actually almost hear Paul's heart break. "
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