Summary
Overview
Comedian Jason Manford joins to discuss his lifelong support of Manchester City through the turbulent 1990s. From the highs of signing Georgi Kinkladze to the lows of relegation to the third tier, Jason shares personal memories of growing up as a City fan during their darkest era while rivals United dominated English football. The conversation covers iconic players, the famous 1999 playoff final comeback against Gillingham, and how supporting City during these years shaped his identity as a true fan.
Georgi Kinkladze: The European Maestro
Jason recalls the arrival of Georgian midfielder Georgi Kinkladze, the first truly skillful European player City fans had witnessed. His technical ability was on another level compared to the physical, long-ball style City had played previously. Though he was too good for the relegation-threatened team around him, Kinkladze's magical goal where he dribbled through multiple defenders remains one of Jason's favourite memories, with the crescendo of noise at Maine Road building with each player beaten.
- Kinkladze was the first proper skillful European footballer City fans had seen, playing at a different level than previous players like Niall Quinn and Uwe Rösler
- His goal where he dribbled around everyone is a favourite, with the sound of the crowd building as he beat each player creating an unforgettable atmosphere
- City got relegated because Kinkladze was simply too good for the team, which was still playing route-one football to the big man up front
- The club shop story: Jason's dad looked at the cost of putting 'Kinkladze' on three shirts and told his sons they could have 'Vonk' instead
" He was unbelievable. That was the first time we'd ever seen proper, skillful European football. We'd never really had... We'd had people who could bang in a goal, Niall Quinns and Uwe Rosler, and Beagrey was probably the sort of classiest player we'd had up to that point. But, oh, he was just on another level, old Geo. "
" My dad going, right, who do you want on the back of your shirt? And the three of us going, Giorgio, King, Clardsey. And my dad looking at money in his pocket and going, you can have Vonk. "
Georgi Kinkladze: The European Maestro at Maine Road
The arrival of Georgian midfielder Georgi Kinkladze represented a watershed moment for Manchester City fans who had never witnessed such technical brilliance. Playing proper European football while the team around him hoofed it long, Kinkladze was simply too good for a relegation-battled squad. His iconic goal where he beat player after player created an unforgettable crescendo of noise at Maine Road, though ultimately he couldn't prevent City's slide down the divisions.
- Kinkladze was the first proper skillful European footballer City fans had ever seen, on a completely different level than previous players
- His solo goal where he took it around multiple players is one of Jason's favourite goals because of how the crowd noise built with each dribble
- City got relegated because Kinkladze was too good for the team, which was still playing direct football while he tried to play proper football
- At the club shop, when shirt names cost £2.50 per letter, Jason's dad told his three sons wanting 'Kinkladze' they could have 'Vonk' instead
" Oh, he was unbelievable. That was the first time we'd ever seen proper, skillful European football. We'd never really had... We'd had, like I said, we'd had, you know, people who could bang in a goal, Niall Quinns and Uwe Rosler, and Beagrey was probably the sort of classiest player we'd had up to that point. But, oh, he was just on another level, old Geo. "
" My dad going, right, who do you want on the back of your shirt? And the three of us going, Giorgio, King, Clardsey. And my dad looking at money in his pocket and going, you can have Vonk. "
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