Antoine Semenyo sits down with CITY MAGAZINE to talk about a coastal path less travelled…

Aged 15, Antoine Semenyo believed he was on his way to finally fulfilling his dream.

A talented teenager born in West London, he had taken a few knocks after being rejected by Arsenal. Tottenham and Millwall but had picked himself up each time and  his latest attempt was to try and impress the youth coaches at Crystal Palace.

He wasn’t taking anything for granted and knew he had to shine work hard each and every time he trained or played in matches and take his chance, and, with his trial period concluding and his proud father watched on from the sidelines, he gave it his all.

He hoped this would be the one that finally got him into the academy of a professional club, having spent many weeks with the Croydon-based side.

But his dream was about to come crashing down once again and, his hopes of ever making it seemed over.

“My lowest point, I would definitely say was when I was 15,” recalled Semenyo.

“I went on trial to Crystal Palace and I felt I was doing well. I’d been there eight weeks but - and my dad always reminds me of this moment – in this final game, I was running towards goal and had the ball, and I should have squared it to a team-mate, but I went alone, took a shot, and missed.

“I glanced over and the coach on the touchline had his hands on his head and he was obviously frustrated, visibly. After the game, I was still thinking I'd done really well, considering I'd got assist in that game, but after I got changed, the coach called me and my dad into his office and said, after all the time I'd been there, “he's not being selected."

“So, yeah, that was like, almost an emotional trauma for myself back then and I didn’t know how to handle my emotions. But yeah, that was definitely one of my low moments, for sure”

Four clubs, four rejections. It felt time to move on, try something new and maybe even forget about football altogether.

The Semenyo family decided it was time for a new challenge.

“We were just thinking about a different life,” he said. “I think number one, for me, was moving out of London. I felt like there was so much talent in London and because of that, the chances of making it are very, very slim.

“You have to be a special player to make it. So I moved to Swindon, attended South Gloucestershire & Stroud College and played football there, and we then moved to Bristol.

“So I was still doing education, still playing football and enjoying it with less pressure. And our college hosted a lot of tournaments against professional academy sides of various league teams – and we always beat them.

“In one game, we played against Bristol City, I scored two, and as a result, they called me in on a two week trial – a very short one – but I scored in both the games I played in, and they signed after those two weeks.

“I haven't looked back from that moment.”

Antoine admits he was fortunate to have former Leeds United player Dave Hockaday as Head of Male Football at his college.

Hockaday knew an unpolished diamond when he saw one and encouraged Antoine to join his youth academy programme, to keep going and not give up on his dream.

“He's been a big, big factor of my life,” smiles Antoine “Like, besides my mum, my dad and my brother, he is definitely someone that's helped me so much.

“He gave me the opportunity. I felt like that's what I needed. I just needed an opportunity with the right coaching. And he gave me that. He took time to pick me up every morning early, drive me to college, and, yeah, he believed in me.

“He gave me that confidence. And that's essentially why I've got the mentality that I have now, just getting through everything, no matter what and regardless of how good or how bad things are going, I'm still going to have that mentality that I’ve built over those tough years.”

Ironically, one of the clubs that had been tipped off about this exciting talent playing college football was  - among others  - Crystal Palace, but given his experience there, it was Bristol City he was fully focused on.

“I was already comfortable in Bristol, so there was no point moving all the way back to London again,” he said. “So it was just like, ‘you know what? I've got the opportunity here. Let's take the opportunity’. And it was the right thing to do. I thank God I made that decision to sign for Bristol City.”

But while his apprenticeship was far from over, first he would watch his new club play a Carabao Cup semi-final against…. Manchester City.

“I was at that match,” he smiled.  “Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, yeah, I remember that was a great game. Did I imagine playing for a team like City at that point? No. I think I was very realistic. And at that moment, I was just kind of like, solidifying myself in the first team. I was trying to work hard and make sure I'm the first name on the team sheet, making sure that I'm training consistently, and, yeah, just being present, so. I didn't really think that far ahead.

“Of course, you have a dream of playing for whoever you want to play for, but at that moment, I was just like, cool, I've just signed for Bristol City, but I want to show why I deserve to be in this team.”

But there was a twist.

His new club wanted him to learn men’s football and play regularly, so they sent Semenyo to National League South club Bath City on a lengthy loan that could either make or break him.

If he failed there, it would be hard to see how he could thrive in the Championship – but if this was a test of his mettle, it was one he would take in his stride.

“I was with Bath for six months,” he said. “That's a long time in non-league football. It was a steep learning curve, I can tell you! When you go into the National League, you might think it's a breeze, you might think it's easy, but you come up against guys who just want to hurt you every week, and you have to find ways in which to beat them. And there's times when they beat you.

“So, yeah, you just obviously learn, improve - and you improve a lot - you become a bit more streetwise as well, but you're also around a team that are fighting for something, so there’s purpose. When you play under 23s at Bristo City, it was a bit different.

“When you go Into non-league, people are wanting to win games and get promoted and have their dreams come true. So it's a very, very serious environment, but I learned so much, you know?”

There would be other loan spells, too – a season-long spell at Newport County and another shorter spell with Sunderland as he further honed his talents.

“To be fair, I didn't live in Newport while I was on loan because I was coming from Bristol, so I wasn't too far from home, but that town has a place in my heart. I can never say anything bad about Newport or my time there,” he recalled.

“Sunderland was a bit tricky. I hadn't played many games that season leading up to that loan, so I was a bit unfit, and it was just building myself up again. And once I got to that stage, COVID hit, so, yeah, it was a bit annoying, to be honest.

“But I started hitting my stride again, got fully fit, no niggles.”

He returned to Bristol City after Sunderland and finally broke into the first team.

Streetwise because of his experiences in the lower leagues, confident and sharp, he gradually became a key member of the Robins’ first team, playing 50 times during the 2020/21 season.

The following year he bagged eight goals in 32 games and had scored the same amount of goal in the first 27 matches of the 2022/23 campaign at Ashton Gate.

He was one of the Championship’s outstanding talents and it seemed like a matter of time before his Premier League dream finally became a reality.

That’s when Bournemouth came calling with a £10million bid that was accepted in January 2023.

Bristol, Newport, Sunderland and now Bournemouth – it was Antoine’s fourth club that was on or very near the sea.

“I've never ever noticed that!” he smiled.

“I loved living in Bournemouth. I was down on the beach all the time with my dog and he loved it. I loved it. Yeah. To be honest, it was a very quiet town, and no one really bothers you too much. You’d just do your thing. You might get asked for a couple pictures here and there, which is normal, but everyone was just so nice, so cool. lovely coffee shops, lovely places to eat, lovely houses. I loved it.”

And it was Antoine’s scintillating form with the Cherries that attracted interest from many top clubs and after 110 appearances and 32 goals on the south coast,  it was Manchester City who came in to sign one of most exciting talents in the Premier League.

And Semenyo didn’t waste any time endearing himself to the City fans, scoring and assisting on his debut against Exeter, bagging another (and but for a contentious VAR decision, should have had two goals) against Newcastle before adding another against Wolves.

“I definitely agree it’s important to hit the ground running,” he said.

“I feel like I came here with the intention to just continue being who I am. I want to get the City fans off their seats when I'm on the pitch, so I intend to do exactly that, but yeah, it has been has been a good start for me here and God willing it continues.”

Interview: David Clayton

Q&A: Tom Davies,
AKA, GeoWizard

Tom Davies – AKA GeoWizard – is a YouTube adventurer and content producer with almost 1.5 million subscribers. Though an England fan over club football, Tom has sometimes also been mistaken for our very own skipper Bernardo, and is a more than decent player himself.

His videos often get several million views, with his various offerings include Straight Line Missions – where he attempts to go from one location to another in as straight a line as possible, often over distances in excess of 50 miles or more across/over or under whatever obstacles he comes across.

He also takes on No Road Missions, including crossing London and Birmingham without using any roads and following specific self-imposed rules. It makes for fascinating watching, as does Tom’s other guise, the equally popular GeoGussr , which sees him try to solve mystery locations his subscribers have sent in, trying to figure from old family photographs where they were actually taken in the world.

If you’ve not had chance to watch Tom’s channel – you are definitely missing out. Tom took time – between missions – to talk to City Magazine…

Tom, thanks for agreeing to speak to City Magazine – let’s start with how you first got started?

I started the channel in 2015, but it was very small at the time because I was just doing the GeoGuessr then and I didn’t really think it would be a big success. The first adventure I did was in 2019 and that’s when the channel really took off in terms of subscribers. I had 60,000 before my first adventure which was providing a nice little income – not enough to quit my job – but in order to edit my first Straight Line Mission, I did quit my job. It was a gamble, but one that paid off because within a few days I had 250,000 subscribers. I’d ridden the wave of the algorithm, and I realised I had a potential career doing videos like that.

It must be a dream to create the content you do, earn money for doing it and being your own boss? Which job did you give up on order to fully focus on your channel?

I was a van driver, and I did like it to be honest. I enjoyed just driving around, listening to music and almost meditating. I don’t like to use the word lucky to be doing what I am, because I’ve worked very hard to get to this point, but I do feel blessed to be able to do exactly what I want to do – within reason  - because it means I get to spend quality time with my family, which a lot of people are unable to. So yeah, I’m very grateful.

You put yourself in some risky situations in your adventuring – in Norway you were alone on your mission and you started sinking in a swamp miles from any chance of getting help…

That was so stupid looking back because I could have gone maybe 15 metres either side and I would still have been in the platinum zone which means the mission wouldn't fail. With hindsight, that’s what I should have done, but I thought it was going to be OK and had no idea it was so deep. As soon as I realised I couldn’t move my thighs an inch, I thought. ‘well, this is it. I’m a goner!'.

Thankfully, you did get free and make it out of the swamp, but what did your wife Verity and your parents think when they first saw what had happened?

Oh god! That was the angriest they’d been watching any of my adventures because they do stress about my safety as obviously I have to take some risks in very remote places from time to time. I made sure after Norway that I always carried a satellite phone with me so I could be found of anything did happen because before that, if I didn’t have a signal on my mobile there would be no way anyone could find me if I was injured or worse. Now I’m a dad and in my thirties, I look back at that time as being a bit gung-ho and reckless, but I’m still here!

Obviously, we are a football magazine and watching your missions, you can tell you can play a bit because we’ve seen more than one strike from distance that’s gone in the top corner from 25 yards when you’ve crossed a pitch or whatever…

I do play, but I’m not great. I’m not big enough to be really good, but I’m a tidy finisher, enjoy a volley and like shooting. I’m a bit of a goal-poacher, basically, but it might be one in three that actually goes into the net. Most of my ‘career’ as such has been spent playing six-a-side with my mates and we even won a league on one occasion. But mostly now, I play with a group of dads in Lichfield which is a decent standard.

You don’t have a team as such, do you?

I don’t. Because of where I’m from a lot of my mates are Villa fans, but I went to a couple of Walsall games when I was a kid and they were in the Championship – maybe 23 years ago – but I am neutral in terms of club sides which might be because my dad is from Wales and rugby union fan and just doesn’t like football, so he never passed down a team to me. And I’m not a glory hunter who will follow the best team at the time; I just couldn’t do that. I just go nuts when England are in a tournament. I’m a very passionate guy, so by March, I’ll start having dreams about the World Cup and, having been born in 1990, it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions ever since!

So, we have to ask… Bernardo Silva – have people mentioned you look like him before?

Personally, I don't think I do but yeah, it's been suggested loads of times online! It’s died down a bit lately – maybe I’m looking older – but at one point loads of people were saying, ‘I didn’t know Bernardo Silva did GeoGuessr’. The funny thing is, Bernardo actually played GeoGuessr on a City video a couple of years back and I watched it and thought, ‘Wait a minute, are they going to mention me?’ – but it was just a coincidence. But he played the game of GeoGuessr, trying to work out which player came from which town.

Do you have any thoughts on City, Tom?

I don’t mind City – they have played some unbelievable football over the years, and it’s been great to watch players like De Bruyne and Haaland over the last few years, and I’d always cheer City on in Europe because I always back English sides, but I’m neither here nor there if I’m honest. I’m just a neutral and have no affiliation to any clubs.

So, any missions planned for Manchester?

I don’t, but it’s the next logical city to try. I did a London No Roads Mission and one in Birmingham No Roads, so maybe an east to west of Manchester because there’s plenty of old industry , tunnels and a few rivers and streams I could crawl up. Canals are not allowed in my rules, otherwise crossing Birmingham would have been easy!

YouTube has given you a wonderful platform and is as popular as ever – do you feel the content you and many others produce is resulting in a natural shift away from traditional TV?

I guess so, whether I like it or not because I’m quite nostalgic about TV and the programmes I used to watch from the 1990s and noughties. TV isn’t as good now and I guess there has been a shift to a channel; where people are more in control of what they do, they can be more niche and it’s a real hotbed for passionate people – and that’s what I am – I’m very passionate about a certain style of adventure and that hopefully comes across on camera. YouTube’s great for that reason.

Where did the idea of Straight Line Missions come from? It’s pretty unique…

That has its roots in adventures me and my stepbrother Greg used to have as kids. We used to just set off into the countryside aged around 13 and we’d set off from Aldridge which is on the east of the Birmingham's suburban area and just galivant off in one direction and we were no strangers to hopping over barbwire fences, squeezing under hedges, crossing rivers and exploring quarries – mischievous yes, but we just got a huge buzz out of it while a lot of kids our age were in their bedrooms playing video games. So, I guess it comes from that – a realisation you can travel through the countryside and not get caught by farmers – my nemesis! If you watch my videos, you’d think I am terrified of farmers, but it’s more about the mission being forced to end prematurely. The straight line idea came from me just looking  at a map one day and wondering if  I drew a straight line across it, it would be possible to actually do it? I guess another reason I do these and part of my bigger mission is to encourage young people to get out in the open air and explore because you can have these adventures right on your doorstep – unless you maybe live in the middle of Moss Side and it might be trickier!

Tell is a bit about the Windows Screensaver idea you’re doing at the moment…

Yeah, it’s really taken off, I’m chuffed. It was based on the idea that when you turn your PC on, you usually get a Windows selected image of some exotic place, so, after a bit of tinkering with various jpegs that already existed, I had my PC set so I get a random new image each time I switched it on. The challenge I set myself was to find out where that actually was in the world, travel there in something like 48 hours and replicate the picture as best as possible that was on my PC..

Who are the YouTubers you enjoy watching? Any recommendations?

There’s a guy called Beau Miles – a big ginger bloke from Australia who is older than me and just does backyard adventures. He used to do proper adventuring, like kayaking across oceans and what not, but he’s more mellow these days. He’s got such an old school, Aussie sense of humour and he’s so laidback  and poetic with his outlook on the world. He’s much more intelligent than I am!

What’s next for GeoWizard then, Tom?

I have a few ideas, but I need to be careful what I say – I have rivals who might  steal my ideas unfortunately – but I planning on doing a massive perfect circle and a straight line mission with a twist is on the cards plus plenty of other ideas I want to bestow on the world, so tune in and see what wacky, hairbrained ideas I come up with next!

Can Mozzer get the better of City YouTuber JSM44?

Here’s February's predictions as the battle of the our former captain and the City vloggers continues…

SPURS v CITY

Premier League
Thursday 01 February, 16:30 kick-off
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Mozzer verdict: It’s not been a fantastic venue for us, The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but we’ve done better in recent years than we did for the first five or six! They have as many injuries as we do at the time of writing, so this could still go either way, but we’ve put a few bad displays behind us and will have players who couldn't feature in the Champions League.

Mozzer prediction: Spurs 1-3 City

Vlogger verdict: Spurs v City is always a tough one to call because our recent record against Spurs is not good - and they’ve already beat us this season at the Etihad. At the time of writing, their fans seem really frustrated with the way things are going, but I think we could drop points here, just because it’s Spurs!

Vlogger prediction: Spurs 1-1 City 

CITY v NEWCASTLE

Carabao Cup
Wednesday 04 February, 20:00 kick-off
Etihad Stadium

Mozzer verdict: I’m banking on our injuries starting to clear in time for this. A 2-0 lead from the first leg means Newcastle have it all to do – they are capable – but I see us picking them off as they go all out for the first goal.

Mozzer prediction: City 3-1 Newcastle

Vlogger verdict: I think a nice little Wembley trip might be getting booked after this game! We have a brilliant record against Newcastle at the Etihad, and I see that continuing with a comfortable victory here.

Vlogger prediction: City 3-0 Newcastle

LIVERPOOL v CITY

Premier League
Sunday 08 February, 16:30 kick-off
Anfield

Mozzer verdict: Have we ever had a nice, easy game away to Liverpool? We just don’t click at Anfield, and they seem to be getting together some momentum. I think we can win this, but feel it more likely we will draw, which wouldn’t be a bad result.

Mozzer prediction: Liverpool 2-2 City

Vlogger verdict: Liverpool at Anfield, The One Match I wish we could skip. We haven’t beaten Liverpool away (with fans) since 2002, The lockdown win at Anfield was amazing, but I wish our fans had been there to witness it. Each year, I say, is this the year we beat them - but unfortunately it never works out, I don’t have a good feeling about this one so hoping saying one thing will mean the opposite!

Vlogger prediction: Liverpool 1-1 City

CITY v FULHAM

Premier League
Wednesday 11 February, 19:30 kick-off
Etihad Stadium

Mozzer verdict: This should be a fairly trouble-free three points. Fulham are decent and, for 30 minutes or so at Craven Cottage late last year, gave us a real fright – but I think it was a one-off. I don’t see a repeat of that at the Etihad.

Mozzer prediction: City 2-0 Fulham

Vlogger verdict: If we do come unstuck against Liverpool, we will get back to winning ways against The Cottagers with a solid victory here. Marco Silva has done a great job, but they generally don’t travel that well and I’m hoping we’ll have several of our injured players back by the time we play them.

Vlogger prediction: City 5-0 Fulham

CITY v SALFORD

FA Cup Fourth Round
Saturday 14 February, 15:00 kick-off
Etihad Stadium

Mozzer verdict: City will progress, I’m certain. Will we hit 10 again – I’d say no chance! Could we hit eight again as we did last year against Salford City? Highly unlikely. They are a decent League 2 side and will have good backing, but I still believe we will win comfortably.

Mozzer prediction: City 5-1 Salford

Vlogger verdict: I see City hitting Salford for 9!!! Last time it was 8, let’s go one better  I’m not being disrespectful to them, but their Manchester United connections – and no doubt they will have a lot of United fans among their travelling support – mean that I will be happy if we do score that many!

Vlogger prediction: City 9-0 Salford

CITY v NEWCASTLE

Premier League
Saturday 21 February, 12:30 kick-off
Etihad Stadium

Mozzer verdict: Another clash with Newcastle and familiarity can sometimes be a bit of an issue because both managers will perhaps know what the other  is likely to be thinking. But the Magpies haven’t travelled well this season, and I think we will see this one home – for the  second time this month.

Mozzer prediction: City 3-1 Newcastle

Vlogger verdict: As I stated earlier, City, love a game against Newcastle at the Etihad, and though this encounter will be closer in terms of overall play, I still only see us coming out on top.  Ant and Dec better hold onto their hats!

Vlogger prediction: City 4-1 Newcastle

LEEDS v CITY

Premier League
Saturday 28 February, 17:30 kick-off
Elland Road

Mozzer verdict: Elland Road will be rocking, I’m sure of that! Daniel Farke’s side have never looked back from their half-time change of tactics and formation at the Etihad where they fought back really well and almost took a point. They will stay up comfortably, but I see us still having too much, here.

Mozzer prediction: Leeds 1-2 City

Vlogger verdict: Leeds away is tough because their fans make it tough. We have a mixed record at Elland Road and Leeds are still fighting for lives and every point matters. If we are on a roll, we win, but if not, it will be close – and I think we could drop two points here to  a tenacious Leeds side.

Vlogger prediction: Leeds 2-2 City

Last month: A mixed and odd bag of results in January means the race for the predictions title is now even closer. Mozzer got three results right and one scoreline, while Esteemed Kompany got two results and one score correct giving our former skipper a 6-5 win. It couldn't be closer!

Season scoreboard so far: Mozzer 31-32 Vloggers

Phil Foden has now spent two decades – man and boy – associated with Manchester City. Here, our gifted playmaker speaks about what it means to play for the club he has always loved…

One club players are increasingly rare in modern football.

Alan Oakes, Paul Lake, Glyn Pardoe and Bert Trautmann are some of City’s one club members, and throwing the net out wider, so was Steven Gerrard at Liverpool, and John Terry at Chelsea.

Phil Foden started training with City’s junior sides aged four, and some 21 years on, he is integral to Pep Guardiola’s side – and has been for the last NINE seasons.

It’s an incredible statistic for a player who, at 25, has arguably still got his best years ahead.

The lad from Stockport, once a ball-boy at the Etihad, is living out his dreams playing magical football and looking to add to the 17 major honours he has already won with his boyhood club.

Settling down to talk to City Magazine about his lengthy service so far, Foden admits that it is sometimes hard to get his head around.

“It’s a bit surreal when you actually think about it, but, yeah, it's that length of time… I’ve been training with City ever since like four or something,” he smiled.

“It's insane and I suppose it’s not a story you really hear these days, is it?  It's quite rare, but something  I'm very proud of because it's different.

“I've only ever been at Manchester City and I’m happy with that.”

Blue has always been the colour for Foden.

But if his dad and older brother had gotten their way, it could have been a different story.

Dad and big brother are United fans – but Phil’s mum is City – and her influence undoubtedly made sure Phil was never going to the Red side…

“City came in, scouted me and I’ve never looked back really, since that day – it was always City for me. “

And who could have guessed that, when Sergio Aguero scored the winner on 94 minutes against QPR back in 2012, a hugely impressionable Phil Foden would be sat behind the goal in the Family Stand as the ball struck the back of the net to give us our first top tier title for 44 years?

“Yeah, I was there behind the goal, aged about 11,” he beamed.

“Obviously, the inspiration I took from that moment and to just be there on that day was everything to me.

“Being part of it all and seeing the goal from Sergio go in just gave me more hunger to try to reach the level everyone else was at. I just knew I had to work hard for it and hopefully I’d get my chance one day and yeah, I’m grateful that’s how it worked out.”

And his celebrations that day?

“I was on the pitch like everybody else!” he laughs. “Celebrating everything as a fan! It was a great day. I can't remember too much about what I did when I got home, but I'm pretty sure that I was probably rubbing it in my dad and brother’s face, to be honest!”

When it comes to football education, the university of Manchester City FC proved to be a dream factory for the young Foden.

Famously, he went from watching his heroes to playing alongside them, and in David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, he had the best tutors money could buy.

“First of all, I couldn't ask for two better players to look up to and obviously be involved with it at such a young age,” he said.

“They're both unique in different ways. got special talents and, yeah, just to be there, training with them every day, learning off them - I was so lucky to have them in front of me and I feel like I've taken parts of their game and taken it into mine.

“it was also their professionalism and how they looked after themselves off the pitch as well - I've tried to add that to the to my game as well so I guess I took bits from both of them and I’m just really blessed to have been able to train with them every day for so many years.”

Pep Guardiola has always said that Foden is like a kid in a playground, in training playing with joy and freedom and, when that happens on the pitch on matchdays, our No.47 is at his very best.

Does Phil agree?

“Yeah, absolutely,” he says.

“I feel like wherever you grew up and how you play, you are who you are, so that was me playing five-a-side knockabouts, in the street or wherever I could in parks. So I've always been that kind of like street footballer and definitely still play that that sort of freedom - and I can't see me changing anytime soon.”

To have one street footballer is something – to have two is the stuff of dreams for City fans. Enter Rayan Cherki, Another skilful genius who learned his trade on the urban streets of France, the Foden-Cherki combination looks like a partnership made in football heaven.

“Yeah, we've got a great relationship,” says Foden. “ I feel like we just bounce off each other. We know each other's qualities and we're able to use it, and you can see it at the moment, how we're linking up and how we're finding each other - it's been really good and I’m sure it will only get better.”

So, back to the original question – how does a player in the modern game serve one club for so long – with many more years hopefully still to come?

“City is just in my blood and also, just the people that work at the club as well,” he said.

“It's all the staff and coaches that I work with - everyone's so nice and it’s great to feel there's nowhere better to be and as long as I'm happy, I can't look at being anywhere else. “

Interview: David Clayton

MCFC V BIRMINGHAM 25TH AUGUST 1973 

Let’s start this month’s journey with an air of optimism and cheer. Front cover star for this particular programme is the man, the myth, the legend that is Mike Summerbee. Voted Player of the Year by the Blue Army.

More of Mike later. 

Buzzer shares the cover-star status with a chap called Barrie Betts which might take a little more explaining.

Later.

In the August of 1973 Marc Riley was a very sad 12-year-old lad. His hero had recently appeared at the Free Trade Hall on his last ever tour with the Spiders From Mars…. and my sister refused to let me tag along. Not that I bear a grudge you understand. Just give me a moment.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGHHHHHHHHH!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I actually thought I was ‘over it’... but evidently not.

I do deserve a medal of some sort though I’d say… for so magnanimous am I that I let Tina into our Radio1 studio to meet David Bowie and have her photograph taken with him many years later. 

Truth be told I am something of a ‘saint’. 

Anyway… I almost made up for it three months later when I was allowed to go to my first ever gig. The Opera House, Manchester. Mott The Hoople (already a great start) supported by (get THIS) Queen. Legend has it that Queen never supported any other act MTH aside. And I saw it. Myself and my mate Steve Hanley even went so far as to buy matching suits for the occasion. Upon arrival we immediately recognised the fact that we’d got this very wrong - and the 1800 rockers who surrounded us made a scarecrow look overdressed. Oh, the shame and embarrassment.

We didn’t make the same mistake two months later when our 2nd show was T Rex at the Free Trade Hall.

But if you think I had been through a difficult period in my life, please spare a thought for MCFC Chairman Eric Alexander who smiling face greets us on page three of this programme. Though exactly what he’s smiling about I’m not entirely sure!!  The two words in BOLD that grace the first of his one and a half page contribution to this publication  are ‘TORMENT’ and ‘REGRET’!! 

OH NO!! WHATS GOING ON ERIC?

Turns our he’d bitten off more than he could chew and has decided to step down from his role.

It was Eric’s absconding that was to open the gates of Maine Road to a man who would become well known in the world of football. Perhaps not always for the best of reasons. Peter Swales. Later.

Continuing with our perplexing ‘LETS SHOW EVERYONE WHERE THESE FAMOUS FOOTBALLERS LIVE AND MAYBE WE CAN ALL GO AND KNOCK ON HIS DOOR AND ASK FOR HIS AUTOGRAPH’ feature we call ‘City at Home’. This time the surrendered target - sorry - I mean ‘subject’ is none of than the man mountain that is Joe Corrigan. Legend has it (well - maybe ‘legend’ is overstating it   somewhat… my dad told me) that Joe used to drink in two different watering holes in the Brooklands area. The story goes that when City were doing well Joe used to go in the swish (now demolished) Woodcourt  on Brooklands Road, and when we were not struggling he could be found necking various  liquids at the not swish Brooklands Trades and Labour Club (now demolished). The photo of the house that was home to Joe, Val and daughters Sara and Emma seems to show the door ajar. I hope someone was in at the time of taking.

Reading these programmes it has made it abundantly clear that the producers of these missives are very keen on running  competitions.

Perhaps my favourite is ‘WIN A TRIP IN THE SUN’. 

You might have noticed that the exact destination where the ‘sun’ is hopefully going to shine is shied away from. It dangles the carrot of ‘the happy go lucky freedom of the Mediterranean lands. In January. Which in 1973 was probably the equivalent of winning a two month stay in Cliff Richard's villa in Barbados… all inclusive. What talent did you require to put yourself in the frame for this dangled carrot? A vast general knowledge? A trainspotter knowledge of the Blues and their history? Nope! You needed to become an agent selling bingo tickets on behalf of the club.

HOUSE!!!

The centre pages of publications are often reserved for pull out pin-ups relating to type of magazine they appeared in. I remember Sounds music weekly used to have pull out posters of the pop stars of the time. Whilst others (I believe) carried photos of ladies. 

Not here though. The middle pages are indeed taken up by an ‘entity’ - but here we find what seems like a fantastically antiquated rigmarole…namely the two-page Voucher Sheet to which one would have to dismember the programme you’ve just paid good money for by cutting out the token on the back page and gluing it down. 

Now then… we need to talk about Barrie.

“DO YOU MEAN BARRIE BETTS MARC”? I don’t hear you ask!  The Manchester City Social Club did play host to many household names in its heyday. Vince Hill and Little and Large to name but two. Or is that three? Anyway… it was a well-run, well thought of watering hole with blue beer running through it.

Perhaps the most intriguing name to be found in the boastful list to be seen below is that of Ross McManus! Sure, The Nolans and Jim Bowen will put derrières on seats but anyone with a crystal ball to hand would surely have wanted from seats to Ross McManus.

If you think you don’t know who he is… think again. If you’re ‘of an age’ you will surely remember the R Whites Lemonade advert featuring a furtive bloke sneaking downstairs after the witching hour and partaking in some fizzy pop whilst the rest of the household remained asleep!? You know him! “The secret Lemonade Drinker”!! Well, let me tell you this. Ross not only wrote the tune… he also secured the services of his son to perform backing vocals on it. Nothing interesting about that you might think… until you find out his son is actually Elvis Costello!!! I kid you not!

On the same page we’re also treated to a photo of ‘zany comedian’ Chapman Brown who is doing something zany with his hand atop of his bonce and you’re even supplied with a joke to  tell your mate… presumably whilst watching the Swinging Nolans whilst quaffing in the Social Club!

OK… we need to talk about Barrie. Barrie Betts. The ex-Man City right-back is these days sporting a new ‘image’ whilst fronting a worldwide porcelain company on the outskirts of Blackpool’. It is a refreshing change from the usual Footballer to Pub Landlord stories we so often heard.

I’m 100% certain there is a ‘lifting the cup’ joke to be had here…but I can’t quite put my finger on it… there might even be a ‘set-piece’ rib-tickler too…somewhere…

Before I go…Page 14. LOOK IN AT THE NEW CITY SHOP.

You could buy a Crimplene suit ‘to an exclusive City design’. Oh, for a time machine.

Programme editors from the Dark Ages aren’t the only ones partial to the odd quiz you know. And this month’s Caption Competition really is an odd one. 

So… lets us know what you think either (or both) or the protagonists in this action shot are saying. Winner will receive an as yet undisclosed goody bag from the Manchester City vaults.

Get to it!

My job here is done…but before I go - a quick look at the back page as usual. The token has been cut out (as usual) as ably pointed out by my index finger - so and all that remains is to tell you that this First Division battle between Man City and Birmingham, finished up City with a victorious. 3-1…erm… victory!!

For our first Academy 5-a-side team of 2026, Elite Development Squad defender Isaac Smith was tasked with building his ultimate team.

Like previous editions, the 20-year-old had to abide by the following rules:

He can only select one goalkeeper, one defender, two midfielders and one striker. And they can only be players he featured alongside during his time in City’s Academy.

Who did Isaac select?

GOALKEEPER:
Pierce Charles - Unbelievable with his feet so I think in 5-a-side it would work in our favour. I played with him from Under-12 to Under-16s before he moved to Sheffield Wednesday.

DEFENDER:
Isaac Smith - Got to pick myself now I’m back fit and it’s my team. Hopefully just bringing morale, pass the ball to my team-mates and let them do the work.

MIDFIELDER:
Oscar Bobb - I think that’s self-explanatory. He’s just an absolute joke on the ball and would help score goals.

MIDFIELDER:
James McAtee - For the exact same reasons as Oscar.. He’s so good technically, which is ideal for 5-a-side.

FORWARD:
Liam Delap – I’ll go with Liam Delap. He’ll just score all the goals, simple as.

Interview: Holly Percival

Leila Ouahabi is rapidly approaching 100 appearances for City - a sign of her importance and longevity at the Club...

An impressive milestone, for sure, and one only 21 other players have achieved in our women’s team’s professional history.

However, given the team’s form heading into a crucial part of the season, she’ll likely have her eyes on collective, rather than individual, accolades come May.

Indeed, while 100 appearances is a special achievement for the Spain international, a first trophy at City would mean so much more.

Once again, Ouahabi has been integral in that success, featuring in 16 games so far this season out of a possible 19.

A reliable and adventurous full-back with a deadly delivery, only Kerstin Casparij, Bunny Shaw, Vivianne Miedema and Iman Beney have provided more assists than our number 15 this season.

“It’s good to learn new positions and situations,” she begins.

It’s a common trend for Leila to be high up in that metric, as City fans will attest to when watching her race down the left flank and deliver a dangerous ball into the area for our attacking players to gobble up.

Indeed, only Casparij has registered more assists among City defenders since Ouahabi’s debut season in 2022/23.

But what’s perhaps been most impressive about our Spain international this season is that she’s remained just as consistent even as her role has changed.

Andrée Jeglertz’s fluid formation has often required Ouahabi to operate either as a more advanced left-sided player, placing greater emphasis on the full-back to both join the attack and support the defence in equal measure.

Alternatively, she’s also been trusted to line up as a third centre-back where required.

Regardless of the varied responsibilities our defender has had thrust upon her, she’s met it with the same quick smile and positive attitude which has made her such a popular member of the squad.

Her response when asked about those positional changes is a case in point of that growth mindset.

“It’s good to learn new positions and situations,” she begins.

“It’s true, sometimes I have to play like a centre-back and the other times I’m playing more like a winger. I’m very accustomed to these situations because I really love to attack like a left-back.

“I like to join with the team and join the attack and these things.

“It’s true that sometimes what we are planning during the week and the programme we are going to play [has me as a centre-back]. That’s good, because it’s learning another new position.”

In his first few weeks as Head Coach, Jeglertz talked about making subtle changes to the team, rather than overseeing a widescale evolution of our style.

That rings true, and word regularly crops up when players are asked about the first half of the 2025/26 campaign: freedom.

Ouahabi continues that trend when asked about life under Jeglertz: “We can play with freedom and move wherever [on the pitch].

“We can take chances in different ways, and this is really important for us, to have different options to create different chances.”

“We know what the best or key positions are but always try to have organisation. This is really good for us because we can play in different ways.

“We’re not doing the same [things] always and this is the key for us.

“We can take chances in different ways, and this is really important for us, to have different options to create different chances.”

That final sentence from Ouahabi runs parallel with a phrase Jeglertz used in his pre-match team talk ahead of City’s late win over London City Lionesses: ‘We will find a way to win’.

At time of writing, the Blues have scored more goals in the final 15 minutes than any other side in the WSL this season and did so again in the 2-1 victory over London City at the end of January.

It looked like we’d have to settle for a draw after a scrappy game in the capital, with Freya Godfrey grabbing an equaliser midway through the second half to cancel out Kerolin’s opener.

But with four minutes to go City stole all three points when Shaw fired home from close-range to open up a nine-point gap at the WSL summit.

It wasn’t pretty but Ouahabi and co., as Jeglertz predicted, had found a way to win.

This is a key reason behind City’s success this season, according to our flying full-back: “We are playing like a team and we are more direct, but at the same time, we like to keep the ball.

“[Having] both things is really good because we can be a counter-attack team and then, if not, sometimes we can keep the ball.

“This is really important for us, to keep continuing doing this in the same way.

“I’m really happy with what we’re doing as a team We were working really hard in the first part of the season, and we just wanted to keep doing what we have been up until now.

“I’m really proud of the team.”

Interview: George Kelsey

Current All Elite Wrestling (AEW) champion Kazuchika Okada has been following City for more than 15 years. The Japanese star is the current AEW International champion and the recent world tour saw him stop off at the Co-op Live on the Manchester leg of his tour – and fulfil a lifelong dream of visiting the Etihad Stadium… CITY MAGAZINE took the opportunity of holding a quick Q&A with him...

Is it true you became a City fan after watching Blue Moon Rising documentary and later All Or Nothing?

Yes that's true - I wanted to know more about the club and what the players do outside of the club, so I watched All or Nothing and after that, I wanted to know more and more and ever since then, I've been a Manchester City fan.

What was it about City that resonated with you?

Even though they are a really good side, they work very hard and that impressed me as well as the fans. And for the manager, Pep Guardiola, just how he was and how he deals with everything and started to build a great side. Following City felt right for me.

How do you keep up with City's progress? Do you watch games on TV regularly?

Yes, I bought a subscription and when I was in Japan, I quite frequently watched the matches live. But since I moved to the United States, it's not as easy to see games because of the time difference and also have kids to look after! So, these days, I usually watch the highlights but on my trip to England, I was able to watch our 5-4 win away to Fulham in person - a crazy game!

How did it feel to finally visit the Etihad?

I've been having the time of my life and to see the Etihad finally is fantastic. I have been to quite a few famous venues on this tour but to come to the stadium of my favourite team and get a private showing as well was amazing.

We have four Japanese players in our women's team - does that make you happy and proud?

Yes, I am very proud as a Japanese person to see them doing so well. It has also motivates me the better they do, so yes, it's a great connection for us to share as Japanese people.

Do you have a favourite Manchester City moment, goal of player of all-time?

I remember watching the highlights when City won the Premier League in 2012 against QPR. Sergio Aguero's goal in the last minute will probably always be my favourite Manchester City moment - and I'm sure I'm not alone with that!

Can we win the Premier League or Champions League this season? Or both?

Yes, no problem! Both!

LA Dodgers' superstar baseball player Shohei Ohtani is another world famous Japanese sportsman - can you convince him to maybe start following City as well now you’re over in the States?

Shohei plays for the Dodgers right? So he plays in blue, just a different shade of blue than City’s, so I think he has to come over to Manchester to watch City now! He was playing in red to begin with LA Angels, and he swapped red for blue, so that's a good start!

 Interview: Tom Young/David Clayton