Mark helped save Bradford City FC 30 years ago

8:00am Monday 4th February 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Hannah Postles, T&A Reporter

A Bradford City fan who handed over a large chunk of his weekly wage to help the club when it was in crisis in 1983 will fly from his Australia home to be at the Capital One Cup Final at Wembley.

Life-long supporter Mark Jagger, 48, was second in line to pledge £20 of his £35 apprentice wage to the Save City Fund 30 years ago.

He featured in the Telegraph & Argus making his donation to the late ‘Mrs Bradford City’ Gladys Hannah, on August 8, 1983.

At the time the club was facing an anxious wait to find out whether it had been accepted back into the Football League after a long, tortuous battle to save it from extinction, which saw fans raise more than £55,000 to help pay its debts.

And the dad-of-two, who moved to Sydney from Eccleshill in 2003, is pledging his support again, spending 3,000 Australian dollars for a ten-day trip to watch Phil Parkinson’s men take on Swansea in the final on Sunday, February 24.

He said: “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing and there was no doubt in my mind that I had to come back for Wembley.

“It may not happen again in my lifetime and, whatever happens, it’s win-win.”

Mr Jagger has a long connection with the club. He was a general manager for former Bradford firm DPM Fabrications, which worked on safety barriers and staircases when the City’s Midland Road and Bradford End stands were built.

He still has a copy of the T&A article from when he went to Valley Parade to make his pledge.

“I was a teenager, living with my parents and got paid £35 a week as an apprentice,” he said. “I used to pay my parents £10-£15 a week board and gave the remaining £20 to the club.

“I wanted to do what I could to give my support. I still have the receipt now.”

The landscape gardener, who grew up in Tyersal, will fly to the UK on Wednesday, February 20, and hoped a friend would get him a ticket for the match when they went on sale today.

“We can’t lose now – we’ve got to the final and that’s it,” said Mr Jagger.

“Everybody’s going to enjoy themselves and we were never expected to get this far.

“I can’t wait!”

Comments(41)

bettyswollocks says...
9:05am Mon 4 Feb 13

I know of a few fans who are making the trip over from Australia for the final.

A friend of mine is putting off building his swimming pool to come but like I said, it could be another 102 years before we get to another cup final, he can build his pool next year!

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macca1969 says...
9:20am Mon 4 Feb 13

Good on him I for one hope he secures a ticket

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Cityboy78 says...
9:42am Mon 4 Feb 13

I see Swansea have been given more tickets by the FA. Anyone heard owt about us getting more?

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
9:56am Mon 4 Feb 13

It's nice to see people like this make the effort to get across.

My main question would be why after selling 30k tickets in less than a week why many in Bradford can't make the couple of mile trip to VP more often and good times like this might be more frequent.

Watch the same old 10k turn up next week against Gillingham, only to suddenly have 35k follow us down to Wembley 2 weeks later.

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OdsalMan says...
10:14am Mon 4 Feb 13

I have the ticket for mr Jagger !

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Freddy says...
10:26am Mon 4 Feb 13

*
OdsalMan says...
10:14am Mon 4 Feb 13

I have the ticket for Mr Jagger !
*
WELL DONE --SIR !!!!!!.
*
I was about to ensure his ticket.

There are those Supporters travelling from Russia,Florida, Oz.,Europe etc.
*
Dependant upon the total number of lifetime Supporters, travelling from ALL over the world.
I would like to have seen The Club ensure, they secure a Ticket.
*
I have no doubt ALL the 'Hangers-On '
will get Tickets.
They will be for sale on 'E-Bay'--and by 'TOUTS '- on Wembley Way.
*
If City can secure extra Tickets--They should be completely reserved, for The World Supporters travelling to UK.
*

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Glenn Owens says...
10:43am Mon 4 Feb 13

I was born in Bradford in 1960 and now live in Melbourne, Australia.
I am a lifetime City supporter. I attended my first game at home to Port Vale in 1970 and went to hundreds of games during the seventies. I have been to many home and away games whenever I have been in England – most recently in January 2010.
I have booked/paid for airline tickets for my son and I to travel from Melbourne to London for the Cup Final on Sunday 24 February. We arrive in London on Friday and fly back to Melbourne on Tuesday.
As soon as the tickets become available to the general public on 13 February I will be on-line to buy our tickets. Glenn.

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BigFigure says...
11:25am Mon 4 Feb 13

Good luck with that, Glenn....tickets will be in very short supply once on general sale

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TheCoach says...
11:28am Mon 4 Feb 13

Glenn Owens wrote:
I was born in Bradford in 1960 and now live in Melbourne, Australia. I am a lifetime City supporter. I attended my first game at home to Port Vale in 1970 and went to hundreds of games during the seventies. I have been to many home and away games whenever I have been in England – most recently in January 2010. I have booked/paid for airline tickets for my son and I to travel from Melbourne to London for the Cup Final on Sunday 24 February. We arrive in London on Friday and fly back to Melbourne on Tuesday. As soon as the tickets become available to the general public on 13 February I will be on-line to buy our tickets. Glenn.
SOMEBODY GET THIS MAN HIS TICKETS!! - I CAN'T UNFORTUNATELY BUT THERE MUST BE SOMEONE WHO CAN DO THIS FOR HIM RATHER THAN TRYING TO MAKE A FAST BUCK ON EBAY OR FLOGGING THEM TO LXXDS OR BURNLEY SCUM!!

Report this post »

Cityboy78 says...
12:25pm Mon 4 Feb 13

I live on the Pacific island of Samoa however i do not have enough gold coins to buy a ticket onto a big metal bird to fly to the Great England for the amazing match at Wimbledon between the Broadford and Swimsea, so i will have to row on my canoe. The trouble is i only have one arm so it may take a while, so i am setting off tomorrow. If anyone can get me a ticket, i will be on Wimbledon Way in my grass skirt. I know, as it has been pointed out by so many, that i should have a ST or Flixible Card, and without one, i am merely a two bit glory seekin hanger on, but i promise, i will bow down to your superior feet forever and even take you home via Hull and the Leeds canal if you would take pity on my worthless soul.

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theoutsider says...
12:49pm Mon 4 Feb 13

He gave what ? 20 quid ! ...geeze and to think of what us season ticket holders have put in over't years.

Bandwagon jumper comes to mind

Still somebodys come to his rescue ! but bound to feel a fraud when arrives at Wembley as a lot undoubtedly are !

Report this post »

bcfc1903 says...
1:35pm Mon 4 Feb 13

theoutsider wrote:
He gave what ? 20 quid ! ...geeze and to think of what us season ticket holders have put in over't years.

Bandwagon jumper comes to mind

Still somebodys come to his rescue ! but bound to feel a fraud when arrives at Wembley as a lot undoubtedly are !
Reading your post...being physically sick comes to mind.

Report this post »

DAD18@SKY.COM says...
1:39pm Mon 4 Feb 13

yes it was a lovely gesture my son earns £170 a week and he goes to all home games with my grandson he went to both villa games and arsenel and wigan but unfortunalty he has to wait to see if he can get wembley tickets cause hes not a season ticket holder and his storys not sad enough its all been done wrong good luck city anyway

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bcfc1903 says...
1:39pm Mon 4 Feb 13

Good luck Mark...you did the club proud in it's time of need, i also chucked in at the time, a weeks wage if i remember correctly.

**

We shout with pride...we'll never hide...Claret and Amber.

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seasidebantam says...
1:52pm Mon 4 Feb 13

hi eveyone,many of yu willnow me from mypost's, i am livin in blackpool and go to a lot of the games icluding watford away and burton in the cup and 80% of the home games, i don't have a season tkt or flexi card, if anyone ou there has 2 spare tkts whatver price band i will buy them plus offer you a 2 night stay in blackpool at our hotlel on b&b

many thanks
seasdebantam

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
2:04pm Mon 4 Feb 13

80% of homegame but don't have a flexicard or season ticket. Surely you know how stupid that looks when a flexicard paid itself back in only 5 games.

Then someone going to all home games but doesn't have a season ticket or flexicard.

Sob stories gallore. You only have one person to blame if you don't get tickets, yourself.

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pollyperks67 says...
2:19pm Mon 4 Feb 13

TheCoach wrote:
Glenn Owens wrote:
I was born in Bradford in 1960 and now live in Melbourne, Australia. I am a lifetime City supporter. I attended my first game at home to Port Vale in 1970 and went to hundreds of games during the seventies. I have been to many home and away games whenever I have been in England – most recently in January 2010. I have booked/paid for airline tickets for my son and I to travel from Melbourne to London for the Cup Final on Sunday 24 February. We arrive in London on Friday and fly back to Melbourne on Tuesday. As soon as the tickets become available to the general public on 13 February I will be on-line to buy our tickets. Glenn.
SOMEBODY GET THIS MAN HIS TICKETS!! - I CAN'T UNFORTUNATELY BUT THERE MUST BE SOMEONE WHO CAN DO THIS FOR HIM RATHER THAN TRYING TO MAKE A FAST BUCK ON EBAY OR FLOGGING THEM TO LXXDS OR BURNLEY SCUM!!
i got mine off a leeds fans there will be 6 of us 2 leeds fans and 4 city fans and i know a couple of town fans r going think rhodes and lawn giving 3 tickets per season ticket holder is bang on!!!!!!!!!good luck getting tickets glenn ctid

Report this post »

bcfc1903 says...
2:28pm Mon 4 Feb 13

pollyperks67 wrote:
TheCoach wrote:
Glenn Owens wrote:
I was born in Bradford in 1960 and now live in Melbourne, Australia. I am a lifetime City supporter. I attended my first game at home to Port Vale in 1970 and went to hundreds of games during the seventies. I have been to many home and away games whenever I have been in England – most recently in January 2010. I have booked/paid for airline tickets for my son and I to travel from Melbourne to London for the Cup Final on Sunday 24 February. We arrive in London on Friday and fly back to Melbourne on Tuesday. As soon as the tickets become available to the general public on 13 February I will be on-line to buy our tickets. Glenn.
SOMEBODY GET THIS MAN HIS TICKETS!! - I CAN'T UNFORTUNATELY BUT THERE MUST BE SOMEONE WHO CAN DO THIS FOR HIM RATHER THAN TRYING TO MAKE A FAST BUCK ON EBAY OR FLOGGING THEM TO LXXDS OR BURNLEY SCUM!!
i got mine off a leeds fans there will be 6 of us 2 leeds fans and 4 city fans and i know a couple of town fans r going think rhodes and lawn giving 3 tickets per season ticket holder is bang on!!!!!!!!!good luck getting tickets glenn ctid
Hope they 'both' join in with a rousing BCFC Wembley rendition of we all hate leeds scum....it's a cracker, and of course the clubs ticketing arrangements are bang on the money.

*

We shout with pride...we'll never hide...Claret and Amber.

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seasidebantam says...
2:34pm Mon 4 Feb 13

i knew as soon as i posted my message i would get people saying you should have bought a season tkt/flexicard, i made a concious decision not to, the reason being in my understanding the board knew the financial plight a lot of our fans are in and wanted to make it easier on thier pockets to watch our beloved team, i am not in that position, also the match day revenue at city is pretty poor, they get no money from the food and beverage outlets, which are a rip off!! they will get money from programmes club shop etc, and people who buy tickets on match day
like me , i will spend more money at vp over a season than flexi tkt holders that is my choice, it helps my club, i will be going to wembley, there are tkts already on sale from tkt sites but i really don't want to give my money to people, who have no connection with the club, if a supporter has spare tkts then he has already bought them from city,so in a roundabout way the club benefits,but as a last resort i will buy tkts at extortinate prices to follow my team
ctid

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Hund01 says...
4:32pm Mon 4 Feb 13

Glenn Owens wrote:
I was born in Bradford in 1960 and now live in Melbourne, Australia.
I am a lifetime City supporter. I attended my first game at home to Port Vale in 1970 and went to hundreds of games during the seventies. I have been to many home and away games whenever I have been in England – most recently in January 2010.
I have booked/paid for airline tickets for my son and I to travel from Melbourne to London for the Cup Final on Sunday 24 February. We arrive in London on Friday and fly back to Melbourne on Tuesday.
As soon as the tickets become available to the general public on 13 February I will be on-line to buy our tickets. Glenn.
Hi Glenn hope you manage to get a ticket for you and your son. You should post your request on the Claret and Banter forum. It is worth a try.
It is a shame that the club has not set aside a couple of hundred tickets for the exiles. Selling them only to those with a foreign address.
Hailing from Bradford and being a Bantam is a very special and rare identity for those living abroad.
What really upsets me are the tout online sites selling 40 quid tickets for around 260 pounds. They are so blatant and nobody seems to be able to do anything about them. The government should allow legal DOS attacks on these sites.

Report this post »

Cityboy78 says...
4:41pm Mon 4 Feb 13

seasidebantam wrote:
i knew as soon as i posted my message i would get people saying you should have bought a season tkt/flexicard, i made a concious decision not to, the reason being in my understanding the board knew the financial plight a lot of our fans are in and wanted to make it easier on thier pockets to watch our beloved team, i am not in that position, also the match day revenue at city is pretty poor, they get no money from the food and beverage outlets, which are a rip off!! they will get money from programmes club shop etc, and people who buy tickets on match day
like me , i will spend more money at vp over a season than flexi tkt holders that is my choice, it helps my club, i will be going to wembley, there are tkts already on sale from tkt sites but i really don't want to give my money to people, who have no connection with the club, if a supporter has spare tkts then he has already bought them from city,so in a roundabout way the club benefits,but as a last resort i will buy tkts at extortinate prices to follow my team
ctid
Well said mate, im in a similar boat, work shifts in south yorks and live in cambridge (dont ask!) so pay on the gate at VP but mostly go to away games. Ive been offered single tickets from mates but want to take the suckers who i rope into away games. I think if ST holders had been given two each nobody would have batted an eye and everyone would have been reasonably happy, however in being uber loyal to ST holders, the board have slapped a large number of loyal fans who live away from BD8 (remember the much lauded, praised and appreciated away 'Bradford Army!) in the bracket. I, like you, will wait for the bun fight for the few seats left, and if not, ill shell out a grand on 4 tickets. Ive spent far more over the years travelling long distances to my home games (northampton, dagenham, southend, barnet, wallsall away etc) so a trip to Wembers will not be missed. Unlike the vast majority of blaggers who will go to VP once after the final, see a gash draw, and disappear until the next Premier League comes to town. See you all at Exeter/Plymouth in March eh? Thought not.

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damos got a wife says...
7:00pm Mon 4 Feb 13

Anybody got 2 spare 'free' tickets to Wycombe never mind wembley ?

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andypandy2 says...
7:04pm Mon 4 Feb 13

Dont worry Mr Mainwaring , Glenn and his son are sorted , in the cheap seats but hey
See you in London young man your round I beleive and thanks to a good friend for sorting him out
CTID

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Glenn Owens says...
9:35pm Mon 4 Feb 13

Thanks to some old and loyal friends for helping me with tickets for my son and I. We will be up there in the stands and we will savour every minute of the day. This is a dream come true for all life-time Bradford City fans whether they are at Wembley, watching the game on TV, following it on the internet or listening to the wireless. Glenn CTID.

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bcfc1903 says...
11:58pm Mon 4 Feb 13

I fu*king love ths club and it's fans..

**
We shout with pride...we'll never hide...Claret and Amber!!!!!!!!

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philjenko says...
3:44am Tue 5 Feb 13

Phil from Sydney Australia.I too am a long standing City fan now aged 52. My first game was Notts County at home in 1966 aged 6!. I made the trip over in 96 when we played in the play off final - somethingI will never forget!Timing is just not good for me to attend the final against Swansea- I've just had 8 weeks leave and enjoyed all City's games on the TV.( in Aus and Canada). I wish everyone a fantastic day out at Wembley and I will be watching the game in the early hours with about 20 mates who are all now 100% behind City( even a couple of Arsenal supporters!!).Gutted I cant make it but but still City till I die.City - the World wants you to WIN!

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Waydownsouth says...
5:21am Tue 5 Feb 13

Is there some good honest soul who will get me a ticket? I live in Qatarand am desperate to get to the match but there is no point me booking a flight without a ticket..andyjwaterho
use@yahoo.co.uk or andyskyope15.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Waydownsouth says...
5:21am Tue 5 Feb 13

Is there some good honest soul who will get me a ticket? I live in Qatarand am desperate to get to the match but there is no point me booking a flight without a ticket..andyjwaterho
use@yahoo.co.uk or andyskyope15.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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richbar62 says...
5:50am Tue 5 Feb 13

My son and I travelling over Australia, arrive Sat 16th, straight to the Wimbledon away game, Cup final, then Dag & Red game Wed 27th, fly back Thur 28th.

This for us is a dream trip, and look forward to meeting the local fans at Wembley.

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richbar62 says...
5:55am Tue 5 Feb 13

And also the "internationals" that are making the journey.

Andypandy2 and friends, great job helping out Glen, would love to get in on that round of drinks !!

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nzchch says...
6:42am Tue 5 Feb 13

Born Bradford 02/05/1961. Dad moved us to Christchurch NZ 1965. One thing that was instilled in me - Bradford City was my club. seen City in the flesh twice. Been to the Valley 5 times. Arriving Manchester 21 February. 08:30 24 February meet coach at the Valley, bound for Wembley. 12,000 miles, 1,300 pounds - Wembley - Priceless....

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theoutsider says...
12:01pm Tue 5 Feb 13

bcfc1903 wrote:
theoutsider wrote:
He gave what ? 20 quid ! ...geeze and to think of what us season ticket holders have put in over't years.

Bandwagon jumper comes to mind

Still somebodys come to his rescue ! but bound to feel a fraud when arrives at Wembley as a lot undoubtedly are !
Reading your post...being physically sick comes to mind.
sorry can you take something for it ?..perhaps see your GP ? I agree its making us 'real fans' feel a bit queasy reading sickly stuff like this.

Report this post »

bcfc1903 says...
1:00pm Tue 5 Feb 13

theoutsider wrote:
bcfc1903 wrote:
theoutsider wrote:
He gave what ? 20 quid ! ...geeze and to think of what us season ticket holders have put in over't years.

Bandwagon jumper comes to mind

Still somebodys come to his rescue ! but bound to feel a fraud when arrives at Wembley as a lot undoubtedly are !
Reading your post...being physically sick comes to mind.
sorry can you take something for it ?..perhaps see your GP ? I agree its making us 'real fans' feel a bit queasy reading sickly stuff like this.
No fella...there's no cure for your terrible posts...


**

We shout with pride...we'll never hide...Caret and Amber!!!!

Report this post »

andypandy2 says...
6:27pm Tue 5 Feb 13

richbar62 I may hold you to that lol, be in London saturday afternoon --23 your round I belive then Mr owens

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richbar62 says...
12:53am Wed 6 Feb 13

consider it a done deal Andy

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Durko11 says...
1:42am Wed 6 Feb 13

i would just like to share my joy with my fellow bantams travelling from foreign shores to support 'our' city.
Personally i am travelling from Sydney to London on the 23rd of Feb and planning on having a weekend that will long live in the memory.
CTID

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Andy2010 says...
2:52pm Wed 6 Feb 13

bcfc1903 wrote:
theoutsider wrote:
bcfc1903 wrote:
theoutsider wrote:
He gave what ? 20 quid ! ...geeze and to think of what us season ticket holders have put in over't years.

Bandwagon jumper comes to mind

Still somebodys come to his rescue ! but bound to feel a fraud when arrives at Wembley as a lot undoubtedly are !
Reading your post...being physically sick comes to mind.
sorry can you take something for it ?..perhaps see your GP ? I agree its making us 'real fans' feel a bit queasy reading sickly stuff like this.
No fella...there's no cure for your terrible posts...


**

We shout with pride...we'll never hide...Caret and Amber!!!!
Caret and Amber ?

Anyway how is this any different from "plastics" or "glory hunters" who have been shot down in flames amongst city fans?

Report this post »

bcfc1903 says...
9:37pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Andy2010 wrote:
bcfc1903 wrote:
theoutsider wrote:
bcfc1903 wrote:
theoutsider wrote:
He gave what ? 20 quid ! ...geeze and to think of what us season ticket holders have put in over't years.

Bandwagon jumper comes to mind

Still somebodys come to his rescue ! but bound to feel a fraud when arrives at Wembley as a lot undoubtedly are !
Reading your post...being physically sick comes to mind.
sorry can you take something for it ?..perhaps see your GP ? I agree its making us 'real fans' feel a bit queasy reading sickly stuff like this.
No fella...there's no cure for your terrible posts...


**

We shout with pride...we'll never hide...Caret and Amber!!!!
Caret and Amber ?

Anyway how is this any different from "plastics" or "glory hunters" who have been shot down in flames amongst city fans?
Sorry meant Carrot and Amber lol...Glory hunters or plastics...never used the term...nor has any BCFC fans i know...all BCFC fans are welcome who can get a ticket.

**

We shout with pride....we'll never hide...Claret and Amber!!!!

Report this post »

arm grab man says...
6:35pm Fri 8 Feb 13

why do people comment on things they have no knowledge of ?

see you in london jagger the beer is on us this time .

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bcfc1903 says...
7:11pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Good luck Mark...you did the club proud in it's time of need, i also chucked in at the time, a weeks wage if i remember correctly.

**

We shout with pride...we'll never hide...Claret and Amber

Report this post »

sharkiebites says...
8:45am Tue 19 Feb 13

philjenko wrote:
Phil from Sydney Australia.I too am a long standing City fan now aged 52. My first game was Notts County at home in 1966 aged 6!. I made the trip over in 96 when we played in the play off final - somethingI will never forget!Timing is just not good for me to attend the final against Swansea- I've just had 8 weeks leave and enjoyed all City's games on the TV.( in Aus and Canada). I wish everyone a fantastic day out at Wembley and I will be watching the game in the early hours with about 20 mates who are all now 100% behind City( even a couple of Arsenal supporters!!).Gutted I cant make it but but still City till I die.City - the World wants you to WIN!
hey phil where you watching the game. i myself a lifelong fan who cant make it and so wish i could afford it, sydney life is so expensive
city is the only thing i miss.
im hoping to go the casino, i live over in manly. if your watching anywhere i can join you i would love to watch with some exciled city fans. its not often i am wishing we were back home but am now. send me an email if you can chris.b@aabuilding.c
om.au

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