Forget David Silva, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng – City’s new stars are a civil servant from Marple, a retired joiner from Withington and two schoolboys from Middleton.
But Blues fans need not despair – the homegrown heroes will be appearing on billboards rather than the Eastlands turf as part of a marketing campaign.
Ten supporters – nine male and one female – have been chosen by the club to front the ‘Be Part of It’ campaign to attract more season ticket holders.
Each responded to a rallying cry on the City website and wrote in to explain what they liked most about watching their team.
Now they will see their faces and stories on billboards, in newspapers and on posters across Greater Manchester as the club looks to boost attendances.
Ex-joiner Peter Kenny, 63, is pictured arms-crossed outside his house. He said: “I’ve been through the ups of the mid 60s and 70s and through the terrible 30 years that followed.
“The good times will be back. They are very, very close. Just around the corner.”
Peter said he was looking forward to seeing his name in lights.
He said: “The picture has already been on Facebook and I’ve had grief from my relatives in Ireland and from my son who’s a Red, but it’s all good banter.”
Civil servant Jenny Bailey, 21, is pictured wearing her City scarf by a canal close to her Marple home.
She said: “I was a bit dubious at first but when I saw the picture I was quite happy with it. People should come because it’s a great atmosphere and a great day out.”
Brothers Jay and Asa Roszkowski, nine and four, are wearing their City kits in the garden of their Middleton home.
They said: “We love going to matches with our dad because we all love City.”
Jon-Paul Twigg, six, from Moston, sports a sky blue mohican in his garden.
He said: “I love going to the game – when you hear the fans singing Blue Moon you know the players will be out soon. I love the roar when Tevez, Adebayor or Bellamy score. I dream of playing for City in a game when fans cheer my name.”
Chris Kay, head of marketing at Eastlands, said: “Our fans have always been at the heart of the club. Our Seasoncard holders particularly are the true unsung heroes, who come to every home match, whatever the weather.
“This is our way of acknowledging their loyalty and to say thank you for their support.”
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And this is news?
"Ten supporters – nine male and one female – have been chosen by the club to front the ‘Be Part of It’ campaign to attract more season ticket holders."
looks like Mr Sheik should spend some of his cash on buying some fans!!
Very sad that you can't fill your ground.
They don't even go...
very sad you're obsessed with our club MUG
Haha. 2 rags the first to post.
What'sd up, chaps? Paul Scholes extending his contract or the unvealing of your new snid kit that green and gold scarf muppets will flock to buy, not news enough for you?
I like these posters. The furture is Blue.
curiousyellow, Rusholme (16/07/2010 at 11:09)
"Very sad that you can't fill your ground. "
And very sad your jealousy gets in the way of a rational post.
I can't vouch for 9 of them but I know for a fact that 1 of them goes every week. So do one Rebekah and go and watch your paupers at old trafford, then again I bet you don't go!!
curiousyellow, Rusholme (16/07/2010 at 11:09)
We fill it fine thanks - we averaged 2k below are capacity last season, you averaged 1k below. We had good attendence in the third teir only ten years ago, lets see what your attendences are like when things are not going that great!
Rebekah Coulson (16/07/2010 at 11:15)
They don't even go...
Unfortunately Rebekah for you, I've had my season ticket for 26 years.... another red making a complete and utter fool of themselves!
A civil servant from Marple, which part of Manchester is Marple in then?
Exposing the myth once again
Sammy the bertie.
You lot still advertising cut price tickets on Key103?
hahahahahahahaha!
curiousyellow, Rusholme
You lot still only sold 18,000 season tickets? hahahahahaha!!!
whats funnier - City advertising that a new season is approaching and that we have a squad full of world class players or utd announcing that Paul Scholes will get a new one year contract because they cannot get anyone else?
The guy will need a zimmer frame just to get over the halfway line.
Or alternativley he could just slap rooney's belley and ride the wave all the way to the 18 yard box.
So laugh it up boys because we are all laughing a hell of a lot harder at you.
Isn't that The National Lottery's slogan for their Dream Number / Olympics 2012 draw?
Good posters. They show MFC to be exactly what it is... the people's club.
And which part of Manchester is Irlam? YCNMIU.
[quote name= Irlam is Red not Blue, support your local team!!, Irlam, Manchester]A civil servant from Marple, which part of Manchester is Marple in then?
Exposing the myth once again[/quote]
And which CITY is Irlam in?
United:The team supported mainly by salfordians, irish & cockneys (16/07/2010 at 14:43)
thats not a bitter obsessive username is it?
Concentrate supporting your own club Bertie! from the above story looks like you need all the support you can buy..sorry, get!!
curiousyellow, I know that rags are not known for their intelligence, but you're commenting, frequently, on a Manchester City story, 'concentrate on supporting your own team' ha ha. Irony is just a word in the dictionary to you isn't it? I would like to see the MEN do a poll on the top 10 most idiotic/obsessed rag fans. They may struggle to narrow it down to 10 though, but you'd be in the final selection.
[quote name=The Pope, Rome]whats funnier - City advertising that a new season is approaching and that we have a squad full of world class players or utd announcing that Paul Scholes will get a new one year contract because they cannot get anyone else?
The guy will need a zimmer frame just to get over the halfway line.
Or alternativley he could just slap rooney's belley and ride the wave all the way to the 18 yard box.
So laugh it up boys because we are all laughing a hell of a lot harder at you.[/quote]
Scholesy didn't need any help planting his header past you lot, haha!!!
neither did Michael Owen but they're both crocks and you need to replace Neville and Giggs too, so who've you got lined up?
NO ONE.
I spotted one of these in the local paper (and on the side of a bus) the other day (number 6 in the gallery). All I can say is that with all City's money, you'd have thought they could afford to employ someone with a working knowledge of correct grammar.
Perhaps this campaign might end the petty comments from some City fans about the technicalities of city boundries and support bases. Of these nine adverts, there are 2 from Stockport, 1 from Tameside, 2 from Oldham and 1 from Cheshire.
[quote name=curiousyellow, Rusholme]"Very sad that you can't fill your ground.[/quote]
Won nowt for 35 years but still the third best supported club in the country That's what you call 'loyal support'.
Has The world's biggest club [tm] sold all of their season tickets yet? Have they bought any players to replace Dad's army yet?
Curiousyellow - a life so empty without ickle ole Ciddy.
Irlam, 'MANCHESTER'?
United are also advertising because they can't sell the season tickets, you wouldn't realise that because you never go.