Rival fans may mock Manchester City's support, but there is no denying that City have one of the best travelling supports in the country.
The Blues regularly sell out their away allocations everywhere they go, whether that be a trip to Burnley, Brighton or somewhere on the continent. One City fan who has put in the miles this season is Ryan Newall. The 18-year-old from Cheadle has attended all 19 of City's 2021-22 away league matches, as proven by a photo he Tweeted of all his tickets.
As well as that, Ryan managed to go on two European away trips this season, as well as a smattering of cup games. Ryan's dedication to supporting the Blues this season has been phenomenal, as has been the case with thousands of others. MEN Sport caught up with Ryan to talk about the highs and lows of following City away.
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How did you become a City fan?
My dad took me to my first game. It was Scunthorpe in the FA Cup. We won 3-1 and Robbie Fowler scored a hat-trick. January 2006.
What was the first away game you attended?
Bolton away when I was four - I don’t remember too much personally but we drew 0-0. It was March 2008. A massive thank you to my dad because I wouldn’t have these opportunities today without him.
What keeps you travelling all over the country - and Europe - to go to games?
There’s multiple things. Obviously, the football we play and with City being the club I’ve supported since I was born, since I was a kid I’ve always wanted to follow city for a full season and do every away game.
Another huge factor is the people you meet. I’ve made so many new mates this year whilst following City and they’re the people that get it. They all understand the joy and excitement of following the Blues across Europe and in England and those are the people that you make the memories with on these trips.
These trips cost a lot of money but at the end of the day, there isn’t a price tag that would put me off going to all these games with my dad and my mates. The club gives such a massive meaning to my life going week in, week out for the majority of my life.
What is your away day routine?
I go to every away game with Cheadle Blues. Cheadle is where I’m from and it's a great supporters' club, providing a coach for us to make our way to different grounds.
I go with mates and people who I’ve grown up around going to games with on the coach over the years. I also meet a lot of people in the ground or at a pub nearby. These are people who I’ve met through going to City and we often have a few drinks and then make our way to the game.
What have been your favourite moments following City away this season?
One was beating [Manchester] United. Always nice to win against them lot, isn’t it? Especially when we’re making it look like a training session.
Secondly, I’d probably say scoring against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Going into that game I felt we were the underdogs. Chelsea were looking like title winners and hadn’t lost a game. We went there, played them off the park and took the three points, so when Gabriel Jesus scored the whole of our end erupted. A great moment after the game was the whole away end singing 'Three little birds' but with our own version singing 'City don’t worry, about a thing.'
Arsenal away too. There's always an unreal feeling and a mass of emotion when scoring a last-minute winner, especially away from home.
And the worst?
Real Madrid away. After Riyad Mahrez scored the feeling was surreal. I couldn’t believe we were going to another Champions League final. I thought to myself, 'am I going to see us win at the Bernabeu?', something many clubs struggle to do as it’s such a hard place to go to.
Looking up at the clock and seeing 89 minutes I smiled as I couldn’t believe we were about to be on our way to Paris! Unfortunately, we all know how that turned out. But that’s football. A long, long day but a great day out in Madrid.
What's the plan for next season?
I’m planning on doing the same hopefully. With the World Cup break it’s going to be difficult as I reckon most games will be moved to midweek later on in the season, so getting time off work will be difficult. I'll do as many as I can!
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