MCFC OSC Cactus Bar Malta

August 2013 Volume 1, Issue 1

Malta City Blues

Our Link with the City supporters in Malta

Message from the Chairman

On the football side I believe that we have as well managed to make some remarkable achievements. All Manchester City televised games were shown at the Cactus Bar, and you have been able to transform the watching a game into an experience of joy and support. trophy on display, other appearances by club committee members on various TV and radio shows, newspaper coverage of our events etc We must not forget that we even got coverage in the UK. We were mentioned in a Sunday newspaper article, mentioned in and participated via a phone call on a BBC radio program. Above all we also featured twice in the match day program. In fact our supporters club featured on the match day program of the 13th May 2012, the day when City played QPR and won the league. Definitely a collectors item! Looking ahead we want to achieve more. We therefore look forward to your participation so that with everyones ideas and effort we continue to make success of this club. All the above has been achieved with your support and the dedication and work of all past and present committee members. I cannot but thank you all!! Yours truly,

It is my honour and privilege to write these few words to address all our members in this very first newsletter addressed to Manchester City Supporters in Malta.

The setting up of the club three years ago was indeed a dream come true. Many believed that there were just a handful of Manchester City supporters in Malta. Through the setting up of the Malta Branch we have proved otherwise. It is therefore my duty to thank all the founding members of the club who came together with the scope of making this happen. Special thanks also go to the honorary Chairman, Ms. Carmen Young, who has been We also pride ourselves in being of support from inception. one of the few overseas supporters Three years of work wherein the clubs who were able to bring over club has achieved a lot. The scope the Barclays Premier League Troof being a member to a supporters phy, the same one that Vincent th club is not only the sense of belong- Kompany lifted on the 13 May ing but also that of doing something 2012. We did it and did it in style. meaningful. It is therefore with This was not enough! Along with pride that I say that our members, the trophy we had the legend himthrough their participation in the self Paul Lake. Paul has been invarious events over the past three credible and he has definitely added years donated over 5,000 to our value to this event.

Paul Sammut chosen charity Puttinu Cares. This, I Chairman, believe is a milestone that we We have also made inroads in the local media; TV breakfast shows MCFC OSC Cactus Bar Malta should all be proud of. with the Barclays Premier League

Kevin Parker, the General Secretary of the MCFC Supporters Club sends his message to the supporters in Malta

have the undoubted honour to say a few words in the inaugural Malta MCFC Supporters Club Newsletter.

Dhabi to Vancouver. The visit of The Premier League Trophy ably accompanied by City Legend Paul Lake was testimony enough that Malta had arrived on the Supporters Club scene and are here to stay. I have seen the interest that the branch you tube postings have generated and the celebrations after the Agueroooooooooooooooooooo moment still send a chill down my spine. I do hope, of course, to get back to Malta one day soon to meet Babz, Paul and all those who have helped the branch get where it is today. I also need to say a special hello to Tony Paris who has held the supporters club membership card number 0001 for many years and was, at times, a lone voice on the Island. No longer though Tony!! I hope as many of you as possible can get over to The UK to see City play but I know even those who cant will still be cheering loud enough for us to hear all the way over here. CTWD Kevin Parker

Malta is an Island that has always been close to my heart since I visited there 3 times during the mid 1980s and stayed in St Pauls Bay. The friendliness of the residents was second to none and along with the fantastic weather and beauty of the landscape made it such a special place.

Now The Cactus Bar and its large band of City supporters is known throughout our supporters club from Ancoats to Yeovil and Abu Dhabi to Vancouver.

What did strike me, of course, back then was the lack of City Supporters on the Island and too many Red shirts from both Manchester United and Liverpool. You are always hopeful of course that things can change but the transformation from then to now is almost like the change at City from pre to post Sheikh Mansour. Now The Cactus Bar and its large band of City supporters is known throughout our supporters club from Ancoats to Yeovil and Abu

COME AND WATCH THE MANCHESTER CITY GAMES AT THE CACTUS. GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO WIN SOME CITY MEMORABILIA: BOOKS, MUGS, TANKARDS AND EVEN THE NEW CITY HOME KIT. ABOVE ALL COME AND ENJOY YOURSELVES IN A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE. REMEMBER, LAST YEAR WE BROUGHT THE PREMIER LEAGUE TROPHY AS WELL AS PAUL LAKE. WITH YOUR SUPPORT WE CAN DO MORE.

Q & A with BIG JOE CORRIGAN

not given their true value to the future of Manchester City, as without their performances week in week out, the club could have been in more trouble. You have won important trophies at Manchester City. What was the driving force that the squad had in those days? In those days you didn't need to be driven, you wanted to play, you wanted to win, not only for the team but also for the Club, the Fans and the main fact, for yourself. I always wanted to be the best and that drove me to try and get better and better. Unfortunately this ethos doesn't always apply in todays game, but with managers like Joe Mercer, Tony Book, John Bond, alongside coaches like Malcolm Allison, Bill Taylor Ian McFarlane, John Sainty they motivated you to get even better. If you had to name three determining saves whilst playing for City which would these be and why? The most important save for me was one I made at home against Coventry City in about 1975/6 as I was just getting back into the side and I saved a free kick which seemed to turn the fans around, as I had been going through a really tough time and this seemed to settle me and them down. The second was against Q.P.R. at home around 1978/9. David Webb headed a ball from a corner and I was able to save it to my right side, this was one of the best 0-0 games I ever played in it should have been 6-6 but Myself and Phil Parkes the Q.P.R. keeper were brilliant that day even if I have to say it myself.

You are considered as one of Citys legends. How does it feel to be a true blue legend?

It is nice to be recognised as one of the best City keepers but I think the word legend should only apply to those who have either won trophies or have served the Club for a long time. Being talked about in the same breath as Frank Swift and Bert Which strikers did you fear most in Trautmann is a fantastic honour and your seventeen year career at City? I really appreciate the comments. All strikers, there were many quality You have spent seventeen years at players in my era, Jimmy Greaves, Manchester City. Your name to- Denis Law, Joe Royle to name but a gether with that of Bert Trautman few, all to be feared as you knew definitely stands out as one of the you would be tested to the limit. greatest goalies that City ever had. Many a time people associate success to those who put their names on the score sheet. Yet as a goalkeeper your name is remembered quite fondly. Your comments please. I always remember talking to Bert Trautmann and he told me that the Club did not appreciate (not taking anything away from the other players who played for the Club), the fact that the three Keepers mentioned in the question above, were

In those days you didn't need to be driven, you wanted to play, you wanted to win, not only for the team but also for the Club, the Fans and the main fact, for yourself.

Continued on page 4

More from Big Joe Corrigan

In your time you were considered as one of the best goalkeepers in England. Some people say that whilst the game has evolved, the goalkeeper's job has remained as it was. Do you agree? Yes the game has evolved mainly for the good and I have to say that keepers have had to evolve too, as the back pass rule changed keeping into another level. Now keepers have to be really good kickers as well as being able to make saves and with the ball they use now it has become more difficult to catch the ball but I wish that keepers would try to do this more as if the ball is in you hands the opposition cannot score and you then are now on the attack. Yet again today City has the best goalkeeper in England. Do you believe that this is one of the pillars for future success? All good teams need a good keeper, good central defenders, good central midfield and good strikers. 13 May 2013 93:20, Agueroooo...... Your thoughts, comments, emotions... tell us more I cannot describe the emotions of that day, I was with Tommy Booth watching the game and he went inside, saying he couldn't watch the remaining 3 mins. as he said that we scored the 2nd goal and even then no one could believe it was going to happen. It did and no one will ever forget that moment. What are your views for the upcoming Premier League and Champions League? Do you see City as contenders? I think this season will be close. It will be very interesting with all the changes which have gone on and with the top teams also. Will be looking forward to see how things go on especially at the start of the season, as there are a few interesting games coming up early on. Finally, your message to the Manchester City fans in Malta. To thank all the Malta supporters for all their commitment and support to Manchester City and as always look forward to meeting them when they come over to visit. Maybe one day we maybe invited to come over to Malta for a visit and to meet all our friend over there. I would like to thank you all and hope that you will continue to support the only TEAM in Manchester. Joe Corrigan

Meet Paul Bennett

You grew up in Manchester and you chose the proper colour. You

chose Blue. Can you tell us more about your choice? To tell you the truth i really had no choice in the matter as all my family where blue through and through. So my dad took me to as many games as he could home and away. The first ever game I watched was the 1970 European Cup and I was only 6 years old at the time. After that I was hooked. You have been a regular at Maine Road. Can you share with us some insights as to the atmosphere that there used to be at Maine Road?

As a boy I grew up going to watch City in the Mighty Kippax which was all standing at the time and the atmosphere was electric. I really hope they bring back standing again as the atmosphere has never been as good in the all seater stadiums. You have definitely watched some brilliant games at Maine Road. Which game would you say was the best ever that you have seen at Maine Road? My best ever game at Main Road would have to be the game against Manchester Utd when we beat them 5-1, because we had such a young team at the time and the

result was such a shock to them. Which player from that era was your favorite and why? I was very lucky to have seen Colin Bell before his bad injury. Colin Bell it is. You moved to Malta and together with others you were instrumental in setting up the Manchester City supporters club. How do you find the Maltese supporters? Do you see the same passion and love for the club? For me the setting up of the MCFC OSC in Malta was so exciting because we didnt now how many City fans lived in Malta. We soon found out there was and how passionate they are. They love the club; I must say I have made some very good friends. Dennis Law back heel goal sending united in 2nd divi-

sion, City winning 1-6 at Old Trafford, Aguero's masterpiece of a goal @ 93:20 giving the Premier League title to Manchester City. Which one is your favorite? Loved them all, but if I have to choose it would have to be the Premier League title because of how it happened. LoooL. What are your thoughts about the coming season? Premier League and Champions League. Not too sure yet as we have a new manager and some new players to fit into the team. We will see, CTID. Paul Bennett

As a boy I grew up going to watch City in the Mighty Kippax which was all standing at the time and the atmosphere was electric.

...if I have to choose it would have to be the Premier League title because of how it happened. LoooL.

Manchester City Fixtures for the month of September Playing Against

Date
14 September 2013

Time

Home/Away

16:00hrs 20:30hrs

Away

Stoke City

17/18-Sep-13

Champions League Group Stage, Matchday One Manchester United

22 September 2013

17:00hrs

Home

28 September 2013

16:00hrs

Away

Aston Villa

COME AND WATCH THE MANCHESTER CITY GAMES AT THE CACTUS. GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO WIN SOME CITY MEMOR MEMORABILIA: ABILIA: BOOKS, MUGS, TANKARD TANKARDS S AND EVEN THE NEW CITY HOME KIT. ABOVE ALL COME AND ENJOY YOURSELVES IN A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE. REMEMBER, LAST YEAR WE BROUGHT THE PREMIER LEAGUE TROPHY AS WELL AS PAUL LAKE LAKE. . WITH YOUR SUPPORT W WE E CAN DO MORE.

DO NOT FORGET TO PAY YOUR MEMBERSHIP

We want to hear more from you. Contact us on mcfcmalta@gmail.com or call 99463273 / 79707754.. Send us your Manchester City photos. Tell us more about a recent game that you have been to.

From the photo album.