18 April to 31 August 2007
The Social
Free

Are you a True Blue? This exhibition by fans, of fans of Manchester City Football Club, shows the extremes to which supporters will go to demonstrate their love for their club.

For this exhibition Urbis will become a shrine to Manchester City using over 200 photographs from generations of loyal fans that have flooded in from all corners of the world, including Hawaii, Venezuela, China, Isle of Man, Australia and a whole village of City fans in Sierra Leone.

The photographs tell of the lows and highs of life as a die-hard City fan, each with its own story to tell including:

-         a landmark to celebrate – weddings and birthdays at the stadium

-         babies’ first club kit

-         a fan’s first match

-         a fan’s last match

-         fans on dream holidays wearing City kits

-         photos with the players

-         City tattoos

-         friends who have endured support for City together since the 1970s.

Collectively they capture the true spirit and emotions of life as a ‘true Blue’ and the exhibition will document some key milestones in Manchester City’s history, such as the last game played at Maine Road and the first at Sport City in Eastlands. Quotes from fans will also be displayed tracing the unfaltering commitment and optimism needed to believe in ‘City Til I Die’.

Ruth Ibegbuna, Head of Learning at Urbis commented: “The inspiration for the exhibition came when the sister of a friend, Helen Summerfield, died last year. Helen was a life-long City fan and although blind she listened to the match religiously every week. This is why the exhibition focuses on the fans rather than the players, because there are some incredibly moving stories revolving around the club that never get told but are inextricably linked to what happens on the pitch. Quite simply without the fans there would be no club, they are the unsung football heroes and there chance to shine.”

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