CORNWALL BLUES
Established in 2021
The Cornwall branch of the Official Supporters Club was established in 2021 during the COVID-19 hit 2020/21 season and was formed as a result of a chance meeting between two neighbours from the same street in Carbis Bay who, whilst working in London, both happened to be watching coverage of one of City's Champions League games.
Our Story
The original intention in forming the branch was to bring Cornwall based supporters of Manchester City together by, for example, allowing them to arrange meet up to watch televised matches.
James' and Mark's contacting of a few Cornwall based blues quickly lead to a word-of-mouth spread on knowledge of the prospective branch and there was considerable interest in forming a branch. However, what was more surprising was the number of branch members, typically life-long supporters that had relocated to Cornwall, that still continued to attend matches on a regular basis. Given the distances involved with the travel it is amazing to consider we have not only season ticket holders and but hospitality season ticket holders among the branch membership.
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The current season 2024/25 is our fourth season as a branch bringing Cornwall based City fans together. It has been fantastic to watch the branch grow and to put Cornwall based supporters, who might previously have felt isolated by geography from the rest of our supporter base, into contact with each other.
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There have been so many fantastic moments and highlights from being involved with the branch. But obviously, two special ones were seeing City win the Champions League Final in Istanbul and also seeing City winning the FA Cup at Wembley during our Treble season.
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We were formally recognized as a Branch of the Official Supporters Club
by Manchester City on 4th January 2021
Year on Year Members
2021/22
27
Inaugural Season
2022/23
72
First Full Season
2023/24
88
Last Season
2024/25
61
Current Season
The Branch Committee
Season 2024/25
The present committee members were elected in August 2024.
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New elections for all committee positions are scheduled for August each year, just before the commencement of the new Premier League season. These elections are inclusive and available to all branch members, offering an opportunity for anyone to nominate themselves for any role.
James Hayward
Chair
James grew up in Macclesfield and has supported Manchester City since watching the 1981 FA Cup final, aged 11. He attended University in Manchester, studying Computer Science at UMIST. He has worked in IT, software and technology sales since 1994 and relocated to Carbis Bay with his family in 2005.
In 2019, whilst away on a work trip, James happened to be sat in a busy sports bar in central London watching City play in the Champions League. Another friendly blue asked to share his table and after a brief chat it transpired that Mark Higgins also lived on the same road as James in Carbis Bay. This is how the Branch started ... with a random conversation in a bar, a long way from Cornwall! James and Mark felt that "the greatest team in the land and all the world" needed a supporters branch in Cornwall.
James is passionate about providing an affordable, fun branch community for blues of all ages and backgrounds to get together and enjoy being part of this amazing club. We are here to create and share wonderful experiences. Since the branch was formed back in 2021, our most memorable games have been the final day against Villa, beating United at Wembley in the FA Cup Final, winning the Champions League in Istanbul and seeing our young member, Riley Lake, enter the field of play with Rodri as a club mascot on the final day of the 23/24 season.
When he isn't watching City James loves spending time sea fishing, listening to very loud rock music on his record player, walking the Coast Path and cooking steaks on his BBQ.
As branch chair, James ensures the smooth operation of the branch, ensuring fellow committee members have the support they need to carry out their roles, whilst ensuring that all members continuously uphold the values of Manchester City Football Club.
Dr Clive Acraman
Ticketing Secretary
If you know me well, you will know me as Acky.
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I was born a City fan with Dad taking me to Main Road from being a baby. I had brandy put in my milk to keep me quiet during the match which may explain why I never watch City without having a pint first ... Or perhaps it is because the lyrics to the Song “We never win at Home & we never win Away” are an accurate description of my journey with the club.
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I got my first season ticket in 1969 my first game was a 4 – 1 win against Sheffield Wednesday. I have fond memories of those days at Main Road, walking to the ground with 10s of thousands of City Fans, the atmosphere, the camaraderie, they will always be ‘my tribe’ BUT I don’t miss the toilets! Even though I now live 340 miles from the ground, I will never let my ticket go it is part of my soul 55 years and counting.
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Of course, The Aguero moment will always be my most memorable. I still get goosebumps and tear up when I re watch the game. My favourite player of all time has to be Mike Doyle, he epitomised what it is to be a City Fan, and openly hated United. I loved his Derby Day battle cries; he was just a perfect fit for City.
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The City of today are a vastly different animal from the one I was introduced to but the club is still embedded in our Community, It is My Club in Our City and I Love it!
Peter Gilks
General Secretary
I went with some friends to my first City match: City v Forest 26th October 1968. I was 11 years old. We were in the scoreboard end at Maine Road. City went 3-0 up, but eventually drew 3-3.
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They were the glorious days of Mercer and Allison. City were already the English champions, and then went on to win the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup in 1970. The black and red striped jersey was seared into my brain forever.
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The dark days ... getting relegated against Luton and many years later, relegated again v Liverpool and again v Stoke City to condemn City to division 3. Losing to Spurs in the FA Cup final replay was heart breaking. Losing to Halifax Town in the FA Cup was so ridiculous, that it was nearly humorous.
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The great memories are: going to Old Trafford on my own (I was 12), watching Bell, Lee and Summerbee beat Best, Law and Charlton 2-1 in 1970. Having to hide my City scarf on Warwick Road.
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Thrashing United 4-0 in the League Cup in 1976, but King Colin being savagely injured by Martin Buchan, heart breaking. Dennis Tueart’s overhead kick winner v Newcastle in the final at Wembley 1976.
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And now a new set of memories: Yaya’s winner against United in the FA Cup semifinal 2011. Beating United 5-1 at Old Trafford, Why always me? announced Balotelli.
Sergio’s fantastic winner v QPR, I was in tears. The greatest moment.
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Yaya’s goals against Newcastle away. Vinny’s goal against Leicester. Gundo’s performance against Villa to win City the Premiership. The domestic treble and then the brass plate treble.
Pep and the UAE people have made our dreams come true.
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City til I die!
Peter Lakie
Social Media Secretary
My support for Manchester City started in 1977 aged 11. Call me a glory hunter, we’d just won the League Cup with that memorable overhead kick from Dennis Tueart but I had a long wait for our next piece of silverware in 2011.
Dad and I had season tickets on the old wooden benches in the Platt Lane stand at Maine Road. As I got older and taller we migrated to the Kippax where I saw many great games including 52,000 people watching City v Everton in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, it was so full my feet didn’t touch the ground. Another classic game was the 10:1 victory over Huddersfield where we sat in the North Stand. An old man sat next to me said you’ll never see this again in your lifetime and he’s been right - so far!
Work took me to Essex, Warwickshire and even China in the 90s and 2000s. I picked up again with a season ticked in the Colin Bell stand in the Etihad from 2010 to 2016 and was an active member of the Warwick and Leamington Supporters Branch. Then work took me to China again until 2020. In 2022 I retired and moved with my wife to Cornwall. I still catch as many games as possible but don’t look forward to the 6 hour journey each way. I’m currently looking after the Social aspects for the Cornwall Branch and look forward to meeting as many Branch members as possible either at Branch meetings and events or better still City matches.
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Mark Higgins
Treasurer
Mark has supported Manchester City since he was a child growing up in Droylsden. His first game was League Cup game against Mansfield Town at Maine Road in 1975!
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A lot has happened since then including spells living and working overseas. He relocated to Carbis Bay in 2017.
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The branch was to be formed as a result of chance meeting with James Hayward in London whilst watching coverage of a City game, they got chatting and it turns out that he and James both lived on the same road in Carbis Bay.
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Mark's original intention behind forming a branch was to bring City supporters in Cornwall together. We've definitely been successful at this and we've been amazed at how many people living in Cornwall attend matches at the Etihad on a regular basis.
Mark is a season ticket holder in Legends and, when he isn't watching City, is either working, playing the guitar or studying since he is reading, as a part-time, mature student for a Master's degree.
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As branch treasurer, Mark looks after the branch's finance and manages branch membership requests.
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It has been amazing to be part of a supporter's club branch and to be able to connect with fellow Cityzens across Cornwall and the wider South-West and to bring City's fans in Cornwall together.