Forever Blue With Ian Cheeseman: A Day That Will Live Long In The Memory

I’m sure this won’t be the last time that I write or talk about Manchester City’s last match of the 2021/22 Premier League season.

During the last decade I’ve relived the Aguero game of 2012 on many occasions, but now there’s another match to rival that dramatic day. 

Ten years ago I went along to the Etihad Stadium feeling very nervous. I’d seen so many typical City moments that even though all City had to do to confirm their first Premier League title was beat QPR. I was pumped up even more for that game because I was going to be commentating on BBC radio. 

As the drama unfolded I just allowed my emotions to take control and it ended up being the greatest day of my professional life. Since that day, lots of things have changed in my life. I’m no longer a BBC journalist/commentator (I miss that so much) but I’ve become a YouTuber and Podcaster. I also present a weekly sports show (every Friday at 7pm) on Tameside Radio. On Sunday I spent the build-up to the final match of the season interviewing fans but during the game I sat in my season ticket seat to watch the game.

I told everyone I saw that City would win comfortably. I was wrong. I was absolutely confident, even when Aston Villa took a 2-0 lead, that City would win the game and retain the title. I was right. As the Blues fell behind the woman next to me looked forlorn. I turned to her and said, “Don’t worry, have you not been watching City this season? They’ll come back and win this. Relax.” I meant it.

I’ve been a big fan of Ilkay Gundogan since the day we signed him. My Mum was born in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Ilkay was born there and grew up in her home town. Although City have signed a couple of players from Schalke 04, who are from Gelsenkirchen, Ilkay is the first to be born there and play for City.

A couple of years ago Gundogan was being criticised by some sections of the City support, but I could see how special he was on the pitch. Last season he won the hearts of many Blues with his goals and performances. On Sunday he came off the bench and scored two of the three goals that clinched the title for City. Pep Guardiola described him in glowing terms in his post match interview. I agreed with every word he said.

The player who made me cry on Sunday was Oleks Zinchenko. My father-in-law was Ukrainian. My wife has a sister in Lviv and nieces and nephews over there. We are close to the Ukrainian community and went to the Christmas and New Year celebrations at the Ukrainian Club in Manchester. Zinchenko is part of that community and has been there himself. When he came on as a substitute he made a big difference and when he draped the Ukrainian flag on the Premier League trophy during the post match celebrations tears rolled down my cheeks.

After the game I was lucky enough to be able to tell both Ilkay and Oleks my stories which made Sunday another very special and personal day for me. 

Life has its ups and downs and one of the people I interviewed ahead of Sunday’s game also made me very emotional. I don’t know his name but he told me that his son couldn’t attend because of a brain injury, but he’d be watching on TV. My friend John Gwynne, the former Sky Sports presenter, also couldn’t be there, due to illness but it’s days like Sunday that remind us that being a football fan is a shared experience. An escape from the challenges we all face in life. Sunday’s game encapsulated everything that makes it great to be a Blue!