Ian Cheeseman: Forever Blue

Manchester City returned from the International Break with a win, but they were still not at their very best against Brighton.

The first half went well enough. They dominated possession, as they normally do, and their twin strikers, Alvarez and Haaland, scored a goal each.

It was great to see John Stones fully fit again and Jeremy Doku was exciting to watch throughout the game. He was pace and he was a trick or two. He’s very direct which reminded me a little of watching Francis Lee during my early days as a City fan. My first idols were the team that included Bell, Lee and Summerbee, so it has been a heartbreaking couple of weeks, from his passing to his funeral at Manchester Cathedral.

My friend and former colleague, Will Perry, who was his god son, read a eulogy that included these words, “He was the reason I fell in love with the beautiful game and although I was too young to witness his playing days, there’s no doubt he added to football’s beauty. 5’7”, the heart of a pride of lions, tough as a bag of nails, proud as the punchiest punch. The barrel chested hitman with self confidence on a football pitch to trump the likes of Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo.”

Great words, and Will’s eulogy also included a story that Franny’s former team mate Ian Bowyer had told me a week earlier on my Forever Blue podcast.

“One of my favourite stories was when Franny and Mike Summerbee drove ahead of Joe Mercer and other team mates to a crucial match in Franny’s convertible sports car. They parked next to a lamppost, opened the bonnet, poured water on the engine to make it steam, hung out of the window, smothered ketchup on their faces. Mercer and Allison arrived moments later thinking they’d lost two thirds of the holy trinity.”

City will unveil a statue of Bell, Lee and Summerbee outside the Etihad Stadium next month, it’s such a shame that only Mike Summerbee, of the three, is still around to see it.

Will Perry summed up Franny’s tribute with, “A working class hero, a legend of the game, a legend in life.” Great words.

At half time during City’s win against Brighton the news that Sir Bobby Charlton had passed away started to come through. No matter what scarf you wear, Bobby represented the very best of football and humanity. I had the honour of spending a morning with him when I was ghost writing Colin Bell’s autobiography. Colin had wanted his hero, Bobby, to write the forward.

I met Bobby at the Four Seasons Hotel near Manchester Airport, where he bought me breakfast and we discussed Colin. Bobby had great respect for Colin and was very thoughtful when he gave me the words to write. It wasn’t the only time I met and chatted to him, but this was away from the glare of other media and a matchday or a special event. I’d seen the legend play football, but this was the gentleman off it. What a player, what a man.

During the day in between Franny’s funeral and Bobby passing away, my dear friend Mark, who hasn’t been able to attend a City game since the FA Cup Final between City and United, due to serious illness, saw the best side of any football club.

As he lay in his bed and Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne, a representative of the club quietly brought into his room the Champions League Trophy, the Premier League Trophy, the FA Cup and the Super Cup. Mark couldn’t believe his eyes when they woke him. He posed for a couple of pictures with the trophies he never thought he’d get to see in person. What a beautiful thing to do by Manchester City.

Sadly we’ve lost Francis Lee and Sir Bobby Charlton, but the beautiful game lives on and my club, Manchester City have retained their love of life by doing such a lovely thing for a normal, humble but magnificent man and fan, like Mark. It’s Great to be a Blue!